Social Worker IAT

Jackson County•15 Griffin Street -- Sylva, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an advanced professional-level casework position providing protective, investigative, counseling, and case management services for children at risk of neglect or abuse. The Social Worker provides social work services, including treatment and immediate responses to crisis situations, in highly complex cases. The role may combine investigative and treatment functions or have separate functions depending on the department’s structure. The worker manages a caseload involving the most difficult and complex cases and may provide group, family, or individual treatment to clients of any age and with developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, financial, or family problems. The work includes clinical and social investigation, assessment of individuals and family dynamics, crisis intervention, referrals for treatment, and placement in foster care or residential facilities. Employees investigate alleged neglect and abuse, determine whether allegations are substantiated under federal and state guidelines, provide expert testimony in court hearings, and follow up with case management and preventive services. Employees exercise considerable judgment in assessing whether abuse or neglect occurred, its extent and circumstances, and appropriate treatment. Work is planned jointly with multidisciplinary teams or protective services committees and supervisors, and reviewed by unit supervisors, program managers, or higher-level administrators. Assessments, interviews, and treatment decisions affect the safety and well-being of children in abuse and neglect situations. The position requires following state and federal laws, program rules, directives, policies and regulations, professional ethics, and quality assurance standards. The Social Worker is generally scheduled in the office from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, covers emergencies during those hours, and may be required to provide on-call after-hours emergency response. The schedule may be varied to accommodate client needs. The salary range is $35,528.33–$49,991.93, depending on education and experience. Work-against applications are accepted.

Requirements

One of the following education and experience combinations: a master's degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; a bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience; a master's degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; a four-year degree in a human services field or related curriculum and three years of social work or counseling experience; or graduation from a four-year college or university and four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling, or a related human services field providing casework, group work, or community organization experience; equivalent combinations of training and experience may qualify.
One year of work experience may be credited for completion of the social work collaborative.
Possession of a valid State of North Carolina driver's license to operate a motor vehicle, required at hire and as a condition of continued employment.
Knowledge of social work theory, techniques, and practices; individual and group behavior; social problems; medical and mental illness; family dynamics; coping behavior; crisis intervention; and treatment of medical, mental, and social issues.
Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices and their application to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of child abuse or neglect.
Thorough knowledge of relevant policies and procedures, including the authority of federal and state law.
Thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral, and psychosocial problems and their treatment theory.
Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and community resources.
Ability to interact with and motivate resistant involuntary clients and members of the public who may disagree with applicable laws, rules, policies, or programs.
Ability to prepare written investigative reports for court, case records, and treatment plans, and to testify as an expert witness.
Ability to make decisions affecting children and families under stressful and potentially dangerous conditions, often immediately or with little time for consultation.
Ability to use advanced case management interview techniques to establish supportive relationships and involve families in initial service-needs assessments.
Ability to assess client-environment risks and safety during daylight hours, after dark, and in high-crime areas.
Ability to use expert negotiation skills in complex cases.
Ability to analyze tense family situations and make child-removal decisions with limited direct information and limited access to consultation.
Ability to communicate effectively and establish supportive client relationships.

Responsibilities

Investigate allegations of child neglect and abuse and determine whether they are substantiated under federal and state guidelines.
Provide protective, investigative, counseling, treatment, and case management services to children and families in complex cases.
Manage a caseload involving difficult and complex cases, including follow-up case management and preventive services.
Conduct clinical and social investigations and assess individuals, family dynamics, child development, safety, and risk factors.
Provide crisis intervention and make immediate decisions about appropriate courses of action, including decisions about child removal when necessary.
Refer clients for treatment and arrange placement in foster care or residential facilities when appropriate.
Provide group, family, or individual treatment to clients with developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, financial, or family problems.
Prepare investigative reports for court, case records, and treatment plans.
Provide expert testimony in court hearings.
Work jointly with multidisciplinary teams, protective services committees, and supervisors.
Follow applicable state and federal laws, program rules, policies, directives, regulations, professional ethics, and quality assurance standards.
Respond to emergencies during scheduled hours and, as needed, provide on-call after-hours responses to emergencies received by county law enforcement departments.