Social Worker III QA -Foster Care

Harnett County•Lillington, NC

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Work in this class involves providing intensive social work services in serious and complicated cases which require the flexible use of a wide range of social work skills and intervention techniques. Services are provided in a variety of settings including local human services agencies; providing in-depth assessment of family dynamics and needs, assessment, intervention and treatment of patients and or families with acute to severe medical and/or emotional disorders and mental illnesses; serving as expert witness at court hearings; or advanced social work intervention. Working with Law Enforcement, Medical personnel, the school system, Court system. Work includes working with the entire family system, identifying strengths and needs and working together to help children achieve permanency. Employees may be asked to train lower level social workers, students, and interns. Employees report to program directors, or unit supervisors. This position also involves quality control of Placement cases. Reviewing records with the State review tool to help identify strengths and weakness in Placement cases.

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.
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, and resources in the community, laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program.
General knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
In certain settings, considerable knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies based on medical or psychological diagnosis.
Skill in establishing rapport with a client and in applying techniques or assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client’s problems.
Ability to supervise, train, or instruct lower-level social workers, students, or interns in the program.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships with members of case load and their families, as well as civic, legal, medical, social, and religious organizations.
Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.
Ability to perform manual work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Nice To Haves

Employees may be asked to train lower level social workers, students, and interns.
Employees report to program directors, or unit supervisors.
This position also involves quality control of Placement cases.
Reviewing records with the State review tool to help identify strengths and weakness in Placement cases.
Employees may participate in development of new theories or adaptation of techniques in the field of social work.
Candidate may also be assigned other duties while employed in this position and is expected to adapt as the job position entails, other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

Assessment of the family's service needs and evaluation of the appropriate services to be provided is an essential component of this employee's responsibilities.
The employee assists families in developing service plans and setting goals. Service plans are designed to prevent further abuse or neglect and to ensure safety of children within the family setting. If child is removed from the home, goals are designed with purpose of reuniting families. The purpose is to prevent further maltreatment and resolve problems in family unit. Written service and visitation agreements are developed between employee and client. These written agreements provide direction and clarification for parents who are sometimes overwhelmed by the agency and often unsure of the agency's expectations. Service and visitation agreements specify obligations for both parents and the agency. They formalize the parents' agreement and input for the treatment program. This approach is supportive of parents and keeps them involved in planning for their child's future.
As case manager, employee designs and obtains appropriate services to meet needs of clients. Case management ensures a cohesive approach in the delivery of services. Employee is responsible for ensuring agency and court reviews for children in the custody or placement responsibility of the agency. This employee provides Medicaid-at-risk case management services for clients meeting medical criteria. Assists client in grasping relationship between current situation and desired goals and advocating for needed resources and services for client. The number of cases assigned varies. Employee usually carries five to eight cases at a given time. Employee carries these cases until legal custody is returned to parents or relative. Preventive service cases vary according to family's ability to reach set goals. Employee may assume responsibility for client budgeting in some cases. Employee assists agency attorney in preparing cases for court. Presents information to court, files juvenile petitions when child must be removed. In court, employee functions as a knowledgeable, competent witness and makes recommendations concerning the child's care and custody. Employee must have thorough knowledge of N.C. General Statues pertaining to Children's Rights and the Juvenile code. At times, employee may be asked to make investigations of court-ordered custody dispute matters which requires an evaluation of the home environment, ability of the person in question to parent, and an overall assessment of his/her emotional, financial and physical capability to provide adequate care for child.
As a case manager employees are expected to conduct thorough assessments and interviews to determine what other resources we may be able to connect them with. The Social worker is responsible for assisting clients in becoming as safe and self sufficient as possible. Social Worker at any time may be asked to complete duties outside of this job description when deemed necessary by management that it is in the best interest of the agency.
Employee reviews cases for accuracy, to determine the appropriateness of services and in preparation for court and agency reviews. Services received by clients are monitored. The progress made by client is monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. Provides guidance to encourage innovation and change in programs, the agency's structure and services delivery, and guidance to encourage needed changes in family unit, guidance toward demonstrating appropriate means of discipline.
Employees provide social work services in the areas child protective services, custody and adoption, and foster care work which involve the assessment of individual and family dynamics and needs, serving as expert witness at court hearings, crisis intervention, and counseling. Work involves explaining diagnosis and treatment alternatives to patients and families, counseling and participating in education endeavors for physicians, psychologists, nurses, other health disciplines, students and social work interns, and participating in research activities.
Employees use considerable judgment in conducting individual assessments, selecting and providing treatment techniques or dealing with psychosocial aspects or researching catastrophic or terminal diseases. Employees provide in-depth assessment of family dynamics, determine the extent of neglect or abuse, and provide counseling for clients with complex needs. Employees usually refer the most severe cases, such as severe phobias or unusual violence patterns to a higher level social worker or therapist. Employees educate and consult with other staff and community professionals for information purposes and joint case planning. Some didactic consultation may also be involved.
Work requires a thorough understanding of social work assessment techniques and treatment approaches primarily of a crisis, supportive, and behavioral nature. Considerable knowledge of legal and administrative aspects of programs. Employees may require knowledge of medical diagnoses, treatment alternatives, disease pathophysiology, biopsychosocial, adaptive, and coping responses to illnesses.
Work involves comprehensive children services that are jointly planned with other members of a multi-disciplinary team or protective services committee and supervisors. Assessment and intervention are performed with considerable independence. Medication issues are referred to physicians and legal precedents are utilized in some settings.
Assessments, service/treatment decisions affect the safety and well-being of clients in neglect or abuse situations, affects adjustments in adoptive and foster care placements and in long term placements; or the adaptive coping response to illness and surgery.
To review Placement records and offer critical, fact-based information regarding records and meeting state and Federal requirements.