2025 Salary Range $84,712 – $112,409
Classification: Full Time
FLSA: Exempt
Additional Benefits (see below)
The Village of Wilmette is excited to announce a newly created position of a Co-Responder Social Worker to become a part of a highly professional organization and make a meaningful, positive impact on our community. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of Police and will interact regularly with the community.
The Village of Wilmette is located along Chicago’s North Shore and is easily accessible from the City of Chicago via the Metra UP North Line and the CTA Purple Line. The Village is 5 square miles with a population of 28,170. The Village has 5 business districts with a vibrant downtown known as the go-to dining destination on the North Shore and two regional shopping centers with Edens Plaza and Plaza del Lago.
As a progressive organization, the Village is committed to making Wilmette a livable and welcoming community. The Village Board is committed to exceptional and transparent communications, sustainability, optimizing land use & economic development, equity & inclusion, affordable housing, and active transportation.
General Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, being paired with a sworn Police Officer in response to calls involving mental health, substance abuse, and other vulnerable populations. In pairing a mental health professional with a Police Officer, the goal will be to achieve on-scene crisis de-escalation and provide screenings and assessments, as well as on-site referrals for ongoing treatment. The successful candidate will join and support the existing Village Social Worker to improve services and mental health support provided to residents and the community, the Police Department, and victims of crime. The Co-Responder Social Worker will be on-call, at various intervals and times throughout the year to respond to emergencies requiring assistance. The on-call responsibilities and timing will be discussed more thoroughly and implemented based upon the availability and needs of the Department.
The Co-Responder program serves the goal of connecting people that are experiencing mental health issues and concerns with trained professionals that can provide initial services in real time as well as assist and coordinate a more comprehensive response, as necessary. The Co-Responder Social Worker and Police Officer will spend time to ensure the subjects in need get properly connected to the needed services and can help build a “safety net” that will ideally improve their situation as well as reduce future reliance on emergency services. This will include follow-up and progress tracking to ensure the individual or community are receiving the care and attention that is needed.
The Co-Responder Social Worker will also provide staffing support to Housing Our Own-Wilmette, a not-for-profit organization created by the Village of Wilmette to provide financial housing support to low-income senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and individuals with mental health challenges.
Position Requirements: The successful candidate will possess a Master’s degree in Social Work, counseling or related field and five years of related experience in crisis response and intervention services preferred. Must have a minimum of Licensed Social Worker (LSW) license or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) for the State of Illinois preferred.
The candidate should have demonstrated experience and skill in family and individual counseling as well as with services involving juveniles. A minimum of five years of social work experience
related to providing support to vulnerable populations and individuals with mental health challenges is required, with clinical experience in past employment being ideal and preferred.
The candidate must have the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, with excellent organizational skills, be detail oriented, possess the ability to handle multiple and simultaneous projects as well as develop positive working relationships with co-workers. The ideal candidate should be able to be proficient in Microsoft Office products including Outlook, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and know or learn the Village’s enterprise software program (Munis). Experience in working with the public in a customer service role in a fast-paced environment is preferred.
Compensation and Benefits:
The annual salary range for this position is in Pay Grade I: $84,712 – $112,409
The position and starting salary shall be based on the candidate’s qualifications and certifications.
The Village offers an excellent benefits package with participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), medical, dental, vision and life insurance, paid time off for vacation, sick, annual salary step increases; and voluntary participation in the IMRF Voluntary Additional Contribution (VAC) fund, MissionSquare (457 plan), supplemental life insurance, and flexible spending accounts for medical, dependent care and commuter expenses. A summary of compensation and benefits can be viewed on the Village’s webpage at: Human Resources | Wilmette, IL
Selection Process:
Candidates will undergo multiple interviews. The selected candidates will successfully complete a reference check, a criminal background check, and a driver’s license verification with the Secretary of State’s Office.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should complete an online employment application found on the Village’s Self-Service Employment Opportunities webpage at https://wilmette.munisselfservice.com/ess and attach your resume and cover letter. Paper submissions will not be accepted. The position remains open until filled. Resumes will be reviewed and interviews scheduled as they are received.
The Village of Wilmette is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are critical to the Village’s success. The Village seeks to recruit the most talented individuals from a diverse candidate pool and strongly encourages applications to be submitted from all genders, all races, all sexual orientations, people with disabilities, and Military Veterans.
