Social Worker - Adult Protective Services

Randolph County • Asheboro, NC

8d

About The Position

The Social Worker provides intensive social work services in serious and complex Adult Protective Services cases involving at-risk disabled adults. The role includes responding to crises, investigating and assessing allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, arranging appropriate protective services, and providing ongoing counseling and case management. Work is governed by North Carolina law and applicable federal, state, and local regulations, policies, and procedures.

The employee receives referrals and makes initial contact, conducts timely investigations and assessments, determines whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation has occurred, and evaluates clients’ safety and service needs. The position may require seeking court protection or guardianship, providing case management for adults for whom the agency is guardian, investigating complaints at licensed adult and family care homes, and assisting with facility surveys. The employee maintains detailed case records and reports, makes required client and collateral contacts, and may prepare court reports or provide expert testimony. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential, and the employee performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Meet one of the listed education and experience qualifications: a master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; a bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly related experience; a master's degree in counseling in a human services field and one year of social work or counseling experience; a bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years of directly related experience; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.
• Directly related experience is defined as human services experience in case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy, and treatment planning.
• Include official transcripts with the application.
• Understand social work theory, techniques, and practices; individual and group behavior; social problems; medical and mental illness; coping behavior; crisis intervention; and treatment of medical and mental diseases and social issues.
• Be able to assess and respond to immediate threats and make decisions under stressful conditions and within short timeframes.
• Understand the legal basis for involuntary intervention and take responsibility for offering services to clients.
• Be available to ensure critical adult protective services are provided in a timely manner in accordance with applicable laws, directives, policies, and guidance.

Responsibilities

• Receive referrals involving disabled adults and make initial contact.
• Initiate investigations and assessments within applicable statutory and policy timeframes, including immediate response when warranted.
• Conduct fact-finding through interviews, home visits, collateral contacts, and other investigations in accordance with North Carolina statutes and APS policies.
• Maintain timely face-to-face contact with disabled adults throughout investigation and assessment phases.
• Prepare social histories and client assessments; document findings concerning abuse, neglect, exploitation, and client well-being.
• Determine whether a client has been abused, neglected, or exploited, whether services are needed, and the level of intervention required to assure safety.
• Petition the court for protection when a disabled adult faces immediate risk and no safe alternative plan is available from the family.
• Provide referrals and assist clients with services such as housing, facility placement, and filing protection orders.
• Provide ongoing counseling, protective services, and case management to clients who accept services.
• Assess clients for incompetency and determine whether to seek guardianship.
• Provide case management to agency wards, including face-to-face visits, meeting basic and medical, dental, and mental health needs, arranging appropriate housing, and providing transportation.
• Gather and provide information to assist the DSS Director with medical decisions, including surgeries and Do Not Resuscitate paperwork.
• Conduct facility complaint investigations, including death investigations, and monitor or inspect licensed adult and family care homes in Randolph County.
• Assist the State with yearly facility surveys.
• Maintain detailed, current, clear, concise, and professional case records; document contacts with clients, family, and collateral sources; and prepare required statistical reports.
• Use prescribed tools and forms, including electronic case-management or document-storage systems and NC FAST, as required by policy.
• Review results with a supervisor and recommend case disposition.
• Prepare court reports and provide expert testimony as required.
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality and perform other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time