Child Welfare Specialist III (Special Victims Unit)

County of Mecklenburg, NC•Charlotte, NC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a specialized position within the Special Victims Unit (SVU) as the Child Welfare Specialist III. The Child Welfare Specialist III will be required to conduct investigations regarding child abuse and neglect to include child trafficking, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, fatalities, foster homes, and group homes. This position is responsible for providing community-based services to individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues that could include child and adult abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation, mental health concerns, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, housing, childcare, or medical care. This position in Youth and Family Services, under general supervision, is responsible for providing evaluation and assessment of risk and safety issues, case management, counseling, and referral services for complex cases to assist in meeting the needs of these clients. This position may handle more complex cases requiring a higher-level skillset.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work AND one of the following: three 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 four years of social work experience
OR master’s Degree in related major AND three years of social work experience.
Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
Requires County Driving Privileges
Strong assessment and interviewing skills
Excellent communication and writing skills
Ability to partner with multiple community agencies
Ability to work with families who have experienced trauma
Advanced in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
Bilingual (Spanish and English) proficiency, oral and written
NC DHHS: Responding to Child Sex Abuse, The Art of Narrative Interview: Skills for Meaningful Engagement, Understanding and Screening Trauma (Similar Trainings can be considered for out-of-state candidates)
3 years of investigation experience within the last 5 years
Demonstrated familiarity with the signs of physical, emotional, and behavioral abuse
Demonstrated experience in forensic interviewing
Demonstrated experience in multidisciplinary collaboration with community partners (law enforcement, medical professionals, and other specialized partners)
Demonstrated experience in promptly identifying threats to children’s safety and engaging necessary protective actions

Responsibilities

Assess and provide appropriate services on complex child abuse/neglect cases involving complex mental health, domestic violence, human trafficking, and substance abuse issues
Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure child safety, permanency and well-being of children and families
Be receptive to case feedback
Attend trainings as needed
Maintain a positive working relationship with the SVU supervisor and manager
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
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
Transport clients to appointments such as medical, job related or others, if appropriate
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
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
Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems, to determine what services are required to meet their needs
In consultation with management, make decisions on behalf of children and families impacted by child abuse/neglect
Manage complex cases and assessments
Manage records and documentation of services provided and maintain history records and prepare reports
May be required to work varying shifts and weekends
May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster