Child Welfare Social Worker III - Permanency Planning

Performs intermediate advanced human support work assessing social service needs, counseling and assisting clients, determining available programs and services, interviewing clients and determining eligibility for services, developing service plans, providing services to clients, collaborating with community service providers to meet the needs of clients, managing cases, preparing and maintaining files and records, and preparing reports.

Distinguishing Features of the Class
An employee in this class assists clients who are in need of social services. Work involves receiving and processing applications for assistance in accordance with established rules, regulations, and procedures including interviewing applicants to determine eligibility, making referrals, and coordinating with outside community agencies for the provision of assistance and services, interpreting policies and procedures, providing counseling to clients and/or families, investigating claims of child/adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and determining validity of claims. Work is performed under the general direction of the assigned supervisor and is evaluated by a review of records, reports, discussions, client feedback, observation, and overall quality of work.

Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Duties and Tasks

• Develops and prepares service plans to meet needs in areas such as physical/mental health and housing; handles referrals for counseling and mental health services.
• Interprets laws, policies, and regulations to specific area of responsibility.
• Completes home studies and/or home visits on ongoing cases; testifies in court cases.
• Provides counseling to clients with regard to housing, substance abuse, disease processes, etc; performs family and client assessments to identify issues and needs; defines and establishes attainable goals; coordinates services for eligible programs.
• Investigates complaints from schools, hospitals, etc.; determines if reported incidents meet the legal definition of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; notifies law enforcement for reports alleging criminal acts.
• Arranges placements in day care centers, nursing and/or rest homes, foster homes, and adoptive homes; keeps the family informed; monitors placement of the client.
• Prepares a variety of forms, reports and other types of correspondence; submits required forms, reports to State; prepares and maintains files and records; enters a variety of data into computer system.
• Coordinates service with other agency services and programs and contract service providers; monitors contract providers to ensure compliance with program requirements.
• Reviews client service records, plans, and staffing with supervisors on case progress to determine if established goals are being met; Consults with Social Workers to assess needs and services available through the various programs.
• Develops permanent placement plans for children in foster care; recruits and trains families for foster care of children.
• Receives phone calls and office visits; gathers information and determines if an investigation is warranted in accordance with established criteria.
• Assists individuals and their families in arranging for guardianship; assists with completion of required applications; gathers medical information as needed to determine physical and mental status.
• Serves as an advocate for medical, social, environmental, and mental health needs of clients on an ongoing basis; acts as a surrogate decision maker on behalf of clients deemed incompetent and as an agent for the Human Services Director.
• Communicates, educates, and provides technical support to residents, families, service providers, and other stakeholders pertaining to programs and services.

Additional Job Duties

• Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of County and department policies and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable local, Federal, and State laws, rules, and regulations.
• Thorough knowledge of Medicaid, food and nutrition, emergency assistance, crisis intervention, home health, hospice, and related programs.
• Thorough knowledge of the techniques and means of interviewing, counseling, and investigating.
• Thorough knowledge of community resources for social services.
• Thorough knowledge in operating standard office equipment and associated software (e.g. Compass).
• Thorough knowledge in the use of the equipment required for the position.
• Thorough knowledge in preparing reports and other types of correspondence.
• Ability to perform, organize, and prioritize work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze facts and to exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Ability to calculate units, dosage, grams, and drams.
• Ability to calculate medication start and stop dates.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios, and percentages.
• Ability to understand and apply governmental accounting practices in maintenance of financial records.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to articulate program policies accurately and professionally even in adverse situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with clients, attorneys, judges, placement providers, service providers, associates, and the general public.

Physical Requirements

• Work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force to move objects.
• Work occasionally requires sitting, standing, walking, using hands to finger, handle, or feel, speaking or hearing, occasionally requires climbing or balancing, and stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, frequently requires reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling, pushing or pulling, lifting, and repetitive motions.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment, and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions, working near moving mechanical parts, and exposure to fumes or airborne particles.
• Work occasionally requires wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Work occasionally requires exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.
• Work requires interacting with clients who have mental health issues.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Desirable Education and Experience
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in human services, social work, or related field and moderate experience in human services, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements
Valid North Carolina driver’s license.
Depending upon the area of assignment specific certifications, licensures, registrations and training may be required within specified time frames as determined by the Director.

Pay Grade: 69
FLSA: Non-Exempt