Senior Social Worker III - Adoptions

Adoption Unit 2+ years Adoption experience required. Candidate must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to adapt to frequent changes, court experience, and leadership skills. Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit The Permanency Planning unit is a dual functioning unit, providing both foster care and adoption services. The primary purpose of the Permanency Planning unit is to arrange and support substitute care and obtain permanence for children who are abused, neglected or dependent when the agency has been given placement responsibility, either through custody or a Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA) with the child's legal custodian/guardian. Additionally, the unit recruits, trains, licenses, and supervises foster homes. This unit also carries out the agency’s mandate to facilitate the adoption of children who are legally cleared or whose permanency plan has changed to adoption. Primary Purpose of the Position The primary purpose of the social worker in this position is to execute the agency's mandate to arrange and support substitute care appropriate to a child's needs and work towards obtaining permanence. Responsibilities include: Providing services to children who are in agency custody or placement responsibility. Providing services to biological families/caregivers to improve conditions leading to agency intervention and facilitate reunification. Providing support to foster families or other substitute caregivers to ensure a positive experience. Developing alternative options for permanence if reunification fails. Working towards a safe, permanent home within one year for children in agency custody/placement responsibility. Providing coaching and guidance to interns and less experienced workers. For families unable to find permanency through reunification, executing the agency's mandate to provide services to the adoption triad—child, birth family, adoptive family. Using the Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanence: Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (TIPS‑MAPP) curriculum to train prospective placement families. Completing relative/stepparent/independent adoptive home assessments and reports on proposed adoption as required by NC General Statutes and the Clerk of Superior Court. Work Schedule The general work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with an hour for lunch. The worker may sometimes have an early morning, late afternoon or evening appointment, requiring supervisory approval. The worker is occasionally on call for emergency child welfare issues between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weeknights and around the clock on weekends. Change in Responsibilities or Organizational Relationship None. Other Position Characteristics All responsibilities and duties described are essential to the effective performance of a Senior Social Worker III in this position and are listed in order of importance. Case Management (50%) Participate in Child and Family Team Meetings, prepare children and families for separation and placement, manage foster care placements, provide counseling and supportive services, prepare court studies, and ensure documentation is current within seven days of last contact. Provide preparation for adoptive placement, complete pre‑adoptive summaries and in‑depth assessments of prospective placement families, supervise adopted placements, recruit families for children cleared for adoption, and serve on the Adoption Committee. Lead Worker (35%) Act as a lead worker to provide coaching and guidance to interns and less experienced workers, apply policy, accompany workers to complex situations, and support resolution of problems to ensure quality services. Conferences and Staff Development (10%) Participate in supervisory conferences and staff development activities, provide guidance, feedback and evaluation of interventions, and discuss program questions and agency mandates. Community Liaison (4%) Public speaking, participation on community boards and committees, and involvement in community affairs related to substitute care and child welfare. Other Duties (1%) Disaster relief, shelter duty, and occasional on‑call for emergency child welfare issues. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices; family and group dynamics; developmental stages and socio‑economic problems; governmental and private resources; laws and regulations governing Child Protective Services; casework supervision and training methods. Strong leadership skills to supervise, train or orient lower‑level employees, students or interns. Effective communication, planning, and execution of work; ability to operate an automobile and use a personal computer; ability to function under stress and in conflict situations; ability to maintain autonomy and collaborate within a team. Two years directly related experience in NC Department of Social Services. License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation Minimum North Carolina automobile liability insurance. Must have reliable vehicle available for work at all times. Valid North Carolina driver's license is required. Legal and Regulatory Compliance Complete relative/stepparent/independent adoptive home assessment and submit Report on Proposed Adoption as specified in NC General Statutes. Equal Employment Opportunity This is a non‑discriminatory position. The employer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected category. Veterans and service members are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr Nash County, NC