Social Worker I

This position works with and supports at-risk families who are working with the agency in Child Welfare – Permanency Planning (Foster Care), In-Home Services or CPS. When working in permanency planning this position performs intensive visitation services focused on promoting positive parent/child interaction, bonding, and attachment. This position transports and observes visits as needed and implements activities with parents that promote healthy childhood growth and development while assessing the ongoing needs of families, makes monthly contacts with children, contacts collaterals, assists with referral to community resources and other activities as dictated by the case plan for each child. These positions also support CPS and when doing so, the worker works in tandem to assist in all case activities intended to assess child safety concerns - including making visits to the family, children, and others, and meet required timeframes, and state standards.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class is responsible for providing supervision over visits between foster children and their parent(s) as-well-as providing transportation to children and other clients in accordance with the case plan developed by the Social Worker with the family. Works under the regular supervision of a Social Work Supervisor III.

Illustrative Examples of Work

• Supporting Permanency Planning working in tandem with the Permanency Planning/Licensing Placement Social Workers to assist in all case activities intended to achieve the goals and meet required timeframes, and state standards

• Supervising visits between children and parents

• Transporting children and occasionally, parents to supervised visits, transporting children to doctor and dentist appointments when foster parents are unable to do so

• Referring families to appropriate community resources

• Documenting visits and all interactions with families

• Preparing court documents and testifying

• Requesting and reviewing records

• Participating in team meetings and discussions,

• Providing any additional support services needed by supervisors or children's services workers

• Assisting with locating placement for children, sending referrals, completing intake paperwork as needed by new placements

• Supporting CPS working in tandem with the Child Protective Services Assessment/Investigation Social Worker to assist in all case activities intended to assess child safety concerns and meet required timeframes, and state standards.

• Transports parents to appointments and drug screens as needed,

• Completes collateral contacts,

• Completes mandated forms,

• Participates in team meetings and discussions

- Meets with supervisor for routine conferences of progress of duties and any concerns that arise.

- Adheres to the federal, state and county rules, policies, and regulations.

- This position is required to perform mandatory emergency shelter duty should the need arise

- Performs other duties as assigned.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Knowledge of basic social work practices and principles

- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite Communication skills

- Organizational skills Critical thinking skills.

- Must be available to work during emergency situations. Hours will often be outside the

traditional 8-5, due to supportive nature of work

- Must have good communication skills both verbal and written.

- Dealing with families and children and will include nights and weekend work.

- General knowledge of the programs offered at DSS.

- Must have thorough knowledge of the computer programs and systems used by

the agency

- Must be professional and have a positive attitude

Physical Requirements

- Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.

- Must be able to perform medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects

- Must have visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures and work on a computer, driving a vehicle and observing interactions with individuals

- The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside

- Worker is subject to noise

- The worker is in contact with potentially infectious bodily fluids during the performance of his/her duties.

- This position requires extensive driving, both in county to see children in the agency’s custody and out of county/state, depending on the child’s placement location.

- The worker is on the disaster team and may be responsible for opening or working in a shelter

Education and Experience

- Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an appropriately accredited institution; Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses and Certifications

- Valid North Carolina Driver License.