Job Description

Posting number: 1395

Department: SOCIAL SERVICES

Job classification: Social Worker III - Adult Protective Services

Posting type: Open

Categories: Social Services, Community and Social Services

Summary

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.

Examples of duties

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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.

• Complete intensive and complex individual and family adjustment case management services for disabled adults to remain in the community rather than institutionalized care. Coordinate, arrange, advocate,and assist disabled adults without duplication of service. Monitor the use of benefits. Intensive in home case management provided through home visits, screening and preventing Adult Protective Services and/or Guardianship intervention, completing initial/quarterly/annual assessments, and exploring natural family and community support systems.
• Provide intensive case management services for clients referred for SOAR (SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) who are homeless, coming out of the prison system for community reentry, or permanently disabled and are in need of establishing a payor source. Complete interiews, assessments, collaborate with doctors and other medical personnel, collaborate with SSI and SSDI, to avoid further crisis or APS.
• 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 protective 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.
• Provide case management to adults who are adjudicated incompetent and made wards of DSS Director. Visit wards living at home or in placement such as assisted living centers, nursing homes and group homes. Conduct monthly and as needed contacts with wards and facilities to obtain status updates and resolve concerns. Travel to visit wards residing out of County. Obtain information about all recommended treatments and procedures for wards including invasive and non-invasive procedures, surgeries, orders for Do Not Resuscitate, life-prolonging measures and Hospice. Explore treatment options and risks. Inform wards and family members of medical conditions and treatment options. Provide disabled adults/family with mandated Adult Placement Services including providing families with available facilities, counsel the adult/family regarding level of care and assisting/facilitating in obtaining required forms for admission.
• Perform various adminstrative activities by completing paperwork and documentation including interviews and contacts with disabled adults, their family, their support systems, and other community resources.
• Must be available to work mandatory emergency shelters & other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution.
• Master's degree in counseling or human services field and 1 year of directly related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited institution and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative **(Child Welfare positions only)
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited institution and 1 year of directly related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field and 2 years of directly related experience.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 3 year of directly related experience.
• A valid driver's license is required.

The ideal candidate will possess interview skills, computer skills, assessment, communication, and crisis intervention skills, general knowledge of mental health issues, geriatric issues, and knowledge of disability issues preferred.

A copy of a transcript must be included with the application. FAILURE TO ATTACH YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION BEING REJECTED.

Supplemental information

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.