Social Worker III (Foster Care Unit)

Stanly County•Albemarle, NC

About The Position

This position provides counseling and other social work services to children in foster care or group care, or to children who are candidates for foster care. The Social Worker will also work with families to improve functioning through counseling and crisis intervention. Responsibilities include placement of children, direct treatment for children and families, and developing permanent plans such as reunification, adoption, or kinship placements. The role involves conducting home studies for potential placement resources, preparing cases for court, testifying in court, and transporting clients.

Requirements

Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and no work experience; OR
Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly related experience; OR
Master's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and one year of directly related experience; OR
Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years of directly related experience; OR
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.
Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children.
Thorough knowledge of federal and state laws, policies and procedures, program rules, directives, professional ethics and quality assurance standards.
Thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory.
Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and community resources.
Working knowledge of standard office procedures, practices, and equipment.
Skill to use a variety of office machines, computers, applicable software and typing.
Skill in establishing rapport with a client and applying techniques of assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client's problem.
Skill in teamwork, collaborative conflict resolution and customer service excellence.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrative supervisors, members of case load and their families, and with care providers and various community organizations.
Ability to write clear, concise, and grammatically correct reports, documentation, case records and treatment plans.
Ability to testify as an expert witness.
Ability to employ advanced case management interview techniques to establish a supportive relationship and involve families in the initial assessment for the need of services.
Ability to quickly assess the risks and safety of the client environment during daylight hours, after dark, and in high-crime areas.
Ability to analyze and assess child development safety issues in relation to risk factors and to analyze tense family situations and make decisions about removing children when the decision must be made with limited direct information and limited access to consultation.
Ability to interact and motivate a resistant involuntary client, to work with multidisciplinary teams, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families, a variety of medical and psychological professionals, law enforcement, court officials, attorneys, community agencies, and the public.
Ability to plan and execute work.
Ability to establish and follow work procedures, prioritize work, and prepare and maintain accurate records and reports.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with people of varied social, economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
Ability to maintain composure, keeping emotions in check, even in difficult situations, and to attend work regularly.
Ability to work effectively, tactfully, and courteously with the public and other governmental organizations.

Nice To Haves

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Varying settings, programs, and job designs at this level allow for flexibility in accepting counseling experience or social work experience as required by the job.

Responsibilities

Provides social work services including in-depth assessment of family dynamics and needs, intervention and treatment of children or families with acute to severe medical and/or emotional disorders and mental illnesses.
Prepares detailed and complex court summaries and reports and testifies in court hearings.
Develops and implements the treatment and service plan and goals and follows-up with case management, treatment, and preventive services.
Manages an intake, foster care, adoptions, home-based services, or family preservation caseload (or a combination of these services).
Prepares case summaries and reports for review, maintaining records and files while ensuring confidentiality.
Analyzes situations and determines appropriate courses of action immediately or within short time frames, often under very stressful conditions.
May provide group, family, or individual treatment to clients of any age and any developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, financial, or family problem.
Exercises considerable judgment in determining whether abuse or neglect has occurred, to what extent, and how it occurred as prescribed by federal and state guidelines.
Interviews the child, family, and collateral contacts.
Collects background information.
Gathers and shares information to determine the extent of abuse or neglect, to provide counseling, to arrange for services, and to provide expert opinions to legal counsel.
Decides the modality of counseling and uses both individual and family counseling.
Monitors client's use of services and progress of the family at least quarterly, if not more often, and writes a case plan each time changes in placement or goals occur.
Offers consultation to foster parents and group home staff.
Travels to homes, schools, health and mental health facilities, and other service agencies.
Attends case conferences and staffing with legal, court personnel, and other Department of Social Services staff.
Attends other meetings as required.
Ensures that the plan provides for safety and well-being and meets federal, state, and agency requirements.
Operates computer terminal entering and retrieving data from the appropriate state and county system.
Operates computer, scanner, calculator, and other standard office equipment incident to maintaining records.
Participates in ongoing training as required.
Ensures all federal, state, and local policies and procedures are followed.