SOCIAL WORKER III - PERMANENCY PLANNING/FOSTER CARE (CHILD WELFARE)

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The application review process will take place immediately and continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may close any time after the first review or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.  

Hiring range for this position is $52,852.80 - $63,169.60. Initial placement for new employees is customarily at entry level through 35% percentile. Pay grade for this position is 19.

General Definition of Work:
Performs intermediate professional social work providing case management services in a variety of programs including but not limited to permanency planning following established patterns of service and program requirements in the Department of Social Services. Work is performed and reviewed under the regular supervision of a Social Work Supervisor.

Essential Functions/Typical Tasks:
Interviewing clients and relatives to determine the scope of the challenges and the client's ability to manage or meet those challenges; performing assessments to identify needs; obtaining medical, financial and social history; developing service and/or treatment plans and monitoring service delivery for clients and/or families to address issues of medical, health, or behavioral issues; providing supportive/directive counseling to address problems such as adjustment to illness or disability, adult placement issues, financial concerns, and socialization; establishing eligibility for specific programs or services; preparing case summaries and reports; maintaining records, files and confidentiality.
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Conducts the required number of contacts and/or home visits each month according to specific program requirements to assess the current situation and assure that services are being provided.
• Explores alternative community resources and makes referrals to other programs, services and agencies.
• Completes necessary documentation for reviews.
• Provides supportive and/or budget counseling and education to clients, care givers, and families.
• Provides a wide variety of services to alleviate crisis situations, enable families to be self-sufficient, and enable adults to remain in their homes.
• Builds resource networks with community and state agencies.
• Performs related tasks as required to potentially include but not limited to emergency shelter operations.

Position Specific Functions:
Permanency Planning/Foster Care:

• Manage an assigned caseload of children in foster care by conducting ongoing assessments of safety, risk, well-being, and permanency needs, ensuring each child’s needs are appropriately addressed.
• Maintain regular communication with biological families and foster caregivers, facilitate and supervise family visitation, engage families in services, and support reunification efforts when appropriate.
• Coordinate and monitor services including therapy, medical care, educational supports, and transportation; assist caregivers in understanding and responding to children’s behavioral, emotional, and developmental needs; and participate in Child and Family Team (CFT), treatment planning, and school meetings.
• Develop, implement, and update case plans with input from all parties; ensure timely and accurate documentation in the case management system; prepare court and permanency planning reports; attend court hearings and provide testimony while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with legal and ethical standards.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to specific casework, group work, and community problems; of federal and state laws, policies and procedures, program rules and quality assurance standards; of behavioral and socioeconomic problems and their treatment; and of organizations and resources in the community. Knowledge of medical terminology and disease processes and/or intellectual or developmental disability / programs and behavior management techniques. Working knowledge of office equipment and computers and applicable software applications. Ability to write clear, concise, and grammatically correct documentation, case records and service plans; to communicate effectively orally and in writing with persons of varied social, economic, cultural and educational backgrounds; to understand a broad range of needs, total situation and the family dynamics in the assessment process; to make accurate assessments/evaluations and use analysis and judgment to develop and appropriate service/treatment plan; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families, a variety of medical and psychological professionals, law enforcement, court officials, attorneys, community agencies and the general public; and to attend work regularly.

Management Preferences and Requirements:

• Have experience working in Child Welfare or just graduated with a Human Service Degree.
• Must have valid NC driver's license.
• After hours is often required
• Prior work in Social Services preferred
• Strong knowledge of agency programs and community resources.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of personal computer is a plus.
• Must have NC pre-service training or willing to attend.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is desirable.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work or; 
• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and one year of directly related experience or; 
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two years of directly related experience or;    
• Master’s in Social Work or Master’s in Human Services
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Must possess or attend and complete the required NC state child welfare pre-service training and in-service training for child welfare positions only.

Some county job postings indicate that you can qualify with an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If this language is included in the job description, it means you may qualify through either education, your years of directly related experience, or a combination of both.

If you have indicated that you have earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from a technical school, college, or university, please note that Cabarrus County will verify your educational credentials. Official transcripts must clearly show the specific credential awarded to ensure accurate validation.

Special Requirements:
Position may require possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina. Position may be a safety-sensitive position as defined by the Drug Free Workplace. Position may occasionally require after hours work.

Physical Requirements:
This is normally light work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects; some work may require the exertion of 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects; work may require climbing stairs for home visits, kneeling, standing and/or walking while interviewing various parties; reaching and fingering, grasping, and repetitive motions; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately or loudly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels, and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or make fine distinctions in sound; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operation of office machines, determining accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities; the worker is subject to contact with irate clients and/or family members; homes that may be poorly maintained or unsafe living conditions. The worker may be exposed to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.

Supplemental and Contact Information:

Cabarrus County selects applicants for employment based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or political influence.  

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.  Applicants who obtained their education outside of the United States and its territories are expected to assume responsibility for having their academic degrees validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. 

Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit.  "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.

If multiple applications are submitted to an individual position, only the most recent application received prior to the posting closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Processing applications will take an average of 6 – 8 weeks due to the high volume of applications received. It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the most qualified applicants.

For technical issues with your applications, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 704-920-2200.