Senior Social Worker IA&T

Nash County•Nashville, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Child Protective Services In-Home Unit's primary purpose is to execute the agency's legal mandate to serve families in which abuse, neglect or dependency has been substantiated or found in need of Services. Work in this unit entails: Counseling and planning with the child's family intended to strengthen the ability of families to protect and care for their own children, to minimize harm to children and youth, and to ensure permanence in children's lives. Arranging for provision of and assisting families in utilizing appropriate services and community resources. Obtaining the cooperation of law enforcement agencies as required obtaining suitable care and services for the children in or out of their family origin. Initiation of court action when necessary. The agency is mandated to provide services to children who have been identified as neglected, abused, or dependent. The primary purpose of the Senior Child Protective Services In-Home Social Worker, Investigations, Assessment and Treatment, (SW IA&T) is to execute this mandate. This is an advanced, professional level case work position, providing counseling and case management services for children who are identified as neglected and/or abused or dependent. This is done so by assessing family situations to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the family system and to evaluate the level of risk the child may face in the home. The Senior Social Worker also provides other services to families with children under the age of 18 years who have requested such services from the agency in conjunction with protective services. Treatment and immediate responses will be provided to crisis situations for at risk children in the most complex and hostile of cases.

Requirements

Two+ years CPS Investigations experience required.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to adapt to frequent changes.
Court experience.
Leadership skills.
Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices and their application to complex casework and community problems.
Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques.
Considerable knowledge of developmental stages and tasks, human behavior and social economic problems and their treatment.
Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and other resources within the community.
Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies which govern Child Protective Services.
General knowledge of methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, associates, administrative superiors, social medical, legal, civic and religious organizations.
Ability to supervise, train or orient lower-level employees, students, or interns.
Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely-orally and in writing.
Ability to plan and execute work effectively and meet deadlines.
Ability to operate an automobile.
Ability to use a personal computer and access the State Network.
Ability to effectively function under stress and to deal with conflict situations and hostile personalities.
Ability to function with a high level of autonomy.
Ability to function cooperatively with members of a team.
Ability to accept constructive criticism.
Ability to refrain from causing or contributing to disruptions or hostility in the workplace.
Ability to make thorough assessments through intense observation skills, interviews and social work practice and be able to accurately orally and in writing communicate the process and results of the assessment.
Two years directly related experience in NC Department of Social Services.
Minimum North Carolina automobile liability insurance.
Valid North Carolina driver's license is required.
Must have a car available for work.

Nice To Haves

Obtain at least 24 hours of training annually, after an initial training of 72 hours before assuming case responsibility.

Responsibilities

Reviewing the case and becoming familiar with the family dynamics, identified problems and strengths of the family.
Devising a Family Services Agreement jointly with the family based on the Risk Assessment and Initial Case Plan, containing measurable, time-limited objectives with specific desired outcomes and necessary behavior changes.
Functioning in the capacity as a lead worker to provide coaching/guidance to interns and less experienced workers in case consultations.
Providing guidance involving application of policy and other job functions including preparation of court studies.
Accompanying workers as a support in complex situations in absence of a supervisor.
Keeping supervisor abreast of any work performance or training concerns noted when coaching staff.
Providing necessary support to resolve problems and ensure quality services are provided.
Providing counseling to the client directed toward the development and utilization of family support systems.
Seeking community resources to assist the client in attaining their goals.
Monitoring the Family Services Agreement and completing a Risk Assessment at various intervals in all neglect, abuse and/or dependency cases requiring continued mandated services.
Updating the Family Services Agreement when changes in the family occur and revising the plan to implement an appropriate plan of protection for the child.
Providing the supervisor with a factual assessment for joint decision-making regarding court action.
Completing the Risk Assessment prior to court action, indicating the risk and/or harm to the child by remaining in the home.
Presenting the case to the Child and Family Team prior to the decision for court intervention or immediately after obtaining a non-secure custody order in an emergency.
Initiating court action through a non-secure custody order and/or petition when out of home placement is necessary or to ensure permanence in a child's life.
Assessing placement options (relatives or foster care) and conjointly with the foster care worker developing an appropriate plan for the child.
Preparing the child and family for separation, placement and the court process.
Preparing a written assessment for the court, soliciting witnesses when necessary, sharing information with the child's Guardian ad Litem and testifying in court making the agency's recommendation.
Following up with written reports for court review as ordered or required.
Conducting an investigation of suspected abuse and reporting such information to the District Attorney and law enforcement within a specified time frame, both verbally and in writing, when evidence of abuse is found.
Monitoring, reviewing, and maintaining cases through frequent contact with the client by visiting them in their home, interviews in the agency and telephone contact, collateral contacts and in some situations, periodic court reviews.
Formally assessing the client's progress by updating and re-signing the Family Services Agreement on a quarterly basis and whenever there is a major change in the family, reassessing the risk to the child(ren) by completing the Risk Assessment form.
Presenting cases in the agency's foster care review team when a child comes into agency custody.
Speaking at meetings of community agencies and organizations to emphasize the preventive nature of the agency's services and to familiarize the community with the reporting laws.
Assisting in providing information to other agencies and local citizens to better help them understand the functions of the agency.
Disaster Relief, including shelter duty.
Occasional on-call for emergency child welfare issues.
Completing all forms of documentation required by the North Carolina Division of Social Services, North Carolina General Statutes, and Nash County Department of Social Services.