Adult Protective Services Social Worker

Salary : $56,044.15 Annually

Location : Social Services Main Hickory, NC

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 02079

Department: Social Services

Opening Date: 01/10/2025

Closing Date: 1/24/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

Position Description

Catawba County Social Services is committed to making living better through serving disabled adults by responding to and evaluating reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

We are seeking individuals who share our common core values:

Doing what's right:

• Evaluating reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled adults, and providing protection and services to adults who have been confirmed to have been maltreated and who are in need of protection.
• Responding to crisis situations and ensuring any emergencies are appropriately addressed.

Doing what matters most:

• Serving disabled adults and our community by providing protection, support and comprehensive person-centered, assessments and services to individuals that are confirmed to have been abused, neglected, or exploited.
• Respecting that clients have the right to self-determination and ensuring that right is protected.

Doing it together:

• Working cohesively with families, court partners, and community and agency partners to ensure adults are protected and linked to services that will allow them to function at their highest possible level.

Doing it well:

• Striving for excellence in meeting all mandated standards in a fast-paced, but rewarding environment that ultimately seeks to assure adults are protected and cared for with respect, dignity, and in the least restrictive environment possible.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate for allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of disabled adults
• Assess and respond (Crisis intervention) to urgent and potential danger of client
• Confirm and substantiate allegations
• Mobilize services
• Work with attorney in preparing court orders and subpoenas
• Assess client's need for legal guardianship, and if needed, facilitate the guardianship process
• Assure clients rights to self-determination/capacity to consent
• Provide intensive social work services
• Comprehensive psychosocial assessment
• Link to services
• Assess family dynamics
• Counsel long term care decisions to maintain health and safety
• Provide on-call after hours on a rotating basis
• Provide assistance to callers/visitors through service intake on a rotating basis
• Ongoing case management in the following service areas: guardianship, representative payee, IHA Level I and MAC services.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited school of social work and 1 year of social work experience; or
• Master's degree in counseling or human services field and 2 years of social work experience; or
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and 2 years of social work experience; or
• Bachelor's degree in human services field and 3 years of social work experience; or
• Bachelors' degree in a non-human services related field and 4 years of social work experience

Additional Requirements:

• Valid Driver's license with a safe driving record
• Knowledge of social work principles and practices
• Knowledge of and experience in gerontology and mental health issues
• Excellent insight and judgment
• Ability to develop personal relationships in the most difficult of circumstances
• Patience with the capability of being assertive, yet supportive
• Strong logical thinking skills
• Assessment/investigative skills
• Flexibility
• Excellent communication skills
• This is considered light work; lifting up to 20 pounds.

Catawba County Benefits
As of 7/1/2024:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization. Available benefits include:

Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren) and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents, with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts which can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision expenses.

Employee Wellness

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care available to employee's children ages 5-17 regardless of health insurance coverage and for employee's adult children (ages 18-26) or employee's spouse if covered on the county's health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

Work Life Balance

• Annual Leave: Full-time employees earn from 10-21 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
• Sick Leave: Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

Financial Security

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times employee's annual salary with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).

01

Briefly describe your work experience with adults, referencing jobs listed in your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type 'None' in the space provided.

02

Briefly describe your work experience with individuals with mental health issues, including dementia and severe and persistent mental illness, referencing jobs listed in your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type 'None' in the space provided.

Required Question