Child Protective Services – Social Worker (Bilingual/Spanish)

Wake County HHS is now offering sign-on bonuses and recruitment incentives for Child Protective Services - Social Worker positions, tiered up to $5,000!

Wake County Human Services Child Welfare Division has three federally mandated goals. The first goal is safety - children will be protected from harm from child abuse and neglect. The second goal is permanence - children entering foster care will be reunited with family or placed in a new permanent home as quickly as possible. The third goal is well-being - the educational, health, and overall well-being of children in foster care or receiving CPS In-Home Services will be enhanced. Federal, state, and local policy dictate that Child Welfare seeks to accomplish these three goals by supporting and strengthening families. We are currently seeking a Child Protective Services - Social Worker, fluent in Spanish and English, to join our team of dedicated professionals that protect children and enhance their well-being by supporting and strengthening families. The Child Protective Services Social Worker ensures the protection of children who are brought to Child Protective Services' (CPS) attention due to allegations of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency according to North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7B, state and county policies and Wake County's vision and mission statements. The job assesses risk throughout the life of a case and ensures families utilize recommended services that will enable parents to provide appropriate care, discipline, and supervision when cases are closed. Essential job functions and responsibilities include:

• Conducting CPS assessments to determine if children have been maltreated and need protective service
• Conducting interviews with children, parents/caretakers and nonresident parents; interfacing during meetings
• Providing protective services to help families keep children who have been maltreated, safely at home, whenever possible
• Placing children in foster care when no other means are adequate to protect them

NOTE: Wake County Health and Human Services employees are required to be in their current role for a minimum of one (1) year to be eligible to apply for another Human Services position. Upon acceptance of employment you acknowledge that (i) you will rescind your application for any other positions within Wake County Health and Human Services, (ii) after accepting your position with Wake County Health and Human Services you must remain in your role for one(1) year before you are eligible to apply for another position within Wake County Human Services, (iii) if you work in the Health Clinics and Public Health Division, influenza immunization is a condition of initial and continued employment, subject to compliance with federal law.

About Our Team

Wake County Health and Human Services (WCHHS) is the consolidation of programs and services that include social services, public health, job search assistance, child support, and transportation. Our mission, in partnership with the community, is to facilitate full access to high quality and effective health and human services for Wake County residents. In addition to our numerous standard programs, Wake County Health and Human Services (WCHHS) is engaged in a number of special initiatives that are impacting services and programs throughout our entire agency. Whether legislated down from the changing regulations on the Federal or State level or bubbling up from the entrepreneurial spirit of our staff, you can always look forward to Wake County Health and Human Services implementing new and exciting enhancements to our services and programs.

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field
• Three years of job-related experience
• Completion of the NC Child Welfare Education Collaborative (CWEC) traineeship can be substituted for 1 year of experience
• Valid Driver's License and safe driving record
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Child Welfare experience as a Child Protective Services Assessor
• The ability to speak and write fluently in both Spanish and English
• Experience with a diverse population
• Experience with visiting homes in communities
• Experience in testifying in court
• Experience writing behavioral safety plans

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• The ability to maintain social, ethical, and organizational norms
• The ability to firmly adhere to codes of conduct, ethical principles, adherence to laws and/or regulations
• Strong communication skills, both oral and in writing
• Skillset to build and maintain positive, productive relationships with colleagues, providers, the community and other professionals
• The ability to weigh alternative actions when making decisions
• The ability to deal with stress, difficult and complex situations and achieve resolution
• The ability to use appropriate interpersonal skills and methods to reduce tension in high stress situations and resolve conflicts
• The ability to make decisions without regard to personal prejudices, biases, or experiences