Social Work Supervisor III - FC

Gaston Social Services: Protecting, caring for and empowering children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves through the administrating of federal, state and county programs focused on improving the well-being of our citizens.

The goal of the Gaston County Human Services Center and Division of Social Services is to foster an agency which is professionally responsive to our citizens' needs through daily caring outreach and simultaneously serve as an advocate for those in need. We strive to be community-minded and community-spirited. We abide by federal, state and county operating instructions in providing services and we assist welfare recipients in attaining self-sufficiency.
The anticipated hiring range for this position is $37.50 - $44.53

The duties listed below are not all of the duties that may be assigned but are those that are considered as essential for an employee to perform.

• Direct supervision of 5 Social Worker IIIs in a foster care unit dedicated to finding timely permanency for children. This format requires that the SWS III have strong working knowledge of rule/law/policy around foster care, take responsibility for child safety and well-being for a range of 75-100+ open cases, and additionally handle all personnel matters with regard to direct reports.

• Facilitates unit/team staffing on a monthly rotation with partner SWS III, and also individually staffs cases, as necessary, to ensure support, direction and guidance for social work staff. Accompanies, critiques, guides and coaches staff during direct service delivery for teaching/learning purposes, during vacancies or absences (ensures coverage), and in dangerous or threatening situations, or when they are working intensely complicated (sometimes cross county or multi-issue) cases. Provides individual attention and training to each social worker (including assigned interns), on an as-needed basis, to include support, encouragement, coaching and discipline (developing work plans and corrective action plans).

• Reviews all documentation, including all court paperwork and orders, to ensure compliance with law and policy.

• Assign cases in accordance with state administrative standards, transition cases as needed, work collaboratively with legal staff in order to assure child safety and permanency, ensuring adequate and timely attention to all cases. Manages all scheduling and leave approval for unit, in collaboration with partner Supervisor and Unit (on team).

•  Participates in interviewing, selection and hiring processes of staff for unit, including all performance evaluations throughout responsibility for individual staff.

•  Participates in Children & Family Services Management Team meetings monthly, participating on subcommittees, providing input and feedback, in order to promote accountability and consistency across units/teams/division.

•  Must be available to work mandatory emergency shelters & other duties as assigned.

• Master's degree In Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution and 1 year of directly related experience.
•  Master's degree in human services field (such as counseling, psychology, related discipline) and 2 years of directly related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited institution and 2 years of directly related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field and 3 years of directly related experience.
• A valid driver's license is required.

Ability to adjust to changing work and climate in order to meet the needs of a multi-cultural, ever-changing clientele, as well as ability of multi-task, deal with intense inter-personal familial situations that might involve danger, violence, safety risks, and operate in a calm and reasonable manner (versus reactionary). knowledge of social work principles, methods, and practices. knowledge of casework supervision and staff training.   knowledge of behaviorial health, substance use, disabilities and community resources. knowledge of laws, regulations and policies governing social work programs; abilitity to supervise, train, evaluate professional social workers, ability to organize work, monitor quality, and manage caseload distribution.  Strong communication, assessment, and problem solving skills. 

A copy of a transcript must be included with the application. FAILURE TO ATTACH YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION BEING REJECTED.

The applicant selected must undergo a criminal background check and pass a drug screening test prior to employment.

In compliance with G.S.153A-94.2 (b), if the position being filled requires an applicant for employment to work with children in any capacity, the County must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI. These checks must be performed in accordance with G.S.143B-1209.26, which authorizes the SBI to provide fingerprint-based state and national criminal record checks to cities and counties.