Social Worker III (Licensing/Placement)

Gaston County Government•Gaston County Department of Social Services, NC

About The Position

Gaston Social Services protects, cares for, and empowers children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves through federal, state, and county programs focused on improving residents’ well-being. The Social Worker III (Licensing/Placement) provides case management for children in the custody of the Department of Health & Human Services and works to achieve permanency for them. The role includes maintaining comprehensive case documentation, coordinating services and visits, transporting children and sometimes caretakers, and participating in meetings, court proceedings, training, and reporting. The anticipated hiring range is $27.45–$32.60. The selected applicant must pass a criminal background check and drug screening; work visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

MSW from an accredited school of social work; or
Master’s degree in counseling from an accredited college or university in a human services field and one year of directly related experience; or
BSW from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative for child welfare positions; or
BSW from an accredited school of social work 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.
Valid driver’s license.
Include a copy of a transcript with the application; applications without transcripts will be rejected.
Undergo a criminal background check and pass a drug screening test before employment. For positions working with children, the County requires an SBI criminal history record check if an offer is made.
Must be legally authorized to work without Gaston County visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Good communication skills when working with children and adolescents.
Appropriate knowledge of child development.
Knowledge of the impact of separation and loss on children removed from their family and home environment.

Responsibilities

Provide case management services to children in Department of Health & Human Services custody and aggressively seek permanency for them.
See each child; attend court hearings; and prepare required reports and documentation.
Contact and meet with appropriate family members and collateral contacts.
Coordinate and facilitate visits between children and their families or caretakers.
Advocate for and obtain services children need, including medical, emotional, educational, and placement services.
Conduct announced and unannounced home visits to removal homes and foster homes or group facilities, as required by policy, statute, and court direction.
Create and maintain case files documenting each child’s time in foster care, including photographs, correspondence, medical and educational records, activity narratives, court documents, plans, assessments, visitation information, referrals, releases, identifying information, social histories, home studies, parental information, and program progress notes.
Transport and accompany children, and sometimes caretakers, to appointments, visits, drug screenings, and court.
Prepare for and participate in Permanency Planning Team Meetings, Child & Family Team Meetings, treatment team meetings, and Care Review Meetings.
Participate in weekly team staffing, individual staffing as needed, local trainings, professional development trainings, and state-mandated trainings.
Prepare monthly reports containing statistical data.
Be available to work mandatory emergency shelters and perform other duties as assigned.