Social Services Specialist - Foster Care

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Social Services Specialist to join our team in Bladen County, NC. As a key member of our social services department, you will provide advanced level professional social work services in serious and complicated cases that require the flexible use of a wide range of social work skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional social services to Department of Social Services clients in assigned program(s), which may include child protective services, adult services, foster and adoption services.
• Manage assigned caseload; maintain accurate and complete case records; accurately record services provided.
• Assess client needs; prepare, implement and monitor care plans, making changes when necessary.
• Refer clients to other department divisions and outside agencies for services as appropriate; assist clients in accessing needed services.
• Conduct home visits to perform initial assessment, monitor progress and ensure clients are receiving necessary care and/or assistance.
• Provide client transportation as needed.
• Attend staff meetings to discuss and coordinate cases; communicate with other professionals to coordinate client care.
• Conduct case audits.
• Receive and respond to inquiries, concerns and complaints regarding assigned programs and projects.
• Work on call 24 hours per day, seven days a week, on a rotating basis.
• Gather information for and prepare various reports as required by the County and/or other agencies.

Foster Care Services

• Assist in the recruitment, training and licensing of foster care providers.
• Conduct home visits to assess home environments and monitor child welfare.
• Accomplish placement of therapeutic diversion, temporary, emergency and supported family living; coordinate with intake staff the placement of children.
• Develop positive, trusting and age-appropriate relationships with children through visits, telephone calls and private conversations; provide information, assistance and counseling as required.
• Facilitate children's visits with siblings, parents and significant others according to the service plan.
• Assist and guide parents to regain the ability to parent their children.
• Coordinate child services with school personnel as necessary.
• Provide 24-hour on call support to care providers; provide crisis intervention when required.
• Coordinate community resources for the benefit of children served by the foster care program.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work in an accredited college or university; or a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work in an accredited college or university and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); or a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work in an accredited college or university and one year of human services experience in the areas of case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment planning; or a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in a counseling field and one year of social work or counseling experience; or a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in a human services field and two years of directly related experience; or a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.
• Possess valid North Carolina Driver's License.
• Ability to work during natural disaster events like hurricanes or snow storms.