NOTICE
SOCIAL WORKER III
ALAMANCE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
CHILDREN SERVICES-FOSTER CARE/ADOPTIONS #40-TBD
Applications accepted through May 12, 2015
Salary will be based on the applicant’s qualification status.
Salary if qualifies as Social Worker III
Salary if qualifies as Social Worker II
Salary if qualifies as Social Worker I
Salary if qualifies as Social Work Trainee
$36,561.00
$33,480.00
$28,075.00
$26,866.00
Description of Job Duties: The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate and deliver
services to children for whom the agency has legal responsibility. The Foster Care social
worker works to achieve timely permanence for each child in the legal custody of the agency. In
order to do this, services must be delivered to families in an effort to reunite the family or seek
other alternative permanent arrangements. The permanent plan must be in the best interest of
the child and based upon the parents’ adherence to the case plan developed to alleviate the
safety issues.
Prior to the delivery of Foster Care services, the social worker must assess the needs of the
child and family. The assessment process continues throughout the life of the case. The social
worker will educate the family about the purpose and process of a Child and Family Team
Meeting. The Social Worker will assist the family in identifying supportive relationships that can
assist them through the foster care process. During the Child and Family Team Meeting, an
effective and obtainable case plan is developed by the team. This case plan becomes the
guiding factor in the case. The social worker will work with the child, removal caregiver
(parents), placement providers and other relevant parties to ensure the continued safety of the
child, while assisting the removal caregiver in alleviating the safety barriers.
The social worker, Child and Family Team, and the Permanency Planning Action Team will
continue to assess the appropriateness of the permanent plan. The social worker will keep the
Court informed regarding the progress or lack of through accurate and informative court reports.
The social worker will strive to achieve permanence for the child in a timely manner.
When reunification, custody, and guardianship are not appropriate permanent plans, adoption is
likely to become the permanent plan. Adoption services are provided to prepare and assist
children in their transition to an adoptive family. In addition, social workers support and
strengthen the adoptive family unit. Post adoptive services are provided to address any issues
that develop prior to, during, or after the completion of the adoption process. It is not a
continuation of supervision, but services are provided as needed and requested by any of the
parties in an adoption.
General working hours for this position are 8:00am to 5:00pm. However, the position is required
to work flexible hours each week as pre-determined by Supervisor or Program Director in order
to fully accommodate families and meet agency work requirements.
Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities: 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. 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.
Minimum Training and Experience Requirements: 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 directly related experience in case management, assessment & referral, supportive
counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment planning; or a four-year degree in
a human service field and two years of directly related experience in case management,
assessment & referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment
planning; or graduation from a four-year college or university and three years of directly related
experience in case management, assessment & referral, supportive counseling, intervention,
psycho-social therapy and treatment planning; or an equivalent combination of training and
experience.
Must possess a driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.
All DSS positions are subject to reallocation contingent upon funding, agency needs and client
population and are subject to perform work during emergency or disaster situations as required
and may be required to staff shelter overnight.
A COPY OF A CERTIFIED COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT MUST ACCOMPANY APPLICATION.
Contact:
Applicants may apply on line at the Alamance County Website, the
Employment Security Commission or contact Bob Ring, Alamance County
Department of Social Services, Human Services Center, Suite C, 319 North
Graham-Hopedale Road, Burlington, NC 27217; Phone: (336) 229-2953
for additional information. This job posting is pending classification approval
from the state Office of Human Resources.
Alamance County does not discriminate against race, color, national origin, sex, religion,
age or disability in employment or the provision of service.
"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER"