Social Worker III (APS)

Gaston County Government; North Carolina; On-site; USD 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Gaston County Government seeks qualified candidates for Adult Protective Services within the Social Services division. The role focuses on protecting vulnerable adults by assessing reports, coordinating emergency responses, and partnering with community resources to ensure safety and well-being.

Required qualifications include an MSW or related master's/BSW degrees with relevant experience. A valid driver's license is also required, and transcripts must accompany the application.

Qualifications

• MSW from an accredited school of social work.
• Master's degree in counseling from an accredited college/university in a human services field with one year of related experience.
• BSW from an accredited school of social work with completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative.
• BSW with one year of related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field with two years of related experience.
• Bachelor's degree with three years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reports of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of disabled adults via home visits to evaluate need for protection.
• Respond immediately to at-risk situations coordinating with Mental Health, EMS, Law Enforcement and other services to obtain emergency custody when needed.
• Mobilize adult protective services with community resources and families to provide support for disabled adults who have been abused or exploited.
• Initiate protective court procedures when a surrogate decision-maker is required.
• Document APS processes with narratives and reports for client records.
• Provide after-hours coverage on a rotating basis and assist with emergency shelter operations.

Education

MSW from an accredited school of social work

Masters degree in counseling from an accredited college/university in a human services field

BSW from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative

BSW from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly related experience

Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college/university

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university

Job description

Gaston Social Services: Protecting, caring for and empowering children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves through the administrating of federal, state and county programs focused on improving the well-being of our citizens.

The goal of the Gaston County Human Services Center and Division of Social Services is to foster an agency which is professionally responsive to our citizens' needs through daily caring outreach and simultaneously serve as an advocate for those in need. We strive to be community-minded and community-spirited. We abide by federal, state and county operating instructions in providing services and we assist welfare recipients in attaining self-sufficiency.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $27.45 - $32.60

The duties listed below are not all of the duties that may be assigned but are those that are considered as essential for an employee to perform.

• Investigate reports containing allegations of the abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of disabled adults by conducting home visits and making collateral contacts in order to evaluate the disabled adult's situation and determine whether or not there is a need for protection.
• Respond immediately to allegations that involve information about disabled adults who are at risk of death or irreparable harm, coordinating with community resources such as Mental Health or Emergency Medical Services, and Law Enforcement and using immediate court actions to acquire emergency custody of the adult in order to preserve his/her health and safety.
• Mobilize the provision of adult protective services by initiating actions in collaboration with community resources, service providers and family to provide support for disabled adults who have been abused, neglected or exploited and have no one who is able, willing and responsible to protect them.
• Mobilize the provision of adult protect services by initiating appropriate court procedures (protective services order or hearings of incompetency and guardianship) when client is in need of a surrogate decision-maker to assume responsibility for his/her protection.
• Document the Adult Protective Services process by preparing written narrative and reports for client record so that information will be preserved and available for use or review.
• Provide after-hours coverage on a rotating basis to respond to status changes of wards and take APS Reports during nights, weekends, and holidays, and assist with emergency shelter operations and other duties as assigned to support departmental needs.

Qualifications

• MSW from an accredited school of social work
• Masters degree in counseling from an accredited college/university in a human services field and one year of directly related experience.
• BSW from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative(Child Welfare positions only)
• BSW from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college/university and two years of directly related experience
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university and three years of directly related experience
• Valid Driver's License.

A copy of a transcript must be included with the application.

FAILURE TO ATTACH YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION BEING REJECTED.

The applicant selected must undergo a criminal background check and pass a drug screening test prior to employment.

In compliance with G.S. 153A-94.2 (b), if the position being filled requires an applicant for employment to work with children in any capacity, the County must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI. These checks must be performed in accordance with G.S.143B-1209.26, which authorizes the SBI to provide fingerprint-based state and national criminal record checks to cities and counties.