START Social Worker III or Trainee

Buncombe County is hiring a START Social WorkerIII .This individual will report to a START Social Work Supervisor III. The Social Work START teamfollows the national child welfare-based model known as Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START). This position is unique in that the START Social Worker III is partnered with a START Family Mentor who is an individual with lived experience.The START Social Worker and Family Mentor willco-work child welfare cases that have beenidentifiedto need mandated Child Protective Services. This position willprimarily work FamilyInHome cases.

The START model is an intensive intervention model for substance-abusing parents and families. This model integrates addiction and recovery services family preservation community partnerships and best practices in child welfare and substance use disorder treatment. START aims to address system issues that prevent families accesstoservices. Specialized training or experience working with families with young childrenimpactedbySubstance Use Disorderis preferred.

This position will start in-person. Over time a hybrid schedule will be allowed. The selected candidate mustrelocateorresidewithin a 2-hour drive from 200 College Street Asheville NC 28801 within 6 months of hire. Typical work schedule: M-F 8:00 am to 5:00PM and some evenings and weekends with time-and-a-half leaveaccruedfor hours worked over 40.

This position will be hired as afully-qualifiedSocial Worker IIIor a Social Worker IIITrainee depending on candidate qualifications. Salaries are calculated based on education and experience above minimum qualifications.

The Pay Range for a Social Worker IIIis $29.51- $35.50an hour
The Pay Range for a Social Worker IIITrainee is $25.77- $31.01an hour

Candidates hired as Social Worker IIITrainees are expected to advance to a Social Worker IIIposition once the employee becomes fully qualified. At thattimethe selected candidate will be promoted and compensated as a qualified Social Worker.

Purpose of the position:

The purpose of this position is to providemandated services to children and families affected by parental substance use and to ensure safety permanency and well-being of children in our community.

Minimum Education Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):Masters degree in Social Work; or aBachelors degree in Social Workand one (1) year of directly related experience; or aBachelors degree in Criminal Justice Sociology Psychology or Human Services and two (2) years directly related experience; orBachelorsdegree 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. Certificate of completion of the NCDHHS Pre-Service Training: Child Welfare in North Carolina is preferred.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:A current valid North Carolina drivers license.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Ensure children who cannot safely return to their birth families achieve a safe and legally secure placement via adoption or guardianship.

• Provide services through which a plan for temporary substitute care appropriate to a childs needs is evaluated arranged maintained and supervised in Court sanctioned placement or a licensed facility when the childs own family is unable to care for him/her adequately due to safety/risk factors.

• Provide direct services to children and their pre-adoptive caregivers to ensure the protection safety and permanency of the children.

• Assess prepare place and monitor children cleared for adoption.

• Provide state mandated case management services for children in DSS Legal Custody.

• Develop and monitor service plans with families and provide or refer services as needed.

• Make recommendations to the court including services needed progress and barriers to permanent plan.

• Establish rapport with children families andappropriate professionals/non-professionalsin the community to provide a strengths-based family centered approach in working with families throughout child welfare involvement.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Ability to prioritizeidentify 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 ofnumerousfunding sources and how toutilizethem.

• 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 inestablishingconstructive 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.