Social Worker III-Foster Care Position Available In Harnett, North Carolina

Social Worker III-Foster Care 
Salary $58,033.00

• $95,756.

00 Annually Location Lillington, NC Job Type Full-Time Regular Job Number

DSS 2206

Department Social Services Opening Date 04/28/2025 DESCRIPTION
BENEFITS
QUESTIONS
POSITION SUMMARY Harnett County is currently recruiting for a Social Worker III position in Foster Care. Work in this class involves providing intensive social work services in serious and complicated cases which require the flexible use of a wide range of social work skills and intervention techniques. Services are provided in a variety of settings including local human services agencies. Work may involve investigation of alleged neglect or abuse; providing in-depth assessment of family dynamics and needs, assessment, intervention and treatment of patients and or families with acute to severe medical and/or emotional disorders and mental illnesses; serving as expert witness at court hearings; or advanced social work intervention.

Hiring Range:

$58,033.00 DUTIES

AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Variety and Scope

• Employees provide social work services in the areas child protective services, custody and adoption, and foster care work which involve the assessment of individual and family dynamics and needs, serving as expert witness at court hearings, crisis intervention, and counseling.

Work involves explaining diagnosis and treatment alternatives to patients and families, counseling and participating in education endeavors for physicians, psychologists, nurses, other health disciplines, students and social work interns, and participating in research activities. Intricacy

• Employees use considerable judgment in conducting individual assessments, selecting and providing treatment techniques or dealing with psychosocial aspects or researching catastrophic or terminal diseases.

Employees provide in-depth assessment of family dynamics, determine the extent of neglect or abuse, and provide counseling for clients with complex needs. Employees usually refer the most severe cases, such as severe phobias or unusual violence patterns to a higher level social worker or therapist. Employees educate and consult with other staff and community professionals for information purposes and joint case planning. Some didactic consultation may also be involved. Subject Matter Complexity

• Work requires a thorough understanding of social work assessment techniques and treatment approaches primarily of a crisis, supportive, and behavioral nature.

Considerable knowledge of legal and administrative aspects of programs. Employees may require knowledge of medical diagnoses, treatment alternatives, disease pathophysiology, biopsychosocial, adaptive, and coping responses to illnesses. Guidelines

• Includes state and federal laws and regulations, JCAHO standards, professional ethics, theories of standard methods and procedures, and quality assurance standards. Employees may participate in development of new theories or adaptation of techniques in the field of social work. Nature of Instructions
• Work involves comprehensive children services that are jointly planned with other members of a multi-disciplinary team or protective services committee and supervisors. Assessment and intervention are performed with considerable independence. Medication issues are referred to physicians and legal precedents are utilized in some settings. Nature of Review
• Work is reviewed by unit supervisor, program manager, or higher level clinician, usually on a general basis except for review of sensitive legal, abuse, or commitment situations. Scope of Decisions
• Directly affects clients, their families, foster homes, adoptive parents, adult care facilities and community agencies, depending on case load. Consequence of Decisions
• Assessments, service/treatment decisions affect the safety and well-being of clients in neglect or abuse situations, affects adjustments in adoptive and foster care placements and in long term placements; or the adaptive coping response to illness and surgery.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; Master’s degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience; Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience;
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their application to complex individual casework, group work, and community problems. Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory. Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, and resources in the community, laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program. General knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training. In certain settings, considerable knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies based on medical or psychological diagnosis. Skill in establishing rapport with a client and in applying techniques or assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client’s problems. Ability to supervise, train, or instruct lower-level social workers, students, or interns in the program. Other duties as assigned.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Work Environment/Location/Physical Demands:

Employees work in offices, but work involves visiting homes, schools, health and mental health facilities and other service agencies.
Employees interact with clients in the most difficult and complex cases. Hazards of the job may include contact with irate clients and/or family members who may be hostile, resistant or violent. Some homes may be poorly maintained and have unsafe living conditions. Some required contacts may occur in unsafe areas where the threat of violence is real or in an isolated area where access to emergency services may be difficult.
Employees must be flexible with their schedule
The work environment is fast paced, unpredictable and highly stressful. The policy standards, caseload sizes, and often-disturbing experiences can at times cause emotional distress. The work environment is also rewarding and fulfilling as the social worker empowers, assists and provides protective services to the family
Employee should have the ability to perform manual work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Successful completion of a drug screening and criminal background check will be required as a condition of employment.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Harnett County is one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina with approximately 130,000 residents. Our “Strong Roots, New Growth,” describes a county in transition, one that values its rural agricultural heritage while also embracing new growth and industry. Harnett County is optimally located between North Carolina’s capital city of Raleigh and the internationally recognized Research Triangle Park to the north, and the nation’s largest military installation in Fort Bragg to the south. The county is also centrally located in North Carolina and is within close proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway, and to the numerous Atlantic Ocean beaches and the Outer Banks. The county offers a wide range of training and development opportunities, a stable career in public service with a balance of work and family life. We appreciate your interest in employment opportunities with Harnett County. Harnett County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Harnett County participates in E-Verify to determine employment eligibility to work in the United States. Employer
Harnett County
Address
P. O. Box 778
455 McKinney Pkwy.
Lillington, North Carolina, 27546
Phone
910-893-7567 Website