Social Worker III (Protective Services/WFFA)

I.

A. PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATIONALUNIT:

The Services Unit is a blended Unit of Social Workers charged with the responsibility to ensure the provision of protective services to county residents alleged to be victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or dependency. To provide services to alleviate risk to children, families, and elder and disabled adults.

 

B. PRIMARY PURPOSE OFPOSITION:

The primary purpose of the Social Worker III is to conduct Intake for all Services Programs including Child and Adult Protective Services, Crisis Intervention, Emergency Assistance, provide protection for disabled individuals 18 years of age and older who are alleged to be abused, neglected, or exploited and who are said to be in need of protection. This mandated service is provided under N.C. General Statute 108A. Upon completion of a thorough Intake, the SW III is responsiblefor bringing referrals to the Protective Services staff supervisor or Director for screening and assessment/investigation of abuse/neglect reports; eligibility determination for CIP/EA/LIHWAP, LIEAP; and provision of services for CIP/EA/LIHWAP/LIEAP. The SW III is responsible for the Back-up for Child Protective Services and Beeper Duty rotation are also required of the SW III. In addition, this position is expected to provide Eligibility and Employment Services to Work First recipients and their families. Shelter duty in the event of a disaster is a condition of employment. The position will conduct other duties as assigned by theDirector.

 

C. WORKSCHEDULE

Regular work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Responsibility for after-hours coverage is assigned for at least one week per month for both APS and CPS.

 

II.

A. DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES ANDDUTIES:

**Adult Protective Services comprises a total of about 85% of the duties of this position. The clients to be served are those 18 years of age and over who have been alleged as being incapacitated and in need of protection. Clients are found in all socio-economic levels of society. A thorough evaluation (15%) is completed, and appropriate services and case plans are made and monitored (15%). Case plans for clients who are unable to consent are provided through the legal system to assure essential services for medical and/or psychiatric needs. Areas of specialty and geographic location are not relevant factors.

Client characteristics include those persons whose capacities are diminishing or those in need of protection. Individual and Family Adjustment (20%), as well as Special Assistance In-Home and Adult Home Specialist (<1%) are duties of this position as alternate services are offered to clients who are not in need of protection. A plan is made to restructure or solidify the individual’s environment. This position may provide for the dispersal of funds to those individuals who live in the community but are unable to manage their financial affairs (10%). For those in need of protection, guardianship (5%) may be offered.

This position is assigned regular intake duty Adult Protective Services (5%).

 

**Case Management

This worker receives and evaluates reports and referrals for Adult Protective Services (APS), makes home visits, counsels, and plans for service delivery, assists in arranging alternative living in a facility or institution, arranges for the provision of medical and legal services, carries out the duties of guardianship as part of the service plan, and prepares court reports as well as reports to the district attorney. This worker provides back up for Child Protective Services (4%) in the above-referenced capacity, when necessary.

This worker provides APS clients with knowledge of additional agencies thatmay assist in meeting needs or rendering assistance.  Assessing for needed services and making interagency referrals (e.g.: Meals-On-Wheels; Minor-Home-Repairs; CHORE; Vocational Rehabilitation; etc.) is a function of this position.

Intervention is provided to alleviate crises or remediate vulnerable conditions. Helping clients to understand their problems and plan together for development of a plan to resolve the problem and conflicts within his particular system is a function of this position.

**Resource development involves assisting client and family with assessing unmet needs, formulating plans to meet those needs, and encouraging client or family to meet needs through development of individual and community resources.

This worker serves as a Community Liaison (5%), which involves making presentations concerning abuse, neglect and exploitation to civic groups, aging agencies, churches and other community agencies as requested. He/she serves as a link between the client and the agencies defined above as well as agencies such as the Health Department, Mental Health, Social Security, physicians, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc. In addition, this worker is available to train other workers within the agency in order that they will understand the criteria for appropriate referrals.

**Conferring with law enforcement, legal, medical, mental health and judicial personnel toward the alleviation of abuse, neglect and exploitation are responsibilities of this position.

Work First Employment Services (30%) – Position is responsible for ensuring that WF recipients who are required to engage in employment-related activities are doing so in an effort to move toward self-sufficiency. The CECM is responsible for completing a psycho-social assessment of the client and family to determine immediate needs, assessing the client’s work/educational history, strengths and weaknesses, barriers to employment and the development of a Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA). The CECM recommends eligible activities, refers for appropriate services, monitors progress in services, issues sanctions for non-compliance and engages the business community to assist with job placement of WF recipients. The CECM assists with job placement, educational enrollment, service referrals, etc. and follows up with employers/educational institutions/service providers to ensure attendance, participation, progress, etc. The CECM assists the recipient with obtaining Child Support, Social Security benefits or other forms of assistance that further enhance the family’s financial stability. The CECM works to enhance the problem solving and coping skills of clients in the area of health, nutrition, childcare, education, housing, drug abuse, family planning, and provide effective and productive linkages between the participant and various community resources and services.

In addition, support services to Child-Only cases are provided (annual assessment, resource identification, etc.). The CECM may work with the hard-core unemployable, the emotionally/mentally disabled, alcoholism and drug addicted, physically disabled and those with multiple disabilities.

Work First Eligibility (10%) – Position is responsible for processing and determining eligibility for Work First Family Assistance. Applications are taken at Intake by an IMC II and forwarded to the CECM for processing. The CECM ensures that all necessary documents are provided to determine initial eligibility and maintain ongoing eligibility.

About 15% of the position responsibilities include the function of taking and processing applications for the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) and Emergency Assistance (EA) Program.

B. OTHER POSITIONCHARACTERISTICS:

1. Accuracy Required in Work: Certainly, accuracy in the Intake process will ensure that allegations are screened properly. Accuracy in investigations is crucial to determining the need for protection. Accuracy in documentation is essential for keeping record of interventions for the review of performance and future reference.

2. Consequence of Error: While disciplinary action is an obvious consequence for error, more important is the potential for harm to individuals and families when errors in thinking, judgement or interpretation of policy are made.

3. Instruction Provided to Employee: Employee is required to attend Basic APS training and is afforded the opportunity to attend additional training when it is available. Unit Supervisor and Director share new policy and procedures when necessary. Regular supervision for the staffing of cases is available to the employee.

4. Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used by Employee: Online manuals are used to assist in the completion of day to day practice. Other reference materials are used when appropriate. Consultation with State Representatives is made regularly.

5. Supervision Received by Employee: Regular supervision is available to the employee when the need arises, as scheduled by the supervisor for the staffing of cases, review of policy and establishment of workplan.

6. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contact: Personal contact with individuals, families, professionals, and agencies is required for the effective investigation of allegations, assessment of risk and provision of services. Contact is in person, at the office, in the home, in the community, in court, on the telephone, via email and inwriting.

7. Physical Effort: The employee is required to be in the office and out in the field intermittently. Employee may have to walk up steps, carry items not able to be carried by the client, assist with activities of daily living (under rare circumstances), etc. Work in the field may occur in adverse weather conditions.

8. Work Environment and Conditions: Employee has his/her own office that is at least 80 square feet in size. This is an office environment with18 other employees, regular flow of client traffic, intercom telephone system, and an active lobby, thus, general office noise is moderate. Employee has his/her own personal computer, telephone, cell phone and printer.

9. Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and Materials Used: Equipment used includes telephone, computer, calculator, copymachine, fax machine, and camera.

10. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration and Manipulative Skills: Close visual attention is required in evaluating physical abuse and neglect (cuts, bruises, etc.) and in observing conditions and environments in which clients live.

11. Safety for Others: Position is responsible for the screening, investigation and protection of vulnerable elderly and disabled adults alleged to have been abused, neglected and/or exploited.

12. Dynamics of Work: Work is unpredictable as an allegation can come in at any time, day or night. Worker must be flexible to stop a current activity to meet the needs of a client at any given moment. New cases and ongoing clients’ needs arise unexpectedly and take priority over most other activities. Worker is on call 24 hours, 7 days for at least one week a month.

 

III.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES, EDUCATION &EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

A. A thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their application to complex case work, teamwork and community problems is necessary for this position. Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and psychological problems and their treatment is desirable. Knowledge of family and group dynamics and a wide range of intervention techniques are necessary. Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community is required as is knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training is required. In certain settings, considerable knowledge of medical terminology and disease processes and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical intervention and appropriate therapies based on medical and psychological diagnosis is needed. Specific skills are needed in establishing rapport with a client and in applying techniques to assessing behavioral and psychological aspects of the client’s problems. Ability to supervise, train, or instruct other workers who might work in this area is necessary.

This position requires an individual who can establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of caseload and their families as well as civic, legal, medical, social and religious organizations. The ability to express ideas clearly and execute work effectively is a necessity.

 

B. Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work or counseling experience; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience; or a master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or a four-year degree in a human services field or related curriculum including at least 15 semester hours in courses related to social work or counseling and three years of social work or counseling experience or four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling, or a related human service field providing experience in the techniques of casework, group work, or community organization or an equivalent license or certification is required to perform the duties of this position.