Social Worker III - QA

The Johnston County Department of Social Services has an immediate opening for two Social Worker III’s positions in the Continuous Quality Improvement Unit (CQI). The primary  responsibilities for this position is to train new and existing employees as well as performing quality assurance duties.   

This position will facilitate onboarding for social work staff.  This position will develop and facilitate child welfare training curricula based on results of federal, state or local compliance audits and quality assurance reviews and provide training to agency staff and/or other stakeholders.  Collaborate with agency managers and leadership to identify and conduct any necessary training needed to improve agency outcomes, eliminate possible county payback and streamline processes. This position may also carry out comprehensive quality assurance monitoring duties in compliance with county, state and federal mandates, utilizing state and federal tools, audit and monitor agency files to ensure that the agency is meeting federal, state, and Local programmatic requirements.  

The Child Services Division of the Johnston County Department of Social Services provides Protective Services Intake, Investigations, Assessments, Emergency On-Call, and Case Planning and Case Management; Permanency Planning; Foster Care Reunification and Placement;Independent Living; Recruitment and Training for Foster Parent Families and Adoptive Applicants, Agency Adoptions; and completion of Home Study requests from other North Carolina Departments of Social Services and the Interstate Compact.

The Adult and Family Services Division provides Adult Protective Services, Guardianship, SA In Home Assistance, Adult Care Homes Licensing/Monitoring, In Home Aide program, Assisted Living/Nursing Placement Services, MAC, Representative Payee, Individual and Family Adjustment and Adult Day Care. Programs must be administered in compliance with state policy and General Statues.

The Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) team is designed to define, measure and improve outcomes on an ongoing basis in the Child and Adult Services Division.  The CQI team completes case record reviews; coordinates State and Federal audits/reviews; coordinates and/or provides training to agency staff; compiles, analyzes and disseminates data; manages the agency’s internship program; and completes other duties as assigned by the DSS Director or their designee. 

Duties will also include the following:

• Co-facilitate or individually train agency staff on identified topics.
• Consult with CQI team Quality Assurance social workers, CQI supervisor, program management and leadership to identify and conduct training on identified trends, topics or areas of improvement. 
• Demonstrate and communicate thorough knowledge of relevant policies and practices that align with policy and/or procedural requirements.
• Conduct quality assurance case reviews to ensure compliance with policies and standards.  
• Demonstrate an ability to develop in-depth and comprehensive curriculum to meet training needs of agency staff. 
• Develop, conduct, and evaluate technical training sessions and programs.
• Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.
  
• Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives. 
• Develop alternative training methods if expected improvements are not seen. 
• Organize and develop, or obtain, training procedure manuals and guides and course materials such as handouts and visual materials.
  
• Present information using a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
  
• Evaluate analytical methods and procedures to determine how they might be improved.
  
• Participate in internal assessments, audits, and quality reviews as required.
  
• Collect, organize and analyze data from cases to identify patterns and trends related to service delivery, effectiveness, customer outcomes and policy adherence.
  
• Use database applications to present data in a clear and actionable format.
  
• Demonstrate an ability to present findings and data to agency staff, leadership or stakeholders.
  
• Additional duties may be assigned which are not included but are necessary to carry out the responsibilities of this agency.
  
• Will be expected to work in emergency shelters and/or perform related disaster tasks.

Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work and community problems, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children; thorough knowledge of policies and procedures as evidenced by the ability to cite the authority of federal and state law; thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, and medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory. 
 
Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory. Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations, and resources in the community, laws, regulations and policies which govern the program. Considerable knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training theory, principles and techniques.  
 
Ability to interpret, apply and communicate a variety of policies, procedures and regulations. Ability to exercise sound judgment in assessing training needs, development of objectives, recommending training goals and evaluating student learning. Ability to develop course outlines and lesson plans. Ability to adapt and communicate information to a wide range of audiences and situations. Skills in counseling and relating to others. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, stakeholders and other professionals, as well as civic, legal, medical, social, and religious organizations. Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.
 
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 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 above removing children when the decision has to be made with limited direct information and limited access to consultation.
 
Ability to perform manual work exerting up to 35 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 15 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Ability to use Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.).Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience.

Or

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

Educational / Experience Preference:

• MSW plus one year of directly related experience; or

• BSW plus two years of directly related experience; or 

• 4-year degree in human services field plus three years of directly related experience; or 

• 4-year college or university degree plus four years of directly related experience.  

• (Degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions.)

Management Prefers:

• Master’s degree in Social Work or related human service field
• Five years direct Child Welfare practice (CPS, In-Home Services or Foster care)
• Two years supervising and training experience in Child Welfare
• Excellent communication skills (writing and public speaking)
• Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and platforms that deliver virtual training
• Experience developing, evaluating, and delivering course curriculum 
• Three years of experience preferred as Child Welfare Social Worker in a department of Social Services.

Salary : $58,425 - $99,322