Community Social Services Assistant

Community Social Services Assistant

This position(s) is located in Children's Services.

The Community Social Services Assistant (CSSA) works with families by providing them with intensive services that are goal oriented. The CSSA, through education and mentoring, will assist parents with improving their parenting skills. The CSSA will provide transportation to and from supervised visitations for both children and/or adults using your personal vehicle. Travel may be inside and outside of county which may result in working outside of normal work hours. They will also supervise parent-child visitation in and outside the agency and assist in monitoring the placement when a trial home visit is in progress. The CSSA will provide in-home management services based on the Family Services Agreement and the case plan developed with the social worker and family. The CSSA works as a team with the social worker, parents, foster parent or care provider, and child by providing services to the parent or child and communicating (verbal and written), in a timely manner, to the social worker about the progress of the parents or child. The CSSA is aware of the signs and indicators of risk factors to the children and immediately makes the social worker aware of safety concerns to the children. The CSSA participates in meetings and may testify in court.

Demonstrated possession of knowledges, skills, and abilities gained through at least one year of experience in performing tasks similar to the ones assigned. PREFERRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: High School diploma with competent written and verbal communication skills. Parental experience, working with different cultural and ethnic lifestyles, ability to reinforce sex education, and knowledge and or experience with substance abuse and its impact on families.

This position requires skills for teaching, modeling parenting duties of discipline, nurturing, communication, and parent/child interaction. This position also requires skills in budgeting and financial home management, planning, organizing, and teaching household management. The person in this position will be required to advocate for services to customers, work as a member of a team, and engage in a positive customer interaction with non-voluntary customers. Basic knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental conditions of clients to be served; working knowledge of basic household tasks and management functions and ability to teach to others; working knowledge of and ability to enlist the aid of available community resources; skill in basic reading, writing, and simple mathematics; ability to establish rapport and relate to population served and a variety of service disciplines (social workers, doctors, teachers) and community businesses; ability to prepare and maintain simple reports of activities; ability to exercise good judgment in appraising situations; ability to verbally communicate findings.

The selected applicant will be subject to the following conditions prior to appointment. Failure to complete or fulfill these conditions may result in dismissal. Each applicant who is tendered an offer for employment for any position with Cumberland County shall be tested for the use of drugs specified in the County policy. Refusal to submit to testing or a confirmed positive test shall be a basis for withdrawal of the conditional employment offer. Law enforcement background and fingerprint check is required. Has or is able to obtain a valid North Carolina Driver's License. This position will require assisting in emergency and/or disaster situations. The Cumberland County Department of Social Services has a dress code policy that must be adhered to. This policy includes specific guidelines related to tattoos and body piercing. College transcripts may be submitted on-line via the attachment feature or mailed to Cumberland County Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 2429, Fayetteville, NC 28302. If mailed, they must be postmarked before the closing date of the vacancy in order to be considered for the position.

The Cumberland County Department of Social Services stands united to strengthen individuals and families and to protect children and vulnerable adults. We collaborate with our community partners to provide programs and services which engage our customers in improving their quality of life.

Cumberland County offers a generous benefit plan including a Government Retirement Plan, 13 paid holidays per year and an Employee Wellness Center Clinic.