Social Worker III IA&T - Child Welfare CPS & On-Call

Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families? Are you dedicated and compassionate? In this vital role, you will be the first point of contact for Child Protective Services (CPS) reports during after-hours, working closely with a supportive team to ensure child safety and well-being. This position offers a unique weekday schedule—Monday through Friday starting at 3:00 PM—and requires flexibility to work evenings, overnights, and holidays as scheduled. We recognize the challenging nature of this work and proudly offerexcellent benefits, a strong focus onmental health and wellness, and ateam-oriented environmentwhere your voice is heard and your well-being is a priority. If you’re looking for a career where teamwork, support, and purpose come together, we encourage you to apply.

This position is the primary on-call Social Worker for the Family Services division. The normal workday is Monday through Friday, beginning at 4:00 PM, and requires the ability to work evenings, overnight, and holidays as scheduled. This position takes CPS reports of suspected abuse, neglect, and/or dependency and screens them with the supervisor on-call and initiates the assessment/investigation as needed. This position is a member of a team within the Child Welfare Unit handling APS and CPS intake services, courtesies from other counties and states, and prevention services. This position covers a variety of assignments including but not limited to assisting with timely initiation of CPS reports, conducting home visits, handling overflow from the CPS Assessment & Courtesy team, and providing assistance to the child welfare unit overall. This position works in partnership with community agencies to assist families in addressing identified safety issues.  

**NOTE** Two professional references with at least one from a current or previous supervisor is required.The following essential functions serve as a general guide for this position. Position functions are subject to change based on departmental needs and external factors including, but not limited to, regulatory requirements.

• Utilizes interviewing skills to capture all required information for CPS reports per NC DHHS policy (may also take APS reports);
• Utilizes policy and procedure and screening tools to make screening recommendations to the secondary screener;
• Receives and processes requests for assistance from other counties and states;
• Develops Plans of Safe Care per policy when reported by hospital personnel;
• Keeps track of case activities utilizing Excel spreadsheets and other reporting requirements;
• Initiates CPS assessments and investigations within assigned timeframes and per NC DHHS policy;
• Enters all required initiation documentation into CWIS within the required timeframes in order to transition to the assigned CPS Assessment Social Worker at the beginning of the next workday or to the originating county, as requested;
• Conducts home visits to monitor the safety of children in their homes and conducts assessments that accurately reflect the strengths and needs of the family system;
• Assesses the safety of children and risk of continued harm;

• Makes decisions in consultation with supervisor regarding the need to remove children from their home due to immediate safety concerns, makes and carries out the plan to safely remove the child(ren);
• Provides assistance to other social workers within the division (after-hours visits, appointments, contacts, etc.);
• Works in conjunction with supervisor and agency child welfare attorney to gather needed information to file petitions of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency and to prepare for court proceedings;
• Prepares court reports, participates in associated court proceedings, and testifies in court as needed;
• Thorough and timely documentation of assessment tools and case activities in the record per local and state policy and required timeframes;
• Participates in the on-call rotation for Children’s Services;
• Participates in shelter operations or other weather-related incidents as needed;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience (one year of work experience can be credited for completion of the social work collaborative); or Master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or a four-year degree in a human services field or related curriculum 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 of training and experience. 

• Considerable knowledge of child welfare practice and policy including abuse, neglect, and dependency, intake policy, and how to conduct comprehensive assessments and investigations;  
• Strong ability to multi-task;
• Ability to prioritize work assignments and to be flexible with scheduling as needed; 
• Ability to quickly and competently assess the risks and safety of the home environment, employ negotiation skills in complex situations, and de-escalate emotional and tense situations;
• Ability to work independently and manage day-to-day tasks;
• Ability to work an alternate schedule of early afternoon through the evening hours with the ability to work overnight as needed (occasional weekend and holiday work will be required); 
• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community and system issues; 
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems that families may be experiencing;
• Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, laws, regulations, and policies that govern the program;
• Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources within the community; 
• Ability to prepare documentation such as written investigative reports for court; 
• Ability to competently testify in court as needed;
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from varying cultures and backgrounds via phone and through personal contact and provide equitable treatment to all;  
• Ability to manage conflict, remain neutral and fair, engage people and build trust, and promote collaboration and consensus;
• Ability to use best practices, strategies, professional judgment, and time management skills in complex situations;  
• Ability to plan and coordinate with both internal and external parties;
• Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions;
• Ability to be flexible and to work as a team player;
• Ability to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication and listening skills;
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills;
• Ability to demonstrate good public relations skills;
• Skill in operating standard office equipment such as computers, phones, fax machines, and scanners; 
• Ability to perform work using local and state technology systems including NCFAST, CWIS, Northwoods, iiReception, Microsoft Office, internet browsers, virtual meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and other commonly used electronic programs;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county officials, department heads, peers, associates, and the general public.  

Physical Requirements
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking, hearing and repetitive motions, frequently requires touching or feeling and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing, balancing, reaching, pushing, pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; work requires vocal communication to express or exchange ideas orally; work requires hearing to perceive information at normal spoken levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data; work is generally performed in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic.) Must be able to operate a vehicle and perform fieldwork. 
Work settings include the Department of Social Services, referral/resource agencies, and the homes of individuals. Home visits are made to often crowded, unsanitary dwellings, which lack proper lighting, handicap access, and other amenities. In addition, homes are often sub-standard and may be infested with pests. The worker is exposed to regular traffic hazards and adverse weather conditions.

Special Requirements
**Must be fingerprinted and successfully pass a Criminal History Record Check with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (NCSBI)**

Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Must complete all applicable required training including Confidentiality, Civil Rights, FEMA and Red Cross Shelter Training, Bloodborne Pathogens, applicable adult services program training, new employee orientation, and Chatham County Department of Social Services Policy and Procedures.

Salary : $64,549 - $82,299