Social Worker III- Permanency Planning

An employee in this position provides advanced professional social work services within the Child Welfare Program. Duties involve assessing family functioning, developing and implementing permanency plans, coordinating services, preparing court reports, and ensuring timely achievement of safe and permanent outcomes for children in foster care. Work requires extensive knowledge of child welfare laws, policies, and best practices, as well as the ability to exercise sound judgment in complex family situations. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Manage a caseload of children and families involved in foster care and permanency planning services. Develop, implement, and monitor individualized permanency plans designed to achieve safe, permanent homes for children. Conduct comprehensive assessments of family functioning, strengths, risks, and service needs. Facilitate family engagement and maintain regular contact with children, parents, relatives, foster parents, and service providers. Coordinate and participate in Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings. Evaluate potential relative, kinship, guardianship, and adoptive placements. Assess the appropriateness and safety of placement options and recommend permanency goals. Monitor compliance with court orders, case plans, and state and federal child welfare requirements. Prepare and maintain detailed case records, documentation, and service plans in accordance with agency, state, and federal standards. Prepare court summaries, affidavits, petitions, and reports for juvenile court proceedings. Provide testimony in district court regarding case status, recommendations, and permanency planning efforts. Coordinate services with schools, healthcare providers, mental health agencies, law enforcement, attorneys, and community partners. Conduct home visits and face-to-face contacts as required by policy. Participate in placement reviews, permanency planning hearings, and foster care review meetings. Assist youth in foster care with independent living planning and transition services. Ensure compliance with North Carolina Child Welfare policies, federal regulations, and agency procedures. Participate in after-hours, emergency, and on-call coverage as assigned. Attend required training and maintain professional development requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of:

North Carolina Child Welfare policies and procedures. Foster care, permanency planning, adoption, guardianship, and reunification processes. Juvenile law, court procedures, and legal documentation requirements. Child development, family dynamics, trauma-informed practices, and crisis intervention techniques. Community resources and service delivery systems.

Ability to:

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with families, community partners, attorneys, court personnel, and other stakeholders. Assess complex family situations and develop appropriate intervention strategies. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Prepare accurate and timely reports and case documentation. Exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality. Manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines. Testify effectively in court proceedings. Physical Requirements Frequent driving throughout the county and surrounding service areas. Ability to visit homes, schools, foster placements, and community locations. Ability to traverse uneven terrain, climb stairs, and enter various residential environments. Ability to lift and carry files, records, and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. Ability to operate a motor vehicle and maintain a valid North Carolina driver's license. Minimum Education and Experience Social Worker III Requirements (North Carolina Child Welfare Classification): Master's degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly related experience; or Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and two years of directly related experience; or Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience; or An equivalent combination of education and experience as approved by the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources. Special Requirements Valid North Carolina Driver's License. Successful completion of required state Child Welfare training. Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications and credentials. Subject to criminal background check, reference verification, and pre-employment screening requirements. Working Conditions Work is performed in an office setting, clients' homes, schools, courtrooms, foster homes, and community locations. Position may involve exposure to stressful family situations, crisis intervention, and potentially hazardous environments. Employee must be available for emergency response and after-hours duties as assigned. Disclaimer This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required. McDowell County reserves the right to revise or amend this job description as necessary.