Child Welfare Specialist II (Permanency Planning /Adolescent Unit)

County of Mecklenburg, NC•Charlotte, NC

1d•$28 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth and Family Services (YFS) Division of the Department of Social Services (DSS) is dedicated to safeguarding children by strengthening families facing risks to their health, safety, and well-being. Our mission is to build a safety net of services, collaborations, and hope, with a vision to cultivate a compassionate and understanding organizational culture. We believe our staff are our most important resource and that children and families deserve skilled professionals. If you have a passion for social work and making a difference in your local community, join our Youth and Family Services team! This position provides community-based services to individuals, groups, families, or communities addressing issues such as child abuse, neglect, dependency, and adoption. The role involves assisting clients with needs related to mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, social adjustment, housing, childcare, and medical care. Under general supervision, this position is responsible for evaluation, case management, counseling, comprehensive assessments, and referral services to meet the needs of children and families. Specifically, this Child Welfare Specialist II will work with adolescents aged 13 and older and will be located at 10101 David Taylor Dr., Charlotte, NC 28262.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work AND one of the following: two years of social work experience; qualifying internship; successful completion of the NC Child Welfare Collaborative program OR master’s in social work OR bachelor’s degree in related major AND two years of social work experience OR master’s degree in related major AND two years of social work experience.
Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related major
Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
Requires County Driving Privileges
Annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check required
Intermediate in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred
Bilingual (Spanish and English) proficiency oral and written
Permanency planning experience preferred
Pre-Service Training: Child Welfare in North Carolina

Responsibilities

Assess needs of individuals and/or families; and provide counseling and services in both individual and group settings and discuss goals, expected outcomes and means with which to meet goals and expected outcomes to include the development of Family Service Agreement
Assist clients in the completion of required paperwork for items that may determine program eligibility, referrals, or provide job assistance, such as job application
Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems, to determine what services are required to meet their needs
Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply
Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as childcare, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, or parenting classes, to prevent more serious problems from developing
Determine clients' eligibility for sponsored programs and financial assistance; and ensure timely benefits and referrals to other agencies, whether internal or community based
Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions
Monitor residential facilities for compliance with licensure standards, provide technical assistance, investigate complaints against licensed facilities
Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
Collect supplementary information needed to assist client, such as employment records, medical records, or school reports
Transport clients (adults and children) to appointments such as medical, job related or others, if appropriate
Manage records and documentation of services provided and maintain history records
Complete court reports and testify in juvenile and adult court hearings
Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients, and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided and ensure services were effective and situations have improved
Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, medical and behavioral health providers, and other contacts, to help children and adults who face problems such as disabilities, abuse, inability to meet daily functional needs or poverty
May be required to work varying shifts to include evening and weekends
May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster