Social Worker III-Foster Care

Transylvania County is a community with a rich cultural scene, grounded in tradition and history and with a vision for the future. We are a community that has a wonderful public and private education system that provides our region with a well-trained and viable workforce. Transylvania County has a population of 33,211, featuring over 250 waterfalls with the highest, Whitewater reaching a staggering 411ft.

For the outdoor enthusiast there are 1000+ miles of trails, 300+ miles of cycling territory including single tracks and fire roads; fly fishing from the many streams, pristine swimming holes and even mountain climbing at the famous Looking Glass Rock scaling 60ft of granite face rock. Come join and see what our community is all about!

The primary responsibility of this position provides in-home and foster care services to children under age 18 years of age and their families where abuse, neglect, or dependency has occurred. This role will provide counseling families to prevent or resolve problems leading to abuse or neglect and making referrals to other community resources as needed. Responsibilities also include counseling with children around problems which may be related to abuse or neglect in the home.

Work involves initiating court proceedings when required and preparing cases for presentation in juvenile court.

• Investigates alleged neglect or abuse to determine extent of neglect, and abuse, and facilitate move to appropriate setting to assess strengths and risk factors related to physical and mental health.
• Provides in-depth assessments of family dynamics and needs, assessment, intervention and treatment of patients and/or families with acute to severe medical and/or emotional disorders and mental illnesses.
• Serves as an expert witness at court hearings.
• Explains diagnosis and treatment alternatives to patients and families.
• Counsels and participates in education endeavors for physicians, psychologists, nurses, other health disciplines, students and social work interns, and participates in research activities.
• Provides advanced social work intervention, instruction, and research in a teaching hospital.
• Provides assistance in sensitive and traumatic situations such as custody and removal of client from homes; catastrophic and terminal illnesses; and/or family dysfunction.
• Provides case management for adoption cases and completes necessary paperwork to be filed through the court system.
• Responsible for helping select adoptive parents for a foster child to be adopted to.
• Completes all private adoptions that the Clerk of Court orders a Report to Court on including stepparent adoptions, relative adoptions, independent adoptions and foreign adoptions.
• Recruits foster/adoptive parents that will support children brought in to care in Transylvania County.
• Oversees the LINKS program for teenagers in foster care and eligible young adults who are no longer in foster care.
• Manages cases for young adults aging out of foster care who opt into extended care through DSS contracts and meet program requirements.
• Direct and provide training to staff that includes Social Worker I and II, students, and interns.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Considerable knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices and their application to specific casework, group work and community problems; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing; and ability to plan and execute work efficiently.

Frequent travel for home visits, meetings, and court appearances is required. Duties may involve extended periods of sitting, driving, walking, and occasional lifting of materials. Must be able to respond to emergency situations and manage emotionally challenging interactions.

Work is performed in both office settings and various community environments, including private homes. Exposure to emotionally charged situations and potentially unsafe conditions may occur.

The role requires flexibility to work outside of standard business hours, including evenings, weekends, and participation in an on-call rotation. Some weekend and after hours are required as necessary.

Note:

This position requires access to and use of confidential information. The individual filling this position shall sign a confidentiality statement as an employee of Transylvania County Department of Social Services.

* Could qualify as a Social Worker II- work against rate applied*

Social Worker III – MSW; BSW and completion of Child Welfare Collaborative; BSW and one year directly related experience; 4-year degree in a human services field and two years directly related experience; 4-year degree and three years directly related experience; or master's degree in counseling in a human services field and two years directly related experience.

Social Worker II - BSW
; 4-year degree in a human services field and one year…