Social Worker

Job Overview The primary purpose of this position is to provide foster care services to children from infancy to age 18 who have been removed from their home. This position assesses, evaluates, and identifies risks to children, determines the immediate action required by law, and develops a plan for service so that children will have a permanent placement or, for older youth, better outcomes. The social worker counsels parents and families, monitors progress with the intervention plan for reunification, and performs other duties as deemed necessary by the Supervisor, Social Work Program Manager, or DSS Director. Work Schedule The primary work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The workday may begin or extend beyond the normal schedule, and on‑call duty is mandatory, including after business hours and on weekends (at least once a month). Essential Functions To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to complete the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Key Responsibilities Make efforts to place a child in a foster home until the child can either be reunited with parents or released for adoption. Ensure the child is placed in a suitable home that meets their needs and will not subject them to maltreatment. Interview clients individually, as families, or in groups to assess their situations and capabilities, and determine required services. Counsel parents on child‑rearing techniques and interview the child and family to decide on further action. Provide group counsel on issues such as mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, childcare, or medical care. Arrange or secure support services—childcare, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, parenting classes—to prevent more serious problems. Develop and review service plans with clients and follow up to assess the quantity and quality of services offered. Refer clients to community resources such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information on how to apply. Arrange necessary paperwork to ensure foster care services are provided. Visit the child’s school, confirm well‑being, and document details related to the child and family. Serve as liaison among students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to assist children facing multiple or complex situations. Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may reveal causes of difficulties and suggest remedial measures. Maintain case history records and prepare reports. Collect supplementary information such as employment, medical, or school reports. Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems like truancy and misbehavior, and implement solutions. Counsel students with behavioral, academic, or mental/physical impairments, diagnose problems, and arrange needed services. Address legal issues such as child abuse and discipline, assist with hearings, and provide testimony for custody arrangements. Serve on policymaking committees, aid in community development, and assist client groups. Place children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers. Evaluate personal characteristics and home conditions of prospective foster or adoptive families. Determine clients’ eligibility for financial and medical assistance. Administer welfare programs. Work with family units in residential institutions. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly related experience; Master’s degree in counseling in a human services field and one year of social work or counseling; Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years of directly related experience; Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience. Valid driver’s license in the State of North Carolina. Additional Requirements This position is safety‑sensitive 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. Regular duties include sitting, speaking, or hearing, and occasionally standing, walking, using hands to finger, handle, feel, and reach with arms. The job requires standard vision, vocal communication for expressing ideas and conveying instructions accurately, and excellent hearing for perceiving spoken information. Tasks involve preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating motor vehicles or equipment, observing surroundings, and occasionally exposing the worker to outdoor weather conditions. The work environment is moderately noisy (e.g., a business office, light traffic). #J-18808-Ljbffr