Investigative Social Worker / Trainee

Job Title: Investigative Social Worker / Trainee Department: Health and Human Services Hiring Range: $26.77 - $33.45 Posted Internally and Externally Do you feel the call to help others? Do you want to help families safely care for their children? Investigators and Assessors work to determine the validity and severity of child abuse or neglect reports. They make sure that children and families in crisis get what they need to address the identified issues. We are looking for fast-paced, passionate, and engaging human services professionals to join our Social Work Department in Buncombe County, NC. If the typical 8-to-5 job is not for you, and you have the desire to help children and work with families in crisis, then consider a career as an Investigative/Assessment and Treatment Social Worker (IATSW) with Buncombe County Social Work Services. This posting is for ongoing recruitment for the Social Work Investigations division. This position will be hired as a fully-qualified Investigation, Assessment, & Treatment Social Worker or as an IATSW Trainee depending on candidate qualifications. The pay range for IATSW Trainee is $26.77/hour and IATSW is $28.65/hour to $33.45/hour depending on education and experience above minimum qualifications. As an IATSW Trainee, candidates will be hired with the expectation that to continue employment the selected candidate will successfully advance to an IATSW position once the employee is fully qualified. At that time the selected candidate will be promoted and compensated as such. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. If you are interested in this position but are not certain if you meet the exact qualification requirements, we encourage you to apply. Buncombe County uses a substantial equivalency standard to determine if applicants are qualified. Transcripts are required to be submitted with your application. Social workers are required to work in the office (no teleworking) for their first 6 months of employment to ensure they receive the appropriate level of support and training. Purpose of the position: The primary purpose of this position is to ensure child safety in compliance with state and federal statutes regarding child protective services. Essential Functions of the position: Assess the risk and safety of children in response to actual or suspected child neglect, abuse, or dependency through conducting a thorough investigation of the home, school and other locations or persons involved, conducting such assessments requires the use of a personal vehicle and a valid driver’s license. Develop and monitor service plans with families involved in Child Protective Services and provide or refer services as needed. Make recommendations to the court, including services needed, progress and barriers to permanent plan. Provide direct services to children and their parents/caretakers through which a timely and comprehensive assessment is conducted to determine if abuse/neglect/dependency exist and provide for ongoing intervention if warranted. Ensure safety planning for children in compliance with state and federal statutes and policies. If children cannot remain safely in their home a petition to the court and/or non-secure custody is sought. Assess, support, supervise and counsel families involved with child protective services to ensure child safety, wellbeing and permanence. Evaluate available information to determine the appropriateness for intervention and level of services required. Prepare legal documents, court reports, and court testimony when warranted in compliance with state and federal statutes and policies. Ensure all required documentation, forms and reports are completed and maintained in a timely and consistent manner in accordance with local, state and federal requirements. Provide transportation on a limited basis to families when necessary to access services to address safety and wellbeing issues. Advise clients of the Department’s mandated responsibilities, agency policies and procedures and clients’ rights. Establish rapport with children, families and appropriate professionals/non-professionals in the community to provide a strengths-based, family centered approach in working with families throughout child welfare involvement. Coordinate goal-directed visitation with birth family in accordance with Court orders and service agreements. Develop and/or participate in Child and Family Team to ensure collaborative service planning and case coordination among multiple service providers. Perform other related duties as assigned. Investigative Social Worker Trainee Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience: To be qualified as an Investigative Social Worker Trainee a candidate will have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, or Human Services or related field from an accredited college or university. Investigative Social Worker III Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience: Master's degree in Social Work; or a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and one (1) year of directly related experience; or a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, or Human Services and two (2) years directly related experience; or Bachelor’s degree in another field and three (3) years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. *BSW and Social Work Collaborative Students preferred. Additional Training and Experience: English/Spanish bi-lingual speakers preferred. License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: A current, valid North Carolina driver's license. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Ability to prioritize, identify, and assess risks, problems and needs often in stressful situations with clients who are hostile, emotionally confused and resistant; Ability to effectively de-escalate individuals. Knowledge of medical, behavioral and socio-economic problems and their treatment. Knowledge of numerous funding sources and how to utilize them. Knowledge of basic criminal justice procedures, elements of medical and mental disorders, personality theory, family systems dynamics, interpersonal relations, and cultural differences, values and lifestyles. Skills in establishing constructive relationships with resistant clients and utilizing family-centered SW practice. Skills and counseling in interviewing and the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively; and skills in creating resources when none are readily available. Thorough Knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their application to specific casework and community problems. Thorough knowledge of agency procedures and resources, community systems and resources, manual material, state and federal regulations, permanency planning philosophy, and laws governing protective services for children. Additionally, Buncombe County has a very rich benefits package, including an 8% contribution to our 401(k), which is a free contribution, not a match. We also have a state pension, to which Buncombe County contributes about 11%, and has a 5-year vesting period. In addition we have first-in-class health insurance and generous paid time off plan including 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave that roll over each year, and vacation accruals starting at 10 days per year which increases with service. Other resources, services, and opportunities for appreciation, engagement, and support: No-cost physical therapy Employee & Family Health clinic Buncombe County University internal training program Free preventive screenings for employees and family members on the health insurance plan Employee Assistance Program Autoimmune program Condition care program Financial resources Lunch and learn series Financial Fridays – Learn about everything from best practices for car buying to debt management Employee Spotlights Annual employee service awards Lake Julian Festival of Lights employee appreciation night Employee 5K at Owen Park Up to eight weeks of paid parental and family care leave 16 hours of Community Service Leave 2 annual PTO days with the opportunity to earn two additional days by joining our voluntary wellness program In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions. Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective. It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition, Buncombe County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination. Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment. Employees in positions that are approved for remote work must reside within a 2-hour drive from the position's assigned Buncombe County facility. Select a job and click the blue Apply button to complete your application. Please attach a resume and cover letter if possible. Then, submit your application by the Job Posting End Date to be considered. Our hiring managers begin reviewing applications after the Job Posting End Date and will contact applicants soon after. Thank you for your patience as we give each application the time and attention that it deserves. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. If you have equivalent experience and/or education we encourage you to apply.