SOCIAL WORKER IV ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

lincolncountync.gov; North Carolina; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincoln County's Social Services Department is seeking a Social Worker IV to serve in Adult Protective Services. This advanced role handles investigations, treatment planning, and crisis intervention for adults at risk of neglect, abuse, or exploitation.

The position involves court testimony, case management, and collaboration with courts, healthcare providers, and community partners. Experience in adult protective services and a strong ethics background are essential.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
• Knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies governing social work programs.
• Skill in training and/or orienting lower-level social workers, students, interns, or other staff.

Responsibilities

• Respond to emergency calls involving at-risk adults and develop response plans.
• Assess client needs and develop strategies for delivery of services.
• Maintain confidential records and timely documentation; prepare required reports.
• Provide information and assistance to clients, families, and service providers.
• Attend and testify in court hearings and participate in staff meetings.

Skills

Casework supervision

Social work principles

Legal/ethical guidelines

Crisis intervention

Education

Bachelors in Social Work or related field

Job description

SOCIAL WORKER IV ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Job Description

Social Worker IV-Adult Protective Services

Social Services FLSA: N

JOB SUMMARY

This position performs professional social work to individuals and/or families with personal, social, health and economic needs. This is advanced, professional casework providing protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for adults who are at risk of neglect, abuse and/or exploitation. Employees provide social work services including treatment and immediate response to crisis situations for adults in the most complex cases in the county. Work involves investigation of alleged neglect, abuse and exploitation, substantiation of the alleged neglect, abuse, and exploitation as prescribed by federal and state guidelines, providing expert testimony in court hearings, and following up with case management and preventive services for clients. Employees analyze situations and determine appropriate courses of action immediately or in short time spans and often under very stressful conditions. Employees may provide individual or family treatment to clients over 18 years of age, and any developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, financial or family problem. Employees typically report to a Social Work Supervisor II under general supervision. Employees may have combined investigative and treatment roles or may have separate functions depending on the size and organizational structure of the departments of Social Services. An incumbent in this position may be designated “Social Worker I”, “Social Worker II”, “Social Worker III”, “Social Worker IV”, or “Social Worker Trainee”.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Respond to emergency calls involving elderly or disabled adults alleged to be neglected, abused, or exploited; assesses situations and develops response plans; helps eliminate problems and works toward developing alternate arrangements.
• Address needs of the adult and/or family; help adults eliminate problems and barriers; assesses individual strengths.
• Assess client needs; develop strategies for delivery of appropriate services to clients.
• Maintain confidential records and files, complete documentation timely, prepare reports as required.
• Provide information and assistance to individuals/families, inmates, patients, students, and other family members as well as the court, school system, and service providers.
• Provide clients with available information regarding social, medical, placement, and psychiatric services.
• Provide treatment planning and mental status assessment.
• Provide individual and family therapy when needed.
• Assist and support clients in their use of agency and other resources.
• Refer clients to related agencies as appropriate.
• Assist or arrange placement in nursing homes, Assisted Living facilities and Family Care Homes.
• Prepare documents, staff with agency attorney and attend court hearings.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Attend training sessions and seminars.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including Disaster Shelters.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
• Knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices and their application to specific casework and community problems.
• Knowledge of behavioral and socioeconomic problems and their treatment and governmental and private organizations and community resources.
• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies which govern social work programs.
• Skill in training and/or orienting lower-level social workers, students, interns, or

other staff.

• Skill in expressing ideas clearly and concisely and in planning and executing work effectively.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

• The Social Work Supervisor II assigns work in terms of very general instructions.The supervisor spot-checks completed work for compliance with procedures and the nature and propriety of the results.

GUIDELINES

• Guidelines include social work principles and methods, North Carolina General Statutes, federal, state, and county policies and procedures, court guidelines, the Social Worker Code of Ethics, and confidentiality guidelines. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

COMPLEXITY

• The work consists of varied duties in the delivery of assistance to agency clients. Strict regulations and the volume of cases contribute to the complexity of the position.

SCOPE AND EFFECT

• The purpose of this position is to manage and provide assistance to agency clients.Successful performance results in the provision of social services to clients.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

• Contacts are typically with co-workers, other county employees, health care providers, law enforcement personnel, court officials, representatives of community groups, school personnel, clients, and members of the public.

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

• Contacts are typically to give or exchange information