Social Worker- CPS

Do you enjoy strengthening families and partnering with community stakeholders? Do you possess outstanding time management skills? Are you able to evaluate high risk situations and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of children? Do you possess technical acumen specific to typing, utilization of a computer, laptop and work- related software; NC Fast and Laserfiche? Do you possess critical thinking skills? Are you decisive and are you able to exercise appropriate judgement in establishing priorities? Are you able to maintain appropriate, professional boundaries? If so, please consider joining Pender County Department of Social Services as a Child Protective Services Social Worker IV.

Our agency is seeking an outgoing, organized, and experienced social worker to join our Child Protective Services Team. Daily, you will be assigned reports of child abuse, child neglect and dependency with an initiation response time of immediate or within a 24- or 72-hour time frame. Work is performed autonomously but in unison with various community partners to include law enforcement, the school system and medical and mental health providers. We will provide you with 72 hours of paid, mandated pre-service training prior to assuming a caseload. Your primary role will be to assess the safety of children from birth-18 years of age in their home of origin using SDM tools, face to face home visits, following Division policy mandates and collateral information. During your assessment, contacts, collaterals, tools and disclosure will ensure the appropriate case decision is made to close out service delivery within 45 days or to identify the need for on-going services (In-Home service provision) or removal of the juvenile to include court intervention (foster care). You will provide crisis intervention and continuous supportive services to children and families during the course of delivering protective services mandated by state law. Be prepared to answer questions, solve problems, provide education, frontload essential services, make appropriate referrals, request records and obtain signed consents.
 
As a social worker IV you will ensure Pender County Department of Social Services reputation for high-quality service provision is maintained by partnering with families, making sure that judgements can wait by all involved in the assessment process, ensuring everyone is respected, sharing power, making sure everyone is heard, believing that everyone has strengths and providing a platform for a fair assessment process which will ensure children’s safety and strengthen the families we are entrusted to serve.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide specialized services for maltreated children; abused, neglected, and or dependent, to ensure the minimum sufficient level of safety, wellbeing, and permanency is achieved. 
 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to complete the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.  Reasonable accommodations may be requested by contacting Pender County Human Resources.

• Conduct intake activities, by gathering information via direct/indirect contacts to determine whether the report meets the statutory guidelines for maltreatment. Document information obtained from reporter in a clear, concise, thorough, and understandable manner.
• Complete state system checks to assess family dynamics and needs.
• Investigate and assess alleged child abuse, neglect, and dependency within policy guidelines.
• Visit clients in their residence to assess suitability of living conditions and capabilities.
• of parents and/or caretakers.
• Evaluate the presence and level of risk to the client; make decisions to remove the client from unsuitable living conditions, according to legal guidelines and restrictions.
• Prepare extensive court reports and associated legal documents; testify in court; assist attorneys in the preparation of court actions; coordinate service of subpoenas; respond to inquiries regarding court actions.
• Transport children to protective facilities, appearances in court, scheduled appointments or visitation, and for other authorized purposes.
• Interpret policies, rules, and regulations to clients, applicants, and other involved parties.
• Develop case/safety plans with families served, that builds on strengths and provides clear direction and guidance for changing conditions that contributed to the risk of maltreatment.
• Provide ongoing case management and evaluation to include documenting all relevant information and completing of all required forms.
• Deliver and coordinate the delivery of services through direct interventions and appropriate client referrals to community agencies to include law enforcement as required/deemed necessary.
• Provide courtesy assist for other agencies as requested
• Complete electronic day sheets as required to reflect time and service duties.
• Evaluate the family’s progress toward reduction or elimination of risk of future maltreatment.
• Determine whether the risk of maltreatment has been reduced sufficiently to terminate services.
• Assist with crisis intervention by performing emergency assessments and requesting necessary protective services.
• Prepare for and participate in all required child/family team meetings
• Participate in staff development programs and continuing education activities by
• attending trainings, workshops, and seminars to increase technical competence.
• Participate in community planning for the protection and care of children, and to identify potentially harmful influences on children.
• Perform other job-related duties as required.

Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, 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 medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory. 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 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.
 
Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work or counseling experience; or a master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or four-year degree in a human services field or a related curriculum and two years of social work or counseling experience; or graduation from a four-year college or university and three years of experience in a related human services field; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. 
 
Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina
 
72 hours of child welfare pre-service training
 
24 hours of continuing education annually
 
This position is a safety sensitive position and subject to random substance abuse testing in accordance with the Pender County Personnel Policy and Risk Policy.This work is sedentary and requires little to no exertion of force; work regularly requires sitting and speaking or hearing and occasionally requires standing, walking, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic). Ability to perform manual work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Salary : $59,648 - $64,122