Brunswick County Department of Social Services is accepting applications for a Social Work Investigator in our Child Protective Services unit. We are a forward thinking, creative organization that truly believes in treating others as we want to be treated. We are looking for the right person to join our Team.
The Ideal Team member:
We are looking for an ethical, team oriented, confident, compassionate, family centered, self-starter with a capacity for critical thinking and problem solving.
- Willingness to work in a fast paced, challenging environment that offers opportunities to grow both personally and professionally
- Have a desire to create a positive impact on adults, children and families living in our community
- Ability to interpret and apply state and agency policies and procedures with the goal of meeting the needs of the community
- Capacity to work and thrive in a team environment
Job Description
Child Protective Services Assessment Social Worker
A Child Protective Services (CPS) Assessment Social Worker is assigned to work with families when a report of child abuse, neglect, and/or dependency is reported to the agency and screened in to assess/investigate. This work involves interviewing adults and children in their homes and the community with the goal of assessing the safety and risk of all the child(ren) in the home. The CPS Assessment Social Worker, using the information gathered, determines if there is a need for ongoing Child Protective Services involvement. A primary goal of the position is to ensure child safety while connecting the family with resources to strengthen the family unit and prevent children from being taken into DSS custody. This position requires a great deal of autonomy but also necessitates working as a team in collaboration with community partners and internal team members to reach informed decisions.
Please note this is a fast-paced, multi-faceted short-term intervention and requires the Social Worker to have crucial conversations with families about uncomfortable topics.
There will be a significant amount of time spent in family homes and in the community.
Job responsibilities include:
- Initial home visit and interview with all household members in order to assess safety of the children in the household and create a safety plan in partnership with the caregivers based on information gathered
- Make regular home visits with families
- Conduct private discussions to assess child safety and risk on an ongoing basis
- Connect families to community resources to address risk factors
- Complete timely, concise, detailed documentation
- When safety cannot be assured, file court paperwork, assume custody of children and testify at court hearings
- Upon completion of the assessment, make an informed decision regarding the need for ongoing Child Protective Services involvement
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of child welfare policies and legal mandates
Knowledge of social work and practices and principles (particularly strengths-based)
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
Assessments Skills
- Ability to gather facts
- Detail oriented
- Observant
- Ability to assess safety and risk
- Interview skills (adults and children)
- Sound judgment/decision making
Communication Skills (oral and written)
- Ability to engage with resistant clients and gain buy in to promote positive change in families
- Ability to actively listen
- Ability to have difficult conversations with resistant caregivers
- Ability to clearly and concisely document all casework in a timely manner
- Ability to clearly communicate with others
- Must be able to relay case facts to your supervisor concisely
- Ability to de-escalate
- Ability to quickly build rapport and show empathy while still holding caregivers accountable when necessary
Organizational Skills
- Ability to prioritize tasks and reassess as priorities change in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to quickly identify and utilize essential resources
Critical thinking Skills
- Ability to collect, analyze and interpret information gathered
- Ability to logically determine next steps when given conflicting information
- Ability to make logical informed decisions based on safety and risk
Other Information
Brunswick County Department of Social Services is a part of a consolidated Health and Human Services agency, with roughly 250 dedicated professionals seeking to serve the citizens of our county through providing essential human services. The department is a part of a dynamic, professional county organization with a clear vision as a vibrant, prosperous, diverse coastal community, committed to building a sustainable future for generations to come. Ideal candidates for the Department of Social Services have excellent customer service, organizational and computer skills, the ability to problem solve and make critical decisions, and above all, an overwhelming desire to serve the citizens of our county.
Normal Business Hours are 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Friday. Must be available to work after normal business hours and during emergency situations.
Qualifications
Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience; or Master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or a four-year degree in a human services field or related curriculum and three years of social work or counseling experience; or graduation from a four-year college or university and four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling or a related human service field providing experience in the techniques of casework, group work or community organization; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. One year of work experience can be credited for completion of the social work collaborative.
**Please submit a copy of college transcripts with application**
Physical Requirements
Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines, which include typewriters, calculators, copiers, facsimile machines, etc. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pound of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
General Information
Brunswick County (current est. population 150,000) is consistently one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina. Brunswick County is located between historic Wilmington, NC and lively Myrtle Beach, SC. Brunswick County is steeped in history and hospitality. We appreciate your interest in Brunswick County and welcome the opportunity to show you why so many chose to work where they play in North Carolina.
Brunswick County provides equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons regardless race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. Brunswick County is required by law to verify identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired. Brunswick County participates in E-Verify to determine employment eligibility to work in the United States.
All positions with Brunswick County require a valid Driver's License and candidate must be current on Brunswick County taxes. A background check and drug screening will be conducted with a contingent offer of any position. 
