Social Service Worker

Final date to receive applications: 1/23/2026 (7:00 PM EST)

Job
-00208

Title:

Social Service Worker I

Pay Grade: 14

Salary: $55,541.52 - $64,816.08 Annually

Employment Type:

EXECUTIVE BRANCH | FULL TIME | ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY | 18A | 37.5 HR/WK

for more details on state employment.

Hiring Agency:
Cabinet for Health & Family Services | Dept for Community Based Services

Location:

125 West Main Street, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456 USA

The agency may authorize the selected candidate to telecommute. The agency may terminate or modify the telecommuting arrangement at any time.

The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) is a multi-faceted agency that provides services and programs to enhance the self‑sufficiency of families; improve safety and permanency for children and vulnerable adults; and, engage families and community partners in a collaborative decision‑making process. DCBS seeks a Social Service Worker I who is driven to succeed in helping people and advance family self‑sufficiency.

With professionalism and integrity, our agency offers services to families to ensure safe, stable homes for the children of the Commonwealth. The Social Service Worker I is a skilled team member, providing a vital link between the children, families and local community partners. The employee is expected to perform at the highest quality to ensure services to the vulnerable citizens.

This is a demanding position that requires maturity, self‑discipline and ability to work overtime.

• Investigate allegations of child abuse, neglect, or dependency.
• Meet with family members to determine the merits of a report of child neglect or abuse.
• Meet with other interested parties such as school and medical staff in order to gather additional information.
• Complete detailed assessments based on the facts obtained during home visits and meetings with interested parties.
• Work with families to create a case plan for addressing and correcting issues within the household.
• Make referrals to outside community resources to assist the family in overcoming identified barriers and to keep children safe in a permanent home and promote their wellbeing.
• Enter case information into the computer.
• Complete court reports as needed.
• Provide testimony during administrative and judicial hearings.
• Work closely with community partners such as law enforcement, school systems, counselors, and shelters.

• Experience working with families or children.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Good time management and organizational skills.
• The ability to work well under pressure.
• A willingness to work as part of a team.

If you are interested in a challenging, yet rewarding opportunity to make a positive difference in your community, we would love to review your application for a Social Service Worker I with DCBS.

The position you are applying for has access to or use of federal tax information (FTI) or meets the statutory definition of front‑line staff. Therefore, pursuant to IRS Publication 1075 and 900 KAR 1:009 or KRS 194A.062 and 900 KAR 1:050, applicants for this position in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) shall submit to a fingerprint‑based criminal background check by the Department of Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

CHFS also participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in U.S. CHFS will only use E‑Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I‑9. For more information on E‑Verify, or if you believe that CHFS has violated its E‑Verify responsibilities, please contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at 888‑897‑7781 or (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..e‑verify.gov/

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EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, marriage and family therapy or a related field.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR

SKILLS:

NONE

Substitute EDUCATION for

EXPERIENCE:

NONE

Substitute EXPERIENCE for

EDUCATION:

NONE

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (AGE, LICENSURE, REGULATION, ETC.): If employed by the…