Social Worker III – Child Placement

The Johnston County Department of Social Services has openings for Social Worker III- Child Placement positions, located at 714 North Street, Smithfield. Internal applicants must to apply online to be considered. Preference will be given to the applicants with prior Child Welfare experience and/or completion of mandatory Child Welfare training. Please note: Final applicant subject to pre-employment drug screen, criminal records and DMV check. Background checks and drug screens will be conducted on all final candidates.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide foster care services for children, ages 0-18 years of age. When a parent or caretaker can no longer provide basic needs for their children, it is the responsibility of the State to become involved with the family and provide necessary services to prevent removal of the children from the home. If these intervention strategies are not successful, placement outside of the family unit may be necessary to protect the child. This employee will provide foster care services as needed for the protection of identified children working towards reunification while at the same time establishing an alternative permanency plan with includes, but is not exclusive to, relative or non-relative placement or guardianship. This may involve court action to terminate parental rights of biological parents in order to place the child in a permanent adoptive home. The clients (defined as child and the family unit) that are served by this position are from all segments of the population, all races and socio-economic levels, and persons with mental and/or physical disorders, developmentally delayed, emotional problems, psychopathologies, etc. This position serves a diverse a make-up of parental families, families who have drug or alcohol related problems and families who are having difficulty in coping with everyday stresses. The targeted population are children 0-18 years of age who are victims or abuse, neglect or dependency, but may serve children up to age 21 if they remain in school or are employed. The majority of clients have limited knowledge of child development, poor parenting skills, low self-esteem and, in some cases, no extended family network that can provide a support system. This position will be responsible for any and all court reviews, agency foster care reviews, risk assessments and family and/or individual case plans which occur while the social worker is the case manager of said case.

Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work and community problems. Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical behavioral and psychosocial problems and their treatment. Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques. Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community. Considerable knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program. General knowledge of medical terminology, diseases 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 of assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client's problems. Ability to supervise, train, or instruct lower-level social workers, students, interns in the program. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of caseload and their families as well as civic, legal, medical, social, and religious organizations. Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.