Social Worker III Trainee - Child Protective Services Assessor

Buncombe County Government•Asheville, NC

1d•$30 - $35•Hybrid

About The Position

Do you feel the call to help others? Do you want to help families safely care for their children? Assessors work to determine the validity and severity of child abuse or neglect reports. They make sure that children and families in crisis get what they need to address the identified issues. We are looking for fast-paced, passionate, and engaging human services professionals to join our Social Work Department in Buncombe County, NC. If the typical 8-to-5 job is not for you, and you have the desire to help children and work with families in crisis, then consider starting your career as a Social Worker III Trainee with Buncombe County Social Work Services. This posting is for ongoing recruitment for the Social Work Child Protective Services division. Learn more about the job from our Social Workers in these 1-minute videos: Pamela, Brenda, George and Emily. The hourly rate for a Social Worker III Trainee is $27.58. Candidates hired as Social Worker III Trainees are expected to advance to a Social Worker III position once the employee becomes fully qualified. At that time the selected candidate will be promoted and compensated as a qualified Social Worker III. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. If you are interested in this position but are not certain if you meet the exact qualification requirements, we encourage you to apply. Buncombe County uses a substantial equivalency standard to determine if applicants are qualified. Candidates are required to submit transcripts with their application. Social Workers are required to work in the office (no teleworking) for their first 6 months of employment to ensure they receive the appropriate level of support and training. The selected candidate for this position will be required to submit to a drug test. Please note that CBD or Delta-9 Hemp products may cause a positive drug test. Purpose of the position: The primary purpose of this position is to ensure child safety in compliance with state and federal statutes regarding child protective services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and one (1) year of directly related experience; or a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, or Human Services and two (2) years directly related experience; or Bachelor’s degree in another field and three (3) years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
A current, valid North Carolina driver's license.
Ability to prioritize, identify, and assess risks, problems and needs often in stressful situations with clients who are hostile, emotionally confused, and resistant; Ability to effectively de-escalate individuals.
Knowledge of medical, behavioral, and socio-economic problems and their treatment.
Knowledge of numerous funding sources and how to utilize them.
Knowledge of basic criminal justice procedures, elements of medical and mental disorders, personality theory, family systems dynamics, interpersonal relations, and cultural differences, values, and lifestyles.
Skills in establishing constructive relationships with resistant clients and utilizing family-centered SW practice.
Skills and counseling in interviewing and the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively; and skills in creating resources when none are readily available.
Thorough Knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their application to specific casework and community problems.
Thorough knowledge of agency procedures and resources, community systems and resources, manual material, state and federal regulations, permanency planning philosophy, and laws governing protective services for children.

Nice To Haves

BSW and Social Work Collaborative Students preferred.
English/Spanish bi-lingual speakers preferred.
Certificate of completion of the NCDHHS Pre-Service Training: Child Welfare in North Carolina is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and monitor service plans with families involved in Child Protective Services and provide or refer services as needed.
Make recommendations to the court, including services needed, progress and barriers to permanent plan.
Provide direct services to children and their parents/caretakers through which a timely and comprehensive assessment is conducted to determine if abuse/neglect/dependency exist and provide for ongoing intervention if warranted.
Ensure safety planning for children in compliance with state and federal statutes and policies.
If children cannot remain safely in their home a petition to the court and/or non-secure custody is sought.
Assess, support, supervise and counsel families involved with child protective services to ensure child safety, wellbeing and permanence.
Evaluate available information to determine the appropriateness for intervention and level of services required.
Prepare legal documents, court reports, and court testimony when warranted in compliance with state and federal statutes and policies.
Ensure all required documentation, forms and reports are completed and maintained in a timely and consistent manner in accordance with local, state and federal requirements.
Provide state mandated case management services for children in DSS Legal Custody.
Develop and monitor service plans with families and provide or refer services as needed.
Make recommendations to the court, including services needed, progress and barriers to permanent plan.
Establish rapport with children, families, and appropriate professionals/non-professionals in the community to provide a strengths-based, family centered approach in working with families throughout child welfare involvement.
Performs other related duties as assigned.