Address
Form of workA. Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The primary purpose of the Foster Care unit is to arrange and support substitute care and obtain permanence for children who are abused, neglected or dependent when the agency has been given placement responsibility, either through custody or a Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA) with the child's legal custodian/guardian. Additionally, the unit recruits, trains, licenses, and supervises foster homes.
B. Primary Purpose of the Position
The primary purpose of the Social Worker in this position is to execute the agency's mandate to arrange and support substitute care appropriate to a child's needs and work towards obtaining permanence by:
1. Providing services to children who are in agency custody or placement responsibility as a result of their parents or caretakers being unable or unwilling to provide adequate protection or care;
2. Providing services to biological families/caregivers that will help them improve the conditions that led to agency intervention, thus facilitating reunification;
3. Providing support to foster families or other substitute caregivers to ensure a positive experience for all involved;
4. Developing alternative options for permanence should reunification fail; and
5. Working towards a safe, permanent home within one year for children in agency custody/placement responsibility.
C. Work Schedule
The general work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am. to 5:00 p.m. with an hour for lunch. The worker may sometimes have an early morning, late afternoon or evening appointment which may necessitate the eight-hour workday being managed differently. In such cases, supervisory approval is needed. Work requires radio coverage duty during the week on a rotating basis. The worker is occasionally on call for emergency child welfare issues and disruption of placement between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weeknights and also around the clock on weekends. This may include overnight stay in the agency with a foster child that has disrupted placement.
D. Change in Responsibilities or Organizational Relationship
None.
All responsibilities and duties described are essential to the effective performance of a Social Worker III in this position and are listed in ORDER OF IMPORTANCE.
A. Case Management - 85%
The Social Worker participates in Child and Family Team Meetings prior to children coming into care to help identify relatives and/or other options to prevent children from coming into care. The worker prepares children and families for separation and placement into substitute care, places and monitors children in Foster Care, and provides or arranges for counseling and other supportive services for children and their families. Prepares children and biological family/caregivers and foster families for re-entry into the home or other permanent plans. The Social Worker develops a case plan with input from the family and other members of the Child and Family Team meeting, identifying problems that lead to the need of substitute care. Worker will prepare written court studies and testify when needed in judicial reviews of children in Foster Care. Complete room and board payments for foster families and participation in the determination of eligibility for services for Medicaid, state foster home funding and or IV-E funding. Conducts group sessions with a focus on independent living issues for youth ages 16 and older. Coordinates/implements the LINKS program. The Social Worker keeps documentation of all casework current within 7 days of last contact.
B. Conferences and Staff Development - 10%
Supervisory conferences and staff development activities provide guidance, feedback and evaluation of the worker's interventions and an opportunity to upgrade skills and knowledge of substitute care. Such conferences also allow the opportunity to discuss program questions, agency mandates and monitoring issues as they arise.
C. Community Liaison - 4%
These duties include public speaking, participation on community boards and committees, and participation in community affairs relating to substitute care and child welfare.
D. Other duties as required - 1%
These duties include, but are not limited to, Disaster Relief and occasional on-call for emergency child welfare issues.
E. Other Position Characteristics
1. Accuracy Required in Work
The worker must gather information with great accuracy in order to determine if substitute care continues to be needed. This determination is important in that information directly affects children and families and becomes part of the agency's record as well as a court record, in most cases. Daysheets, timesheets, board lists, and other agency and state forms must be completed timely and accurately to maximize finding and maintain positions.
2. Consequence of Error
Inaccurate decisions may cause inappropriate actions to be taken which could put children at risk. Inaccurate record keeping may result in the loss of funding and positions.
3. Instructions Provided to Employee
Instructions are provided in written and oral form by the supervisor through scheduled conferences, unit meetings, staff meetings and in workshops and professional training sessions attended by the Social Worker. Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used by Employee:
- a) Volume I, Children's Services Manual
- b) Service Information System (SIS) Manual
- c) North Carolina General Statutes applicable to Child Protective Services and Foster Care
- d) Social Work Code of Ethics
- e) County and Agency Personnel Handbooks
- f) Instructions from Director, Assistant Director, Program Administrator, Supervisor, and On-Call consultants 8. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and Materials Used
- The Social Worker uses a personal computer, printer, copier, calculator, camera, automobile, telephone, mobile radio, and car seat to perform duties.
4. Supervision Received by the Employee
The Social Worker receives supervision and review through scheduled conferences, meetings, informal interactions, reports, and an annual performance appraisal. Review for timeliness, quality, and accuracy is also received through periodic random case reviews by the supervisor, Children's Program Representative, and the Biennial Child Welfare Review by State staff
5. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts
The Social Worker has contact with unit staff other units within the agency, clients, Health Department, other social services departments, Guardian ad Litems, Mental Health, medical personnel, crisis organizations, churches, civic organizations, judicial systems, law enforcement, emergency services personnel, and the general public. Contacts are often used as a means of assessing and assisting clients as part of the human services delivery system
6. Physical Efforts.
The Social Worker must be able to move within and outside the agency, climb stairs, and use office equipment described in #9 below on a frequent basis. The Social Worker occasionally lifts small children, cameras, suitcases, toys, car seats, etc. in the performance of duties. The Social Worker must travel to meetings and workshops in and outside county. Overnight stays are sometimes necessary.
7. Work Environment and Conditions
Work is performed in a county social services agency with contacts in the field. The Social Worker may encounter hostile clients, some of whom are dangerous. Clients may include those who are mentally ill, substance abusers, or those who are verbally abusive and threatening. Field contacts are sometimes required even in adverse weather conditions such as snow, sleet, and extreme heat. The Social Worker may be exposed to infectious diseases such as scabies, head lice, flu, HIV/AIDS, etc.
8. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and Materials Used
The Social Worker uses a personal computer, printer, copier, calculator, camera, automobile, telephone, mobile radio, and car seat to perform duties.9. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration, and Manipulation Skills
Close visual attention is required when operating a motor vehicle. Case management duties require visual attention and mental concentration. Body language, eye contact, and behavior of family members assist the Social Worker in assessing family situations and must be viewed carefully. Preparation of court reports, development of protection plans and completion of risk assessments require intense mental concentration as does reviewing placement options for children. The Social Worker must carefully document times, dates, and other factual information so that accurate assessments and recommendations are made.
10. Safety for Others
The Social Worker makes decisions daily that affect the lives of clients. The
worker assesses risk and devises plans accordingly. Recommendations are made regarding the removal of children when homes are not safe and the return of children when homes are safe.
11. Dynamics of Work
Child Placement Services and Child Protective Services are periodically affected by changes in methodology, guidelines, legislation, and shifting program emphasis.
1. Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices and their application to complex casework and community problems in order to effectively work with the wide cross section of clients and their presenting problems.
2. Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques.
3. Considerable knowledge of developmental stages and tasks, human behavior, and socioeconomic problems and their treatment as the worker is responsible for identifying children who are abused, neglected, or dependent, assessing the contributory factors and making recommendations for solutions to the identified problems.
4. Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and other resources within the community.
5. Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies which govern Child Protective Services.
6. General knowledge of methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
7. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, associates, administrative superiors, social, medical, legal, civic and religious organizations.
8. Ability to supervise, train or orient lower-level employees, students or Interns.
9. Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely - orally and in writing.
10. Ability to plan and execute work effectively.
11. Ability to operate an automobile.
12. Ability to use a personal computer and access the State Network.
13. Ability to effectively function under stress and to deal with conflict situations and personalities.
14. Ability to function with a high level of autonomy.
Training and Experience
Master's Degree from an accredited School of Social Work; or a Bachelor's degree from an accredited School of Social Work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative; Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly related experience; or a Master's degree in a human services field and one year directly related experience; or a Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years directly related experience.
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation
1. Minimum North Carolina automobile liability insurance.
2. Valid North Carolina driver's license is required.
Employment Type: Full Time
