Social Worker III (Licensing/Placement)

About the role

Gaston Social Services protects, cares for, and empowers children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves by administering federal, state, and county programs focused on improving the well‑being of our citizens.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management services for children in custody of the Department of Health & Human Services, including:
  • Seeing each child and attending all court hearings.
  • Preparing all necessary reports and documentation.
  • Contacting and meeting with appropriate family members and collaterals.
  • Coordinating and facilitating visits between child and family.
  • Advocating for and obtaining all services the child needs (medical, emotional, education, placement).
  • Conducting announced and unannounced home visits to removal homes, foster homes, or group facilities as required by NCDHHS policy, North Carolina Juvenile Statute, and local court direction.
• Create and maintain a comprehensive case file that documents the child’s life while in foster care, including pictures, correspondence, medical and educational records, narratives of DHHS activities, court paperwork, permanency planning documents, risk and needs assessments, visitation plans, referrals, release of information forms, mental health records, eligibility information, birth certificates, social security numbers, social histories, home studies, parental information, criminal histories, prior CPS involvement, program progress notes, and other relevant data.
• Transport and accompany children (and sometimes caretakers) to appointments, visitation, drug screenings, and court appearances to achieve well‑being or permanency goals.
• Participate in and prepare for Permanency Planning Team meetings, Child & Family Team meetings, Treatment Team meetings, and Care Review meetings.
• Attend weekly unit/team staffing, individual staffing as needed, local trainings, professional development trainings, and state‑mandated trainings.
• Prepare monthly reports capturing statistical data.
• Be available to work mandatory emergency shelters and perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• MSW from an accredited school of social work, or
• Master’s degree in counseling from an accredited college/university in a human services field with one year of directly related experience, or
• BSW from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only), or
• BSW from an accredited school of social work with one year of directly related experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited college/university with two years of directly related experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university with three years of directly related experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Good communication skills for working with children and adolescents, appropriate child development knowledge, and understanding of the impact of separation and loss on children removed from their families.
• A copy of an official transcript must be included with the application (failure to attach will result in rejection).

Additional Information

• The selected applicant must undergo a criminal background check and pass a drug screening test prior to employment.
• If the position involves working with children, the applicant will be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation, in accordance with G.S.153A‑94.2(b) and G.S.143B‑1209.26.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Retirement savings plans, including a pension and 401(k) with a 5% county contribution annually
• Flexible work schedules
• Professional development opportunities
• Discounted YMCA membership

Pay

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