Social Worker III - Foster Care Licensing

Johnston County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Description

This position is being re‑advertised and will remain open until filled. Candidates who have previously submitted an application are still being considered and do not need to re‑apply.

The Johnston County DSS mission is to serve aid and protect needy and vulnerable children and adults in ways that strengthen and preserve families. We provide human services programs that are intended to promote the health, well‑being, self‑sufficiency and protection of families, children and adults within our community.

Johnston County Department of Social Services has an immediate opening for a Social Worker III in the Foster Home Licensing Services Unit.

The primary purpose for the Foster Care Licensed Social Worker is to recruit and license foster and adoptive families as set forth by minimum licensing standards. The worker is to complete all home studies and the home study process for all relatives being considered for placement of a foster child as well. The worker will assess the relative as a potential licensed foster home.

The recruitment process involves the social worker's ability to utilize interviewing skills (e.g., assessment, evaluation), the development of foster homes, consultation, technical assistance and training to assist foster families in the supervision and improvement of the quality of care provided.

The social worker must be familiar with established standards of substitute care as the standards relate to physical, psychosocial growth and achievement of self‑realization by the child. The social worker promotes and supports the foster parents/family in their endeavor.

The worker assists the foster parent in accepting appropriate responsibility for the continuity of placement to avoid unnecessary replacements. The worker's role encompasses administrative duties such as the licensing process and establishing controls for record keeping maintenance. The worker assesses and evaluates existing conditions, which relate to the needs of the community and works to expand, strengthen and improve the foster care‑licensing program.

Keeping foster homes up to date and re‑licensed and licensing new foster homes is the paramount goal of this position.

Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices and their application to complex casework, group work and community problems. Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral and psychosocial problems and their treatment. Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques. Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community, laws, regulations and policies governing the program.

General knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies. Skill in establishing rapport with a client and in applying techniques of assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client's problems. Ability to supervise, train or instruct lower‑level social workers, students and interns in the program. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of caseload and their families as well as civic, legal, medical, social and religious organizations.

Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.

• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; or Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); or Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience.

• Master’s degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience; or Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and…