Senior Social Worker (Foster Care/In-Home)

General Statement

The Senior Social Worker, under general supervision, performs advanced, professional level casework providing protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for children who at risk for neglect and/or abuse. Employees are assigned to local departments of Social Services and provide social work services including treatment and immediate response to crisis situations for at-risk children in the most complex cases in the departments.

Work involves investigation of alleged neglect and abuse, substantiation of the alleged neglect or abuse as prescribed by federal and state guidelines, providing expert testimony in court hearings, and following-up with case management and preventive services for clients. Employees analyze situations and determine appropriate courses of action immediately or in short time spans and often under very stressful conditions. Employees may provide group, family or individual treatment to clients of any age and any developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, financial or family problem. Employees may have combined investigative and treatment roles or may have separate functions depending on the size and organizational structure of the departments of Social Services.

Essential Functions

Provides Case Management and Foster Care Services for children who have been neglected and/or abused.

Provides Social Work services including treatment and immediate response to crisis situations for at risk children and families.

Manages a caseload of clients in the most difficult and complex cases.

Provides treatment in group, family or individual therapy to clients of any age and/or with any developmental, mental, medical, financial, substance abuse or family problem including abused, neglected or homeless children.

Performs clinical and social investigation, assessment of individuals and family dynamics, and crisis intervention.

Knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children.

Knowledge of policies and procedures as evidenced by the ability to cite the authority of federal and state law.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory.

Knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.

Exercises considerable judgment in determining whether abuse or neglect has occurred, to what extent and how it occurred.

Selects appropriate treatment for the family and clients, requiring significant understanding of their personalities based on assessments and interviews.

Facilitates Child and Family Team meetings.

Provides referrals for treatment and placement in foster care or residential facilities.

Provides expert testimony in court hearings as to the progress of the case.

Conducts home visits at least once a month for each foster child assigned to the case.

Attends school meetings to advocate for the educational needs of the children served.

Maintains contact with parents, therapist, GAL, CDSA, CC4C, attorneys, medical providers, substance abuse agencies, domestic violence agencies, and relatives as it relates to the needs of the child and family.

Attends Therapy appointments and Doctor/ Medical appointments with children, and to obtain medical forms completed by a doctor.

Completes strengths and needs monthly and Family Reunification assessments for cases where the plan is Reunification.

Interacts and motivates a resistant involuntary client population and the public who may not agree with the laws, rules or policies of the process or the programs.

Prepares documentation such as written investigative reports for the court, case records and treatment plans.

Testifies as an expert witness.

Employs advanced case management interview techniques to establish a supportive relationship and involves families in the initial assessment for the need of services.

Assesses the risks and safety of the client environment during daylight hours, after dark and in high crime areas.

Employs expert negotiation skills in the most complex cases.

Analyzes and assesses child development safety issues in relation to risk factors.

Analyzes 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.

Communicates effectively and establishes supportive client relationships.

Performs under occasional stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Maintains high-quality communication and interacts with other County Agencies, co-workers, and the general public.

Operates small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.

Operates computers for data entry, word processing and/or accounting purposes.

Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, County policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Stays abreast 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.

Follows all guidelines set forth, which include state and federal laws, program rules, directives, policies and regulations, professional ethics and quality assurance standards.

Collaborates with members of multidisciplinary teams, protective services committees and supervisors. Legal precedents are used in some settings.

Conducts assessments with new and veteran employees to provide feedback and develop training goals.

Develops training curriculum and oversees onboarding process for new Social Workers.

Develops and fosters connections with community partners by facilitating meetings and trainings to update partners on agency and policy changes.

Conducts quality assurance reviews for Child Protective and Child Welfare Services programs, as well as develops and implements program improvement strategies based on the results of the quality assurance reviews.

Provides assistance to investigative, in-home and foster care teams when they are short staffed.

Participates in case staffing's with supervisor twice a month to provide updates as to the status of each case.

Maintains case data and documentation through various computer programs.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

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; 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 equivalent combination of education and experience.

• One year of work experience can be credited for completion of the NC Child-Welfare Education collaborative Pre-service training or licensure as a Clinical Social Worker.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be physically able to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions including computers, stethoscope, hemostat, portable scales, emergency cart, telephones, etc. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the need to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs.