Safety Stabilization Crisis Worker

Safety Stabilization Crisis Worker

Salary

$73.52 - $114.87 Annually

Location

Hastings, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

35350.26.001

Department

County Communications

Opening Date

10/16/2026

Closing Date

10/29/2026 4:30 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive

DEPARTMENT: Community Corrections

HOURS: Rotating Schedule including EO Weekend

PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $73,515- $82,705 /year (grade 108)

FULL SALARY RANGE: $73,515- $114,868 /year

LOCATION: Hastings JSC

UNION: AFSCME 450

CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on 10/29/2026

This job works within the Safety Stabilization Program located on the Juvenile Services Center campus in Hastings MN. The Safety Stabilization Crisis Worker is responsible for consistently maintaining the safety and security of the JSC to include supporting and guiding clients throughout the day, utilizing deescalation techniques, developing safety plans, facilitating groups and providing crisis intervention when needed. This position will focus on deescalation and will not partake in physical holds of residents.

Minimum Qualifications

NEED TO HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in social work, psychology, sociology or human services AND
• One year of full-time professional experience OR two years of para-professional experience in a social services agency.

NOTE:

• Candidate must be at least 21 years of age.
• Pursuant to the Dakota County Policy and Procedures Manual, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive*.

Required Licenses:

• Valid drivers license
• First Aid/CPR certificate within six months of hire (training provided by the facility)

NICE TO HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters degree in social work or psychology with licensure.
• Experience working with children and families providing brief, solution-focused intervention and crisis management.
• Knowledge and experience with person-centered strategies.
• Experience providing therapy or crisis services to adults, adolescents, children and/or their families.
• Experience conducting mental health screenings.
• Experience handling mental health crisis situations, including diagnosis and treatment of clients in crisis.
• Pursuant to Dakota County Policy, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive. "Safety-sensitive position" means a position, including any supervisory or management position, in which impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis use would threaten the health and safety of any person as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 181.950, subdivision 13.

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

• Provide crisis assessment and intervention.
• Deescalate and process with residents in crisis and escalating situations.
• Develop crisis and stabilization plans with youth in crisis and prior to crisis situations. This includes teaching youth calming and regulation skills and techniques.
• Collaborate and consult with supervisory mental health professionals, colleagues, case managers and family members with appropriate authorization.
• Facilitate safety stabilization reintegration plans with residents.
• Supervise and facilitate programming for residents on special programming status, including youth on one-to-one staff-to-resident programming status.
• Evaluate and assess youth who are removed from group programming for safety reasons and determine their readiness to safely reintegrate.
• Intervene with youth prior to escalation and crisis with the goal of enabling the youth to remain in group programming.
• Practice and enforce state law and Department of Corrections licensing standards within the facility.
• Document client activity, behavior, collateral communications and well-being checks using the facility case management system.
• Support the overall day-to-day functions of the JSC, which might include being assigned to other work duties.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and experience working with clients with mental health conditions.

• Knowledge of human development and family dynamics and systems, including crisis management and cultural humility.

• Knowledge of statutes, rules, policies and evidence-based best practices pertaining to juvenile detention and crisis work, and the ability to research the same. Examples:

• The Juvenile Standards outlined in the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).

• The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI).

• EBP in community corrections including risk assessment, motivational interviewing, professional alliance, and cognitive interventions.

• Data privacy laws, rules and practices and the ability to apply them appropriately.

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system in Minnesota, working knowledge of the functions of its component parts and the laws and court procedures in adult and juvenile court.

• Ability to apply laws, regulations, rules, and departmental policies and procedures to assigned duties.

• Ability to use rewards, reinforcements and interventions appropriately with juveniles, and to be fair and understanding while being firm and consistent.

• Knowledge, experience and skill facilitating group discussions and programs.

• Ability to make sound decisions when experiencing stress, while abiding by departmental and state policies and guidelines (including the ability to use deescalation skills to resolve conflicts).

• Ability to work collaboratively with others to accomplish tasks, to plan and to resolve problems.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills in group and individual settings.

• Ability to organize, prioritize and manage time well and to complete tasks on schedule.

• Ability and willingness to adapt to change, to support organizational change, and the desire to acquire new skills and develop professionally.

• Ability to use computers and to learn various database systems including CSTS, CSIR, MNCIS, Statewide Supervision System, CJINN and others.

• Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for the diversity of customers, co-workers and supervisors, including individuals with a disability or whose first language may be other than English.

At six months, candidates are expected to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles, techniques and best practices for providing trauma-informed interventions with youth in juvenile facilities.
• Demonstrate skill in conceptualizing client needs and translating them into specific plans based on those needs.
• Demonstrate ability to anticipate harmful behavior and to deescalate situations.
• Provide positive encouragement and incentives to residents in a consistent manner.
• Safely supervise youth in a group setting or individually.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware work environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

Work is performed in a Dakota County office building, Juvenile Detention Center, in the community, clients home, school, etc. Some travel is required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, and vibrations; hazardous materials such as chemicals, blood, and other body fluids; and exposure to intense noise may occur. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, computer, scanner, printer, calculator, telephone, BCA, breathalyzer, EHM equipment, Dictaphone, UA collection materials, pager, CSTS, MNCIS, camera and copy machines.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits

• Flexible spending accounts

• Excellent work-life balance

• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)

• Carry over unused flex year to year

• Eleven paid holidays each year and one floating holiday

• Pension with a generous employer contribution-PERA Pension

• Telework may occasionally be available

• Three weeks paid parental leave

• Comprehensive wellness program - peer support team, on-site fitness center, annual wellness check-in, and employee assistance program

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct background and reference checks before hiring

Visit our Benefits site for more information.

01

• Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below and application materials. It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions. Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.

02

Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that you understand that a background check including but not limited to criminal, employment, driving, and educational check may be conducted upon acceptance of a position.

03

Select your highest level of education completed by the close date of this posting from the list below.

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher
• None of the above

04

If you have a degree, what is your field of study?

• Social Work
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Human Services
• Other related field
• Other unrelated field
• N/A

05

If you selected other related field of study, what field of study is your degree in? Otherwise, please indicate N/A.

06

How many years of full-time professional experience do you have in a social services agency? Convert any part-time experience to years (i.e. 20 hours week for 2 years equals 1 year full-time). This experience must be clearly listed on your application to receive credit.

• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 or more years
• None

07

How many years of para-professional experience do you have working in a social services agency? Convert any part-time experience to years (i.e. 20 hours week for 2 years equals 1 year full-time). This experience must be clearly listed on your application to receive credit.

• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 or more years
• None

08

Are you 21 years of age or older?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have a valid Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

10

How many years of experience do you have working with children and families providing brief, solution-focused intervention and crisis management?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 or more years

11

How many years of experience do you have utilizing person-centered strategies?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 or more years

12

How many years of experience do you have providing therapy or crisis services o adults, adolescents, children, and/or their families?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 or more years

13

How many years of experience do you have conducting mental health screenings?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 or more years

14

How many years of experience do you have handling mental health crisis situations, including diagnosis and treatment of clients in crisis?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 or more years

15

The full salary range for this position is $73,515- $114,868 annually and preferred hiring range is $73,515- $82,705 annually. The amount that is offered is dependent on the candidates overall skills, education, experience and internal equity. The offer would also include the Countys benefits package. Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary youd accept if selected for the position?

16

Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.

• Facebook
• Friend, Family or Colleague
• Indeed
• Job Fair or Dakota County Event
• Job Interest e-mails from Dakota County
• League of Minnesota Cities
• LinkedIn
• Diversityjobs.com
• Minnesotaworks.net
• Minnesota Association of Counties
• Monster
• Professional Association Website
• Referred by a Dakota County Employee
• College Website, Instructor, Career Services
• Dakota County Website
• Other

17

If you selected "other" above, please indicate where you heard about this opportunity with Dakota County.

Required Question

Employer Dakota County

Address Administration Center

1590 Highway 55

Hastings, Minnesota, 55033-2372

Phone 651.438.4435

Website http://dakotacountymn.gov