LINKS/Foster 18-21 Care Social Worker III

Catawba County Social Services is committed to making living better through serving children and families with multiple and complex needs. We are seeking individuals who share our common core values: Doing what’s right:

• Assessing the strength and needs of teens and young adults involved in Foster Care/ 18-21 program while maintaining integrity, respect, transparency, and professionalism through helping to prepare them for self-sufficiency and independence while mitigating risk and addressing well-being needs.

Doing what matters most:

• Serving teens and young adults involved in Foster Care/ 18-21 Program by providing support and comprehensive solution focused assessments, interventions, and training that will support a young adult’s capacity for self-sufficiency and independence.

Doing it together:

• Working cohesively with teens/ young adults, their support systems, community and in-agency partners to support their goals and strengthen their ability to be productive adults.

Doing it well:

• Striving for excellence in meeting all mandated standards in a challenging, but rewarding environment that ultimately seeks to assure teens/ young adults are able to reach self- sufficiency while developing a support system to help them obtain their goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES SPECIFIC TO LINKS/ FOSTER CARE 18-21 SOCIAL WORKERS: 

• Engage Teens and Young Adults who have involvement in the Foster Care System
• Completion of thorough assessments, including use of strong interviewing, communication, and documentation skills that allow for the Social Worker to assist in creating a plan with the youth to help them move toward self-sufficiency.
• Establish Transitional Living plans with Teens, Young Adults and their support systems and update those plans quarterly.
• Establish knowledge of resources available to Teens and Young Adults who have involvement in the Foster Care System
• Apply crisis intervention techniques
• Assess Teens and Young Adults for acceptance into and compliance with Foster Care 18-21 requirements
• Continuously assess the safety, risk, and well-being of identified Teens and Young Adults
• Will maintain a case load of approximately 15 Teens or Young Adults on their caseload

 QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work with Child Welfare Collaborative; or
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and 1 year of social work experience; or
• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field and 2 years of social work experience; or
• Bachelor’s degree in a non-human services field and 3 years of social work experience

 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• A valid Driver’s license with a safe driving record
• This is considered light work; lifting up to 20 pounds

PREFERENCES:

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Direct social work experience in child welfare services or similar experiences
• Experience in working with Teens or Young Adults that have experienced trauma, family disruptions, limited positive natural support systems, and frequent breaks in educational fluency
• Persons with bilingual ability (English/Spanish) are encouraged to apply.

Trainees, those with a Master’s or Bachelor’s degrees in other areas of human services, but do not have the required experience, may be considered.   Trainee salary is $42,116.25.