Caseworker (Full Time)

Join Durham County Government

Durham County Government is home to over 2,000 dedicated professionals working together to deliver essential services that strengthen and support our vibrant, diverse community. As the heart of a fast-growing region, we offer meaningful careers across a wide range of fields—giving you the opportunity to make a real impact where you live, work, grow, and play. SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS)

FULL-TIME, EXEMPT

Work in this class involves providing intensive social work services in serious and complicated cases which require the flexible use of a wide range of social work skills and intervention techniques. Services are provided in a variety of settings including local human services agencies, public health departments, correctional facilities, teaching hospitals, medical schools, juvenile training centers, and state institutions. providing in-depth assessment of family dynamics and needs, assessment, intervention and treatment of patients and or families with acute to severe medical and/or emotional disorders and mental illnesses; or advanced social work intervention, instruction, and research in a teaching hospital. Employees supervise and train lower level social workers, students, and interns. Employees report to clinic managers, program directors, or unit supervisors.

Employees provide social work services in the areas of adult and child protective services, custody and adoption, and foster care work which involve the assessment of individual and family dynamics and needs, serving as expert witness at court hearings, crisis intervention, and counseling. Work involves explaining diagnosis and treatment alternatives to patients and families, counseling and participating in education endeavors for physicians, psychologists, nurses, other health disciplines, students and social work interns, and participating in research activities.

Provides services to children in the legal custody of the Department of Social Services who are eligible for adoption due to relinquishment or termination of parental rights. Works in partnership with other community agencies. Completes adoptive preplacement assessments and child adoption profiles. Recruit adoptive families for children needing adoptive placement resources. Provides direct services to children and their pre-adoptive families to ensure the protection, safety and permanency of children.

Considerable knowledge of child welfare practices, early childhood development and family dynamics needed.

Strong ability to assess and determine the needs of children and families

Adoption and Permanency Planning Experience

Knowledge in the foundations of adoption

Ability to handle sensitive, confidential and time sensitive information

Ability to be flexible and travel through the state of NC

Professional commitment to help children achieve permanency

Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; 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 directly related experience; Master's degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience; Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.

Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance

ADA requires Durham County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. This position may be subject to a background check, which could include, but is not limited to, criminal history (employment-related and/or SBI fingerprint-based), credit history, motor vehicle records, educational verification, and checks of the sexual offender registry, depending on the specific requirements of the role.