What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Worker IAT - After Hours position at Jackson County, NC?
Position Overview
The primary purpose of this position is to provide agency coverage during times when the office is closed. The position will be responsible for responding to all calls that are received between 5:00 PM and 8:00 AM on weekdays, and those that are received on weekends and holidays. This position will also be responsible for making a limited number of other after hours contacts with ongoing cases that are either being investigated or that have already been substantiated with abuse and/or neglect. The position is a Social Worker IAT, and is located in the Child Protective Services Unit. This unit provides assessments/investigations for children and their families in Jackson County. The Unit also provides needed services to enable children to be safe in the community. Secondarily to Child Protective Services is providing Adult Protective Services.
Salary Range: $34,148.72 - $48,050.68 depending on education and experience. Will accept "work-against" applications.Duties and Responsibilities
This position is established to provide after-hours coverage for Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services. The worker will deliver all of the services that are defined in the NCDSS, Family Services Manual, Volume I: Children's Services, Chapter VIII-Protective Services. The position will also be assigned responsibilities in Adult Protective Services as defined in the NCDSS Family Services Manual, Volume V: Adult and Family Services, Chapter VII-Protective Services for Adults.
The clients that are served by this position range from birth to aged, disabled, and the families and caretakers that are related to the clients. It is expected that the full range of problems that are associated with Child and Adult Protective Services will be seen in this position.
The majority of the calls to which this position responds will originate from the County Emergency Services Dispatch, also known as the 911 Office. With guidance from the on-call supervisor, this position will take and screen referrals, initiate investigations of abuse and neglect of adults and children, and perform necessary intervention services in situations requiring immediate action.
The worker will conduct assessments\investigations related to Child Protective Services in Jackson County. The primary role of the position is to determine the level of safety of children that are reported to the Department of Social Services through Child Protective Services Referrals. The duties and responsibilities of the worker are defined in the NCDSS, Family Services Manual, Volume I: Children's services, Chapter VIII-Protective Services.
This worker will perform after-hours contacts with families and individuals where there is an ongoing Child Protective Services investigation or where ongoing services are being provided because of a substantiated situation of child abuse and/or neglect.
The worker will be assigned Adult Protective Services Assessments. The duties of the position can be found in the Family Services Manual, Volume V: Adult and Family Services, Chapter VII-Protective Services for Adults.
The worker prepares monthly reports, weekly reports, attends staff meetings, training, and other required meetings.
The above work is performed within the context of a team of Child Welfare Social Workers. In turn, this team is supported by the agency. Important decisions are made by the team and carried out by individual workers. The work is guided by policies and procedures provided by the State Division of Social Services.
The worker in this position will be responsible for representing the agency in court regarding Child and Adult Protective Services. The worker will also be responsible for thorough and accurate documentation for work he/she has performed.
The worker will receive the State Mandated Training in the area of Child Protective Services. The Agency will have the worker trained in the areas of Adult Protective Services that are recommended by the State. Manuals will be provided by the Agency for the various programs that will be performed in this position.
All required State training in the appropriate time frames for Child and Adult Services- Agency Orientation
- County Orientation
- Individual instructions on the procedures that the unit has set up to deliver appropriate services
A supervisor will be available to the worker on a daily basis, and the State will provide other technical assistance. The Supervisor will review all records that are generated by this position in the areas of Protective Services. Questions that arise from the work performed by this position should be addressed by the immediate supervisor and in their absence, the Program Administrator or another Services Supervisor, or the Director.
Directly supervised by Program Administrator- Weekly\monthly\quarterly supervisory conferences
- As needed consultation provided by the Program Administrator
- Supervision by Program Administrator and other Child Protective Services Supervisor or Director
Other Work Characteristics
The position will have the following work hours: 4:00 PM through 8:00 AM. Work days will occur on a rotation basis between the two on-call workers: one week on and one week off. The workers in these positions will be able to schedule/use annual and sick leave in the same manner as other positions. These positions are expected to provide coverage for the agency during all county holidays.
The workers will be based at the main office of the Jackson County Department of Social Services in Sylva, NC. However, most of the work performed by these workers will be from their own home. A computer and other necessary work equipment will be supplied by the agency for the worker to accomplish all assigned duties.
Worker will work out in the field and work in other agencies to obtain service for clientele.- Worker will be provided a vehicle in which to travel.
- The worker in this position must be able to effectively use a telephone, computer, adding machine, agency vehicle, child car seats and cell phone.
- Worker must be able to attend to tasks requiring intense mental concentration for periods of up to 1 hour.
- Must be able to obtain information from clientele and transmit the information to written and verbal form.
- Must be able to converse with other agencies, to refer to and obtain needed services.
- Intense and lengthy periods of demand in APS and CPS
- Must be able to keep accurate notes
- Court work that includes preparing documents and testifying
- Work will frequently require that field work be done. This will, in turn, require that the worker possess and use knowledge of social work practices, and make independent decisions when necessary to protect children and adults.
- The work requires the ability to make correct and efficient assessments/ investigations in the areas of Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services
- Make correct assessments to determine the safety of children and adults
- Prepare correct and accurate court documents as necessary to arrange protection of the children and adults
- Provide needed services to the children and adults to provide needed safety
Education and Experience
Minimum qualifications include a four year degree in a Human Service field. Master's degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work or counseling experience: or a bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience; or a master's degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling; or four year degree in a human service field or related curriculum including at least 15 semester hours in courses related to social work or counseling 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 or graining and experience. Preference will be given to applicants with a Master's or Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and experience providing Social Work services.
Pre-service and all other Stated required training in the first year of employment
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of social work theory, techniques and practices, individual and group behavior, social problems, medical and mental illness, family dynamics, coping behavior, crisis intervention, and treatment of various medical and mental diseases and social issues.
- Possess thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children;
- Possess thorough knowledge of policies and procedures as evidenced by the ability to cite the authority of federal and state law;
- Possess thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory.
- Possess considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.
- Ability to interact and motivate a resistant involuntary client population and the public who may not agree with the laws, rules or policies of the process or the programs; Ability to prepare documentation such as written investigative reports for the court, case records and treatment plans; ability to testify as an expert witness;
- Ability to make decisions that affect children and their families and are often made under stressful and sometimes dangerous situations. Many decisions must be made immediately or with little time for consultation.
- Ability to employ advanced case management interview techniques to establish a supportive relationship and involve families in the initial assessment for the need of services;
- Ability to quickly assess the risks and safety of the client environment during daylight hours, after dark and in high crime areas;
- Ability to employ expert negotiation skills in the most complex cases;
- Ability to analyze and assess child development safety issues in relation to risk factors; ability to analyze tense family situations and make decisions about removing children when the decision has to be made with limited direct information and limited access to consultation;
- Ability to communicate effectively and establish supportive client relationships.
- Ability to accommodate and work effectively with difficult situations and people
- Skilled in providing information, making referrals, maximizing benefits and counseling clients in how to access and utilize agency and community resources
- Ability to ensure safety of children and adults within the applicable laws of the State of NC.
- Knowledge of the laws associated with APS and CPS.
Jackson County provides a robust offering of employee benefits including: employer paid medical and dental benefits, participation in the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System, paid leave (vacation, sick, and holiday), Employee Clinic, Wellness program, and supplemental benefit offerings.
Salary : $34,149 - $48,051
