Social Worker III - Foster Care

Overview Joining the team at Gaston County Government means being part of a community that is dedicated to improving the lives of its citizens. We are a dynamic organization that values innovation, collaboration, and commitment to service. As an employee of Gaston County, you will have the opportunity to make a difference in your community every day. Whether you are working in public safety, social services, or administration, your contributions will help improve the lives of our residents and build a better future for our county. About the Department Gaston Social Services: Protecting, caring for and empowering children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves through the administrating of federal, state and county programs focused on improving the well‑being of our citizens. Desired Salary Range The anticipated hiring range for this position is $27.45 to $32.60 Responsibilities Providing case management services for children in custody of the Department of Health & Human Services and aggressively seeking permanence for them, including seeing each child, attending all court hearings and preparing all necessary reports and documentation, contacting and seeing all appropriate family members and collaterals, coordinating and facilitating visits between child and family, advocating for and obtaining all services the child needs (medical, emotional, education, as well as placement), making home visits (announced and unannounced) to removal home and foster home/group facility – all as required by NCDHHS‑Division of Social Services Policy, North Carolina Juvenile Statue, and local court direction. Creating a case file that captures and specifically documents a child’s life while in foster care and away from family/caretakers. The social worker prepares pictures, correspondence, medical records, educational records, running narratives that document all DHHS activities, copies of all court paperwork and orders, permanency planning team paperwork case plans developed with caretakers, risk assessments, strengths and needs assessments, visitation plans, referrals for child‑of‑parent, release of information forms, any mental health records, visitation plans, eligibility for funding forums, all identifying information (such as birth certificates and social security numbers), social histories, home studies, parental information – assessments, criminal histories, past CPS involvements, referred programs progress notes (i.e., DV Groups, Substance Abuse, therapists, parenting groups, etc.). Transporting and accompanying child (and sometimes caretakers) to appointments that help achieve the well‑being or permanency goals, visitation between child and caretaker, drug screenings of caretakers, and court. Participating and preparatory work for permanency planning team meetings, child & family team meetings, treatment team meetings for children and mental health needs, and care review meetings for oversight of treatment level and appropriate placement. Participating in weekly unit/team staffing, individual staffing (as needed), local trainings, professional development trainings, and state‑mandated trainings. Preparing monthly reports capturing statistical data. Must be available to work mandatory emergency shelters & other duties/tasks as needed or assigned. Qualifications Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited graduate school. Master’s degree in counseling from an accredited college/university in human services field and one year of directly related experience. Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work with a child welfare collaborative (CPS positions only). Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and one year of experience in the areas of case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psychosocial therapy, or treatment planning. A four‑year degree in human services field with at least 25 semester hours of approved coursework and two years of directly related experience. A four‑year degree and three years of related experience. A valid driver’s license is required. The ideal candidate will have good communication skills in working with children & adolescents, and appropriate child development knowledge. Knowledge of separation and loss impact for children being removed from their family and home environment would be especially helpful. A copy of transcripts must be included with the application. Failure to attach your college transcripts will result in an automatic rejection of your application. The applicant selected must undergo and pass a drug screening test prior to employment. In compliance with G.S.153A‑94.2 (b), if the position being filled requires an applicant for employment to work with children in any capacity, the County must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI. These checks must be performed in accordance with G.S.143B‑1209.26, which authorizes the SBI to provide fingerprint‑based state and national criminal record checks to cities and counties. #J-18808-Ljbffr