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Social Service Worker I

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Columbia, KYFull-time$56K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$56K/yr
Location
Columbia, KY
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degreeValid Driver's License

Job overview

The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice seeks a Social Service Worker I to provide professional social work services to adjudicated juveniles in its facilities. The role includes beginning-level counseling, treatment planning, placement and discharge support, case documentation, and supervision. Work takes place in an office, facility, or residential program setting and may include visits to clients’ or families’ residences and emergency services at any hour.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Social Work ServicesIndividual CounselingGroup CounselingFamily CounselingTreatment PlanningJuvenile Supervision

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Related FieldValid Driver's License

Full job description

Advertisement Closes

11/4/2026 (11:59 PM ET)

2605772

Social Service Worker I

Pay Grade14

Salary

$55,541.52 Annually

Employment Type

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

Click here for more details on state employment. (https://personnel.ky.gov/Pages/Careers.aspx)

Hiring Agency

Justice & Public Safety Cabinet | Department of Juvenile Justice

Location

401 Appleby Drive

Columbia, KY 42728 USA

Description

The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice is a multi-faceted agency that serves juveniles of the Commonwealth. While striving to hold youth accountable for their actions, the Department creates opportunities for sentenced, committed, probated, or detained youth to develop social and career skills that will equip them for re-entry into their communities as productive and responsible citizens.

The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) seeks to serve youth in the least restrictive, appropriate placement possible. We aspire to be a premier team of professionals committed to providing life-changing services resulting in the positive transformation of children, families, and communities.

For more information about the Department of Juvenile Justice please visit:https://djj.ky.gov/

This is a highly responsible position in the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The employee is expected to perform all duties to the best of their ability, act in a responsible manner at all times, demonstrate leadership qualities, and treat all staff, youth, and persons with respect. This is a demanding position that requires maturity, reliability, and self-discipline. Career growth and advancement are encouraged through training and mentoring opportunities.

Please be advised that although medical cannabis has been legalized in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, due to other applicable state or federal laws, employees in this position are prohibited from using medical cannabis. If you need additional information about this prohibition, you may contact the agency point of contact for additional information.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provides entry level professional social work services to adjudicated juveniles in Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facilities.

  • Provides beginning level individual, group, and family counseling services for juveniles served in DJJ facilities and develops individual treatment plans.

  • Conducts treatment team planning sessions.

  • Participates in placement and discharge of juveniles. Assists juvenile service worker with integration of juveniles back to community.

  • Writes progress notes, discharge summaries, charting summaries and other administrative or treatment reports. Maintains current and confidential case records.

  • Supervises juveniles as needed.

  • Minimum travel may be required.

  • May be required to restrain out-of-control juveniles.

Minimum Requirements

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 Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice, an employee in this job classification must furnish to the appointing authority within one month of employment, documentation that he/she possesses a valid driver's license Must maintain any required licensure(s), certification(s), or other credentials for the length of employment in this job classification. Employing agency is responsible for ensuring employee possesses and maintains required licensure(s), certification(s) or other credentials.

Working Conditions

Performs job duties in an office/facility or residential program setting and visits clients and/or families at their residence. Provides emergency services on 24-hour basis, including accepting referrals and completing investigations at any hour without prior warning. As a result of enforced intervention, the worker runs the risk of physical harm.

Probationary Period

This job has an initial and promotional probationary period of 9 months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

If you have questions about this advertisement, please contact James Briggs [email protected] ([email protected] ?Subject=2605772 - Social Service Worker I) or 270-384-7528.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D

How this job compares

Set against the 3,379 open Social Worker jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 30, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$56K/yr
  • US median$67–93K/yr1,005 salary ranges

This rate, $56K, is 30% below the US median midpoint ($79K) — in the lowest quarter of Social Worker salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 67 open Social Worker jobs in Kentucky and 3,379 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Kentucky
Experience
Social Worker postings that state a minimum ask for 2 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 2 years (1,675 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 2,168 of the 3,379 open Social Worker jobs (64%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 30, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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