Social Worker Iv Family Assessor Investigations

SOCIAL WORKER IV FAMILY ASSESSOR INVESTIGATIONS

Job Description

Social Worker IV-Family Assessor/Investigator-Children Services

Social Services

FLSA: N

JOB SUMMARY

This position performs professional social work to individuals and/or families with personal, social, health and economic needs. This is advanced, professional level casework providing protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for children and adults who are at risk of neglect and/or abuse. Employees are assigned to local departments of Social Services and provide social work services including treatment and immediate response to crisis situations for at‑risk children/adults in the most complex cases in the departments.

Work involves investigation of alleged neglect and abuse, substantiation of the alleged neglect or abuse as prescribed by federal and state guidelines, providing expert testimony in court hearings, and following up with case management and preventive services for clients. Employees analyze situations and determine appropriate courses of action immediately or in short time spans and often under very stressful conditions.

Employees typically report to a Social Work Supervisor under general supervision. This position is responsible for performing case management and other duties in the provision of services to Child Services clients. An incumbent in this position may be designated “Social Worker I”, “Social Worker II”, “Social Worker III”, “Social Worker IV”, or “Social Worker Trainee”.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Responds to emergency calls regarding neglected, abused, or dependent children within mandated time frames.
• Investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect.
• Conduct interviews with children, family members, and other relevant parties.
• Develop and implement safety plans for children at risk.
• Maintain detailed case records and documentation.
• Maintains confidential records and files; prepares reports as required.
• Provide court testimony and prepare investigative reports.
• Collaborate with law enforcement and other agencies.
• Assess family situations and determine appropriate interventions.
• Refer families to community resources and services.
• Monitor and follow up on cases to ensure ongoing safety.
• Provide crisis intervention and support.
• Present casework in various settings.
• Attend training sessions and seminars.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Required to work extended hours and weekends, including on call duties when necessary.
• Required to work shelters in the event of a natural disaster.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
• Knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices and their application to specific casework and community problems.
• Knowledge of behavioral and socioeconomic problems and their treatment and governmental and private organizations and community resources.
• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies which govern social work programs.
• Skill in supervising, training, or orienting lower-level social workers, students, interns, orother staff.
• Skill in expressing ideas clearly and concisely and in planning and executing work effectively.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

• The Social Work Supervisor II assigns work in terms of very general instructions. The supervisor spot checks completed work for compliance with procedures and the nature and propriety of the final results.

GUIDELINES

• Guidelines include social work principles and methods, North Carolina General Statutes, federal, state, and county policies and procedures, court guidelines, the Social Worker Code of Ethics, and confidentiality guidelines. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

COMPLEXITY

• The work consists of varied duties in the delivery of assistance to agency clients. Strict regulations and the volume of cases contribute to the complexity of the position.

SCOPE AND EFFECT

• The purpose of this position is to manage and provide assistance to agency clients. Successful performance results in the provision of social services to clients.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

• Contacts are typically with co-workers, other county employees, health care…