Social Worker III IA&T – CQI Social Worker

Join a growing organization where your work is valued, your ideas are welcomed, and your attention to detail makes a real difference. 

We’re committed to investing in our people. Our employees have access to amazing benefits, professional development opportunities, ongoing learning, and opportunities for growth. If you’re someone who is organized, detail-oriented, dependable, and passionate about doing meaningful work, you’ll find a place here where your contributions matter. Come grow with us, work alongside an incredible team, and build a career centered on purpose and impact.

This position is within the child welfare unit of the Family Services division of the Department of Social Services.   The primary purpose of the position is to work in conjunction with leadership and CQI team to provide continuous quality improvement and quality assurance activities for child and family services. The position also provides training and assistance to social work staff, supports supervisors with training and orienting new employees, and serves as a facilitator for Child and Family Team meetings.

**NOTE** Two professional references are required, with at least one from a current or previous supervisor.The following essential functions serve as a general guide for this position. Position functions are subject to change based on departmental needs and external factors including, but not limited to, regulatory requirements.

• Provides training and orientation to new social workers, particularly around policy and procedures for their assigned role and program area;  
• Develops and provides ongoing training and work sessions on best practices, child welfare practice standards, new policy updates and changes, and other needs identified; 
• Provides ongoing training and technical support to Social Workers on how to perform required job functions,  how to write quality goals, how to write case plans and court reports;
• Provides instructions, videos, and other tools to social work staff for how to complete job functions correctly and efficiently;
• Collaborates with leadership and peer CQI Social Worker to review case records and reports to identify practice trends that need to be addressed; 
• Facilitates Child and Family Team meetings as needed and complete necessary documentation from the meeting;
• Runs reports and tracks data as needed for CQI and QA activities;
• Participates in a variety of statewide workgroups and committees as needed;
• Provides testing and feedback for various forms and functions as requested by NC DHHS; 
• Prepares requested data for and participates in regional CQI and regional child welfare consultant meetings;
• Conveys follow-up information back to supervisors, management, and state staff as needed; 
• Conducts record reviews and assisst with preparing for program monitoring, audits, and fiscal reviews as needed;
• Conducts targeted reviews of records as needed to identify processes that need to be improved;
• Provides feedback and suggestions for how to improve social work practice to management; 
• Conducts a variety of quality assurance functions including data review and clean-up as needed; 
• Provides backup and assistance for the other CQI Social Worker; 
• Provides backup for essential functions of the unit including covering intake, initiating CPS reports, assisting the in-home and permanency planning teams, and filling in for on-call shifts as needed;  
• Completes documentation of case activities in the record per local and state policy and required timeframes, thoroughly and timely;   

• Participates in the on-call rotation for Children’s Services;  
• Participates in shelter operations or other weather-related incidents as needed. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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 (one year of work experience can be credited for completion of the social work collaborative); 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 services field or related curriculum and three years of social work or 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. 

• Considerable knowledge of child welfare practice and policy including abuse, neglect, and dependency, CPS intake and assessments, in-home, and permanency planning programs; 
• Ability to work independently, manage day-to-day tasks, prioritize work assignments, and be flexible with schedule as needed;
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects at once;
• Excellent computer skills and ability to learn, test, navigate, and troubleshoot information systems;  
• Ability to relate to and convey information about information systems from both a front-end user and at a programmer/developer level; 
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Excel and the ability to track data and trends;
• Ability to quickly learn and utilize a wide array of technology, databases, and state systems (such as AOC, client services data warehouse, E-Courts, Lexis Nexis, Child Welfare Assist, and others);  
• Ability to train in 1:1, small group, and large group settings as needed; 
• Considerable understanding of quality assurance and continuous quality improvement approaches and practices;
• Good attention to detail and ability to spend extended periods on the computer, doing record reviews, and performing repetitive tasks;
• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community and system issues;
• Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, resources in the community, and laws, regulations, and policies that govern the program.
• Ability to prepare written documentation such as case planning notes and QA activity summaries;
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from varying cultures and backgrounds via phone and through personal contact and provide equitable treatment to all;
• Ability to manage conflict, remain neutral and fair, engage people and build trust, and promote collaboration and consensus;
• Ability to use best practices, strategies, professional judgment, and time management skills in complex situations;
• Ability to plan and coordinate with both internal and external parties;
• Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions;
• Ability to be flexible and to work as a team player;
• Ability to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication and listening skills;
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills;
• Ability to demonstrate good public relations skills;
• Skill in operating standard office equipment such as computers, phones, fax machines, and scanners; 
• Ability to perform work proficiently using local and state technology systems including NCFAST, PATH NC, Northwoods, iiReception, Microsoft Office, internet browsers, virtual meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and other commonly used electronic programs;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county officials, department heads, peers, associates, and the general public.  

Physical Requirements
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking, hearing and repetitive motions, frequently requires touching or feeling and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing, balancing, reaching, pushing, pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; work requires vocal communication to express or exchange ideas orally; work requires hearing to perceive information at normal spoken levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data; work is generally performed in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic.) Must be able to operate a vehicle and perform fieldwork. 
Work settings include the Department of Social Services, referral/resource agencies, and homes of individuals. Home visits are made to often crowded, unsanitary dwellings, which lack proper lighting, handicap access, and other amenities. In addition, homes are often sub-standard and may be infested with pests. The worker is exposed to regular traffic hazards and adverse weather conditions.

Special Requirements
**Must be fingerprinted and successfully pass a Criminal History Record Check with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (NCSBI)**
Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.
Must complete all applicable required training including Confidentiality, Civil Rights, FEMA and Red Cross Shelter Training, Bloodborne Pathogens, applicable adult services program training, new employee orientation, and Chatham County Department of Social Services Policy and Procedures.