Social Work Trainee

About the role

The Social Work Trainee, under general supervision, learns, trains, and gains qualifying experience to perform professional-level protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for children who are at risk for neglect and/or abuse under the direct supervision of a Senior Social Worker and supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Trains, learns, and gains qualifying experience to become fully qualified as a Senior Social Worker in Child Welfare Services.
• Functions as a trainee, carrying a caseload of 6-8 cases, under the direct supervision of a Senior Social Worker and supervisor to attain proficiency in the essential functions of a Senior Social Worker.
• Performs clinical and social investigation, assessment of individuals and family dynamics, and crisis intervention.
• Exercises considerable judgment in determining whether abuse or neglect has occurred, to what extent and how it occurred.
• Maintains contact with parents, therapists, Guardian Ad Litem, Children Developmental Services Agency, Care Coordination 4 Children attorneys, medical providers, substance abuse agencies, domestic violence agencies, and relatives as it relates to the needs of the child and family.
• Provides case management and foster care services for children who have been neglected and/or abused.
• Prepares documentation such as written investigative reports for the court, case records, and treatment plans.
• Testifies as an expert witness.
• Completes assigned work on, or before, deadlines in accordance with directives, County policy, standards and prescribed procedures.
• Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations.
• Stays abreast of social work theory, techniques and practices, individuals and group behavior, social problems, medical and mental illness, family dynamics, coping behavior, crisis intervention, and treatment of various medical and mental diseases and social issues.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited school of social work or human services, and six (6) months of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Licenses or Certifications: Must have a valid Driver’s License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

Skills

Essential skills include physical ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions including computers, telephones, etc., and the ability to drive a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Benefits

Health Insurance: All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period. Dental Insurance: All full-time employees and their eligible dependents can participate on the first day of the first full month of employment. You must sign up for coverage within your first 30 days of employment or wait until the annual enrollment period. Life Insurance: Basic Term life Insurance in the amount of one times the annual salary is provided for all full-time and benefitted part-time employees. NC401(k) Supplemental Retirement Program: Available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees. 457 Deferred Compensation: Available to all employees through payroll deduction. Flexible Spending Accounts: Options are available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees who wish to use pre-tax dollars for eligible medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and daycare expenses. Direct Deposit: Deposit of your paycheck will be made to checking or savings accounts in a bank of your choice. TRUST Financial Services: No Overdraft Fees, $100 Negative Balance Buffer, Online and Mobile Banking with Bill Pay. Vacation Leave: Accrued based on creditable years of service in the Local Government Employees Retirement System. Sick Leave: For full-time County employees, sick leave accrues at eight (8.0) hours per month. Benefitted part-time employees accrue prorated sick leave based on a percentage of the full-time rate. Holidays: There are 13 County recognized holidays (includes 3 days for Christmas) per year with 1 floating holiday available. Military Leave: Annual Training - 10 paid workdays granted. Active Duty - 20 paid workdays granted. Civil Leave: Paid leave is provided to full-time or regular part-time County employees called for jury duty or as a witness of the court for the federal or state government, or a subdivision thereof. Family & Medical Leave Act: Provides job protection and continuation of existing paid health insurance during 12 weeks of leave, paid or unpaid, to an eligible employee for qualifying events such as birth or adoption, and serious illness of an immediate family member, or of the employee. Paid Parental Leave: Provides the employee paid leave for the first eight weeks of approved FML for the birth of a son or daughter, or placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care. Administrative Leave: Educational Leave is available to regular full-time and benefitted part-time employees when participating in a job-related, short course, such as an update, not to exceed ten (10) consecutive working days. Volunteer Time Off: Provides employees with 16 hours of paid time per calendar year to volunteer at approved Union County community partner agencies. Employee Assistance Program: Open to all employees and their dependents. It is a confidential service provided at no cost to the employees of the County. Aquatic and Fitness Center: Individual and family discount membership and monthly dues are available to full-time and benefitted part-time employees through payroll deduction. National College Savings Program: Open to all employees. The Program is designed to provide certain tax advantages, encourage and facilitate saving to pay the costs of attending eligible institutions.

Pay

Pay varies based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Hours vary based on the needs of the department and the caseload.

Required

• Do you have a valid driver's license and clean driving record?
• Do you have pre-service training?
• Describe your motivation for being a child welfare social worker and what you see as the important outcomes for child welfare involvement with families.
• Documentation is a critical aspect to child welfare work. In detail, describe your method for ensuring that you stay current with documentation. Describe any special skills, training, education, and/or experience you have had related to documentation.
• Describe how you manage multiple, and often competing, demands for your time.
• How many years of social work experience do you have?