Social Worker III – Adoptions Social Worker

Chatham, County of•Pittsboro, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position provides counseling and case management services to children who are legally cleared for adoption and in the custody of the Department of Social Services. This position works efficiently towards achieving stability and permanency for children and provides a full range of adoption services, as well as post-adoption support services to adoptive families. Adoption services include but are not limited to legal work, emotional preparation of children for adoption, child-specific recruitment and assessment of prospective adoptive families, placements in approved homes, and the supervision of the placements.

Requirements

Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work
Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only)
Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience
Master's degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience
Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience
Considerable knowledge of child welfare practice and policy including abuse, neglect, dependency, permanency planning, and adoption policies and procedures
Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community problems
Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory
Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, resources in the community, and laws, regulations, and policies that govern the Program
Ability to prepare documentation such as preplacement assessments, home studies, and court reports
Considerable knowledge of the effects of trauma on children
Familiarity and understanding of the behavioral health system, the various levels of care needed for children and youth in foster care, and how to identify appropriate placements for children and youth in foster care
Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions
Ability to effectively facilitate and train in 1:1, small, and large group settings
Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from varying cultures and backgrounds via phone and through personal contact and provide equitable treatment to all
Skilled in the ability to manage conflict, remain neutral and fair, engage people and build trust, and promote collaboration and consensus toward positive outcomes
Strong multi-tasking skills
Ability to prioritize work assignments
Ability to work independently and manage day-to-day tasks
Ability to plan and coordinate with both internal and external parties
Ability to be flexible and to work as a team player
Ability to demonstrate good verbal and written communication and listening skills
Ability to demonstrate good public relations and customer service skills
Skill in operating standard office equipment such as computers, phones, fax machines, and scanners
Ability to perform work using local and state technology systems including NCFAST, CWIS, Northwoods, iiReception, Microsoft Office, internet browsers, virtual meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and other commonly used electronic programs
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county officials, department heads, peers, associates, and the general public
Must be fingerprinted and successfully pass a Criminal History Record Check with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (NCSBI)
Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license
Must complete all applicable required training including Confidentiality, Civil Rights, FEMA and Red Cross Shelter Training, Bloodborne Pathogens, applicable child welfare training, new employee orientation, and Chatham County Department of Social Services Policy and Procedures

Nice To Haves

Demonstrate flexibility with scheduling to provide training during daytime and evening hours (occasional weekend work required)

Responsibilities

Write comprehensive and high-quality pre-placement assessments
Conduct monthly home visits to assess children and placement providers face-to-face and in their home environments per NC DHHS policies
Provide ongoing emotional support as well as ensure the overall health and well-being of children in foster care who are legally cleared for adoption
Conduct child-specific recruitment and actively work to identify prospective adoptive families for children
Coordinate the medical, dental, educational, mental health, and psychiatric services for children in foster care
Work collaboratively with a wide array of partners including youth, the Guardian ad Litem program, foster and adoptive families, treatment providers, and attorneys in working towards permanence for children
Participate in Child and Family team meetings, Permanency Planning review meetings, Adoption Committee meetings, and other required meetings as needed
Prepare comprehensive court reports, participate in associated court proceedings, and testify in court as needed
Assist with the planning and attendance of adoption-related awareness events, celebrations, and ceremonies
Complete thorough and timely documentation of case information per policy
Participate in the rotation for on-call for Children’s Services
Participate in shelter operations or other weather-related incidents as needed
Performs other duties as assigned