Social Worker IA/T - CPS On-Call

This position is open until filled.
The Human Resources Office is unable to provide status updates by telephone.
The salary range is listed above. Starting salary will depend on qualifications and experience.

The Social Worker-Investigative/Assessment and Treatment as the On-Call/After Hours worker will receive alleged reports of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency as well as any other calls that are received after hours or otherwise outside of the agency’s business hours. They will determine what course of action, if any, is to be taken to address the call/report within the legally mandated timeframes. They will accomplish this through quick assessment of the degree of risk to potential victim children by using appropriate investigative techniques. They will also provide assistance to other staff as needed/warranted to ensure the safety of victim children. They will also determine whether reports are unfounded and require a finding of unsubstantiated/not in need of services, or if they rise to the level of the statutory definitions outlined in North Carolina General Statute 7B-101 and require substantiation or finding that the family is in need of services and involuntary intervention to ensure the safety of victim children. 

• Quickly ascertain facts on accepted report to determine within mandated time frames what, if any, steps are necessary to protect and ensure the safety of the alleged victim/victims. Includes completing safety assessments to help establish a baseline from which progress, or the lack there of, toward the goals set out in the case plan and assessment can be measured. This includes working with the parent/care taker on achieving these goals.  
• Have and maintain knowledge of family dynamics, social worker assessment techniques, and consultation and teaching techniques to help parents/caretakers address the issues that prompted the report and assessment. Additionally, help the client family develop the initial Family Services Case Plan, which outlines the steps needed to eliminate incidents of abuse and neglect.
• Interview children of all ages, ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
• Interview a similar diverse series of adults with equal proficiency.
• Obtain background checks and information on both offending and non-offending caretakers.  
• Function in chaotic and/or potentially hostile environments.
• Be aware of the appropriate legal statues that must be used when necessary to protect victim children.
• Provide intensive in-home guidance to all clients, adult and juvenile, with the goal of keeping the family intact and ensuring the juveniles receive a minimum standard of care.  
• Develop and continually reevaluate in-depth case assessments to measure progress towards, or lack of progress towards, the case plan goals.
• Continuously work with parents/caretakers to accomplish goals set out in the case plan and to address protection issues.
• Have and maintain knowledge of family dynamics, social work assessment techniques, and consultation and teaching techniques to perform the position in accordance CPS practices and standards.
• Obtain and maintain acknowledge of community and state resources which may be accessed to address client needs.
• Coordinate with these resources and parents/caregivers to implement intervention safety plans.
• Represent the agency as an expert witness in the areas of abuse, neglect, and dependency at juvenile (7-B), custody (Chapter 50), mental health, and/or criminal hearings.
• Take steps to remove children from the care and custody of their parents/caretakers when they are not able to provide a safer, appropriate, and permanent minimal standard of care. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the director, to include emergency duty and assisting with displaced children and/or adults.
  • Provide clinical and technical guidance to professionals, agencies, and/or community groups as well as within the Department of Social Services.
  • Must maintain good working relationship with each of the above groups.
• Represent the agency/Investigations unit at Foster Care reviews, court hearings, team and unit staffing meetings, and Investigations and Foster Care evaluations/reevaluations as needed by the Children’s Services Unit.
• Participate in the screening of reports as necessary.
• Fulfill any and all training requirements.
• Access additional trainings as needed.

Thorough knowledge of social work principals, techniques, and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children. Thorough knowledge of policies and procedures as evidenced by the ability to cite the authority of federal and state law. 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 resources in the community. Ability to interact and motivate a resistant involuntary client population and the public who may not agree with the laws, rules, or policies of the process or the programs. Ability to prepare documentation such as written investigative reports for the court, 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 employ expert negotiation skills in the most complex cases. Ability to analyze and assess child development safety issues in relation to risk factors. Ability to analyze tense family situations and make decisions about removing children when the decision has to be made with limited direct information and limited access to consultation. Ability to communicate effectively and establish supportive client relationships. Ability to perform manual work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force to constantly move objects.  

Minimum Training and Experience Requirements - Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience; or master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or a four year degree in a human service field or related curriculum and three years of social work of counseling experience; or graduation from a four-year college or university and four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling, or a related human service field providing experience in the techniques of casework, group work, or community organization; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Work Schedule- Work hours are considered to be during non-regular agency business hours, but the worker may be required to maintain some portion of regular agency business hours.

Note: This position is eligible for a Hiring Bonus to be paid as follows: $2500 on the first paycheck after 30 days of employment, $2500 on the first paycheck after one year of employment. Total Hiring Bonus $5000.
Application Special Instructions: Experience must be listed on the application, see resume is not be acceptable.

Please Note:
 If offered a position, official transcripts/verification of education must be submitted directly to the Human Resources Office from the educational institution(s) listed on application. Positions requiring a minimum education/certification must also have official documents submitted to the Human Resources Office. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted by the candidate with the application for consideration of meeting minimum job requirements.