Social Worker III IA&T - In Home​/Foster Care

Job Title

Social Services Position

Are you passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families? Do you have the drive to create positive change and support vulnerable children as they navigate life's toughest challenges? Are you an empathetic, dedicated, and resilient individual? If you're ready to take on a role that will challenge you, inspire you, and empower you to make a lasting impact, we want to hear from you!

Apply now! This position operates within the child welfare unit of the agency and provides In-Home and Foster Care social work services to monitor and maintain the safety of children where neglect or abuse has been identified. This position conducts assessments to accurately identify the strengths and needs of the family system and assess the risk of continued harm to the children.

Works to strengthen the family's capacity to protect and nurture children and provides referrals to community services.
** NOTE
* * Two professional references, with one being a current or previous supervisor, are required.

• Monitor the safety of children in their homes where neglect or abuse has been identified and conduct assessments that accurately reflect the strengths and needs of the family system;
• Assess the safety of children and risk of continued harm;
• Actively works with parents and families to engage them in the case planning process and guide them towards safety and permanence for their children;
• Work with families to strengthen their capacity to protect and nurture children through referrals to community resources;
• Conduct home visits to see children, placement providers, and families face to face and in their home environments per NC DHHS policies;
• Coordinate the medical, dental, educational, mental health, and psychiatric services for children in foster care;
• Facilitate shared parenting with placement providers, and family time between children, parents, and siblings;
• Participate in Child and Family Team and Permanency Planning review meetings;
• Work collaboratively with a wide array of partners including the parents, Guardian ad Litem program, foster and relative placement providers, treatment providers, and attorneys in case planning activities;
• Develop comprehensive family services agreements to outline the activities that the social worker and parents will do to be able to safely maintain their children in the home and/or to return them to the home safely;
• Attend and participate in child planning conferences;
• Prepare comprehensive court reports including recommended plans for permanency, participate in associated court proceedings, and testify in court as needed;
• Document all case activities in the record per local and state policy and required time frames, thoroughly and accurately;
• Participate in the rotation for on-call for children's services;
• Participate 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;
• Considerable understanding of trauma and its impact on children and families involved with the child welfare system;
• Skilled in the ability to manage conflict, remain neutral and fair, engage people and build trust, and promote collaboration and consensus toward positive outcomes;
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work assignments, and be flexible with scheduling as needed;
• Ability to quickly and competently assess the risks and safety of the home environment, employ negotiation skills in complex situations, and de-escalate emotional and tense situations;
• Ability to work independently and manage day-to-day tasks;
• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community and system issues;
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems that children and families may be experiencing;
• Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private…