Social Worker - IA&T Job Concord area,North Carolina USA,Social Work

Responsibilities

Investigate/assess new protective service reports by observing children involved in the report, identifying verbal and non-verbal behavior, interviewing children and obtaining medical and psychological evaluations as part of the initial evaluation process, as necessary, to determine extent of abuse or neglect; gather data concerning the children from families and schools, community, extended family members, friends or acquaintances; interview family members concerning the alleged abuse or neglect, and the family’s overall level of functioning.

Employees manage a caseload of clients in the most difficult and complex cases. Work may involve providing treatment in group, family or individual therapy to clients of any age and/or with any developmental, mental, medical, financial, substance abuse or family problem including abused, neglected or homeless children. Work includes clinical and social investigation, assessment of individuals and family dynamics, crisis intervention, referrals for treatment and placement in foster care or residential facilities.

Employees provide expert testimony.

Assessment of family dynamics and degree of abuse and neglect using Structured Decision-Making Tools and best practice skills to determine severity and immediacy of the problem and risk to child. Determine if immediate intervention is necessary by removal of children from the home and initiation of appropriate juvenile court action. Arrange for services for family and children as needed.

Write court petition, giving clear, concise and cogent grounds for petitioning court, accurate description of abuse or neglect leading to the petition, and accurate accounting of reasonable efforts to avoid court intervention. Include plan of intervention outlined to justify court involvement. Consultation with agency attorney to outline court case, including employee’s own testimony, testimony of children and witnesses, testimony of other professionals.

Regular ongoing proactive work with families, including face-to-face contact with children and caretakers through home visits and other contacts in the field, including schools and day care centers. Family centered practice skills will be used by employee.

Keep timely and accurate documentation in case file, including structured decision-making tools, narrative documentation, and copies of other evaluations, or records as needed to support all case decisions and actions. Work is reviewed by unit supervisors, program managers or higher-level administrators, usually on a routine basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Identifying and prioritizing problem elements under stress, crisis interviewing and counseling to allow worker to take charge, defuse and manage the crisis by identifying and utilizing both customary and creative resources for the benefit of the client to elicit trust and cooperation from the client and others directly involved. Abilities required of the social worker include accurately observing human behavior and environmental conditions, processing collected data in order to effectively recommend and implement a sound course of action in a short period of time, relying on self as a major resource, while operating in an isolated and stress-laden environment, and acting appropriately and effectively on the acquired information.

Worker must have the ability to carry our routine case actions while being involved with crisis situations. Possess thorough knowledge of community resources, manual material and state/federal regulations. Identifies elements of medical and mental disorders. Knowledge of interpersonal helping and treatment modalities. Identifies and prioritizes problem areas, often under stressful situations. Interviews clients who are emotionally confused, hostile, or have conflicting social needs.

Creates resources when none are known or available. Establishes constructive relationships with resistant clients. Copes with difficult and demanding situations. Coordinates services effectively for clients through ability to work with multi-disciplinary professionals.

Minimum Education and Experience

Master’s degree from an accredited school of…