This position is advanced level social work involving the provision of direct and indirect casework to children and adults requiring protective services, focusing on the best interests and protection of the child, the reunification of the child with his/her family, and the safeguarding of the child's cultural identify and larger relationship to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). The goal of the Human Services Department is to enhance the ability of families and individuals to become self-sufficient to their greatest ability while ensuring quality of care and support for those unable to achieve self-sufficiency. Employees in this class may be assigned to either Child or Adult Care cases. Work is supervised by a Supervisor - Family Safety who reports to the Manager - Family Safety. Cases in these areas require an immediate response to a crisis situation for the client. Consequently, the social worker must be able to analyze the situation and determine an appropriate course of action in a short time span. There are, additionally, legally mandated time spans in which action must be taken in protective services
investigation cases.
- Responsible for following the procedures and guidelines as provided by the EBCI and the legal system.
- Prepares extensive court reports and associated legal documents; testifies in court; assists attorneys in the preparation of court actions; coordinates service of subpoenas; responds to inquiries regarding court actions.
- Transports children to protective facilities, appearances in court, scheduled appointments, or visitation, and for other authorized purposes.
- Evaluates compliance with court orders.
- Evaluates the suitability of child placements.
- Administers and processes recommended and court-ordered drug tests.
- Interprets policies, rules, and regulations to clients, applicants, and other involved parties.
- Prepares and maintains case records and reports in addition to answering correspondence.
- Participates in staff development programs to increase technical competence.
- Participates in community planning for the protection and care of children, and to identify potentially harmful influences on children.
- Participates in the PHHS Strategic planning process.
- Tracks & reports data or billing for services.
- Tracks & documents service delivery to families and individuals within established timelines and mandates.
- Maintains timely and compliant recipient charts and documentation.
- Participates in review of outcomes of an interdisciplinary integrated services team and for client specific cases.
- Participate in child fatality investigation to determine potential cause and whether abuse or neglect were contributory factors, potential child fatality review by outside agencies.
- Participate in collection and review of behavioral health/medical records to complete CANS assessment to obtain risk/neglect score.
- Maintains confidentiality and adheres to HIPAA regulations.
- Maintains availability to work as directed by management in emergency or disaster, which may require night or weekend shifts, prolonged shifts, and/or travel.
- In addition to the above duties, employees may be assigned to one or more of the following areas:
- Investigations/Intake/Prevention -
- Is responsible for the collection of information from professional and non-professional resources in a community setting, office setting, and on call setting.
- Is responsible for making prompt and thorough investigations when a report of abuse, neglect, or dependency is received by the department.
- Is responsible for ascertaining the facts of the case, the extent of the abuse or neglect, and the risk of harm to juvenile, to determine whether protective services should be provided, or the complaint filed as a petition.
- Is responsible for being on call on average 7 days per month.
- Is responsible for responding to reports after hours, on weekends, and holidays.
- Is responsible for gathering and presenting evidence that may needed for the removal of a child both in the office setting and at court.
- In Home Services (Family Integrity Preservation) -
- Is responsible for providing treatment services to families and children who have been substantiated for abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.
- Is responsible for providing treatment services to children determined to be in need of protection, with the goal of preventing out of home placement, or if out of home placement cannot be prevented, provide the necessary services to affect an appropriate placement.
- ·Foster Care/Guardianship/Adoptions -
- Is responsible for ensuring safe, stable, and nurturing relationship and nurturing families for children/adults who are in PHHS custody and for whom PHHS has placement responsibility.
- Is responsible for providing services to strengthen, preserve and/or reunite families by helping them to improve the conditions that caused Agency intervention.
- Is responsible for ensuring appropriate temporary living arrangements for children in PHHS custody and achieving an alternative safe, permanent home for children that cannot return home.
- Is responsible for helping children, whose parents are incapable of assuring continuing parental responsibilities, to become a part of a new family by finding an appropriate home for them.
- Is responsible for recruitment of potential adoptive families and provision of ongoing services (supervision) to adoptive children and adoptive parents that will provide for their needs and protect the interests of all parties to an adoption.
- Is responsible for working with the behavioral health team to provide integrated wrap around services for families with children in custody.
- Is responsible for preparing and presenting all court required documentation and testimony as well as navigating crisis situations for children and families in custody, this will likely include after hours work
- Foster Home Licensing -
- Is responsible for the recruitment, training and retention of families interested in providing foster or adoptive homes for EBCI children /adults needing temporary or permanent homes. Primary responsibilities include community education, training families in the foster and adoptive processes, licensing homes, and development of recruitment strategies.
- Adult Protective Services
- Is responsible collection of information from professional and non-professional resources in a community setting, office setting, and on call setting.
- Is responsible for making prompt and thorough investigations when a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation is received by the department.
- Is responsible for ascertaining the facts of the case, the extent of the abuse or neglect, and the risk of harm to adult, to determine whether protective services should be provided, or the complaint filed as a petition guardianship or emergency protective services.
- Is responsible for being on call on average 1 ½ weeks per month as well as responding to reports after hours, on weekends, and holidays.
- Is responsible for gathering and presenting evidence that may needed for the guardianship both in the office setting and at court.
This position is not responsible for supervising others. Position works under the direct supervision of the Social Worker Supervisor - Family Safety Program. Daily program management and operations should be handled independently within the parameters outlined by the Family Safety Supervisor and within the structure of the Human Services Department. The individual in this position must demonstrate initiative and be a self- starter. This position is responsible for all other duties assigned by the Family Safety Supervisor.
Experience: Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)-Child Welfare Collaborative (child welfare positions only);
OR Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience;
OR Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) - Child Welfare Collaborative and one year of directly related experience;
OR Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited school of social work and two years of directly related experience;
OR Bachelor's Degree in a human service field from an accredited college/university and four years of related experience.
Entry-level or recent graduate Social Workers with documented internships/ placements in child welfare will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Licenses & Certifications: Valid, insurable NC Driver’s License required.
- Considerable knowledge of social work principles, techniques, practices, and their application to specific casework and community problems.
- Knowledge of Tribal, fiscal, State (as applicable), and Federal policies. Thorough knowledge of policy and procedure by citing the governing authority and appropriate application of each.
- Perform a variety of social casework functions, including the investigation, supervision, placement, and care of dependent children, children in foster homes, or other child welfare cases through routine or emergency referrals.
- Knowledge of IV-E laws.
- Ability to deal with families and the public who may not agree with the law, rules or policy of the process.
- Ability to use advanced case management interview techniques to establish a supportive casework relationship and to involve families in a joint assessment of the initial need for services.
- Ability to quickly assess environment during daytime hours, after dark and in high crime neighborhoods.
- Ability to provide written documentation in case records.
- Ability to provide expert resolution skills in negotiation of most complex cases.
- Ability to analyze child developmental/adult safety issues in relationship to risk factors.
- Ability to analyze situations as to whether or not removal of children/adults is necessary, especially in intense situations with limited direct information and also in situations with limited consultative resources.
- Ability to work effectively as part of an integrated interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely.
- Ability to plan and execute work effectively.
- Knowledge of data entry procedure and materials & updates.
- Knowledge of community resources (within boundary and off boundary) for providing needed services.
- Ability to analyze situations involving multiple issues with varying consequences and exercise judgment, along with the ability to apply solutions that fit the situation and are within the parameters of the policies and procedures of the organization and the funding source.
- Ability to demonstrate competencies with computer skills necessary in sending emails, developing, and generating reports, preparing presentations and data spreadsheets for supervisor(s).
* Disclaimer Statement
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request.
EBCI reserves the right to revise the position description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations. Complete job description is found on application site.
Public Health & Human Services
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