Social Worker III (APS)

About the Role

Gaston Social Services protects, cares for, and empowers children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves through the administration of federal, state, and county programs focused on improving the well‑being of our citizens. The Human Services Center and Division of Social Services aim to be professionally responsive to citizens' needs through daily caring outreach and advocacy, while assisting welfare recipients in attaining self‑sufficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive and complex individual and family adjustment case management services for disabled adults to remain in the community rather than institutionalized care.
• Coordinate, arrange, advocate, and assist disabled adults without duplication of service, and monitor the use of benefits.
• Conduct intensive in‑home case management through home visits, screening, and preventing Adult Protective Services (APS) or Guardianship intervention; complete initial, quarterly, and annual assessments; explore natural family and community support systems.
• Deliver case management for clients referred for SOAR (SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) who are homeless, re‑entering the community from prison, or permanently disabled and need to establish a payor source.
• Complete interviews and assessments, collaborate with doctors, medical personnel, SSI, and SSDI to avoid further crisis or APS involvement.
• Mobilize adult protective services by initiating actions with community resources, service providers, and families to support disabled adults who have been abused, neglected, or exploited.
• Initiate appropriate court procedures (protective service orders, incompetency hearings, guardianship) when a client requires a surrogate decision‑maker.
• Provide case management to adults adjudicated incompetent and made wards of DSS; visit wards in homes, assisted‑living centers, nursing homes, and group homes; conduct monthly and as‑needed contacts to obtain status updates and resolve concerns.
• Travel to visit wards residing outside the county and obtain information about recommended treatments, procedures, surgeries, Do Not Resuscitate orders, life‑prolonging measures, and hospice care.
• Explore treatment options and risks, and inform wards and family members of medical conditions and treatment options.
• Provide mandated Adult Placement Services, including counseling families on level of care, facilitating admission forms, and offering information on available facilities.
• Complete administrative activities such as paperwork, documentation, interviews, and contacts with disabled adults, families, support systems, and community resources.
• Be available to work mandatory emergency shelters and perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution, or
• Master’s degree in counseling or human services field with at least 1 year of directly related experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited institution and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only), or
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited institution with at least 1 year of directly related experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field with at least 2 years of directly related experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with at least 3 years of directly related experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Interview skills, computer skills, assessment, communication, and crisis‑intervention skills.
• General knowledge of mental health issues, geriatric issues, and disability issues (preferred).
• Copy of transcript must be included with the application.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $27.45 – $32.60 per hour.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement Savings Plans (Pension, 401K with 5% county contribution annually)
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Discounted YMCA Membership