Social Worker III – Foster Home Licensing & Adoptions – (HHS)

DEPARTMENT: Social Services

SALARY: Grade 65                                                       $24.2954- $36.4433 Hourly/ $50,534.38- $75,801.96 Annually

OPENING DATE: April 25, 2025                             CLOSING DATE: “OPEN UNTIL FILLED”

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary purpose is to provide temporary and permanent living arrangements for abused, neglected, and dependent children whom the court has found to be at risk in the home of parents/other caretakers through in-depth assessment, counseling and education; to manage the adoptive process as it relates to adoptive applicants; and to license and supervise foster homes. Duplin County Department of Social Services (DSS) is mandated to provide these services. Position includes adoption (agency and independent) and foster care services. This position is also the LINKS liaison which provides services to youth in the age range of 13 years of age to 21 years of age.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES/EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Major activities in this position include Agency & Independent Adoptions (40%}, Foster Home Licensing (40%}, and General Administration (20%}.

Adoption is a social/ legal process by which a child born to one set of parents becomes the child of another individual or couple. Age n cy placement is one in which a child in agency custody who is legally cleared for adoption is placed by the agency with an approved adoptive couple or individual. Independent adoption is one in which birth parents place their child directly into an unrelated adoptive home without agency assistance.

Foster Care services are provided for any child who is placed into custody of DSS by the court system. Child is then placed into a licensed foster home/ residential facility/ court approved setting. Licensing of foster homes involves assessing prospective families or individuals to determine suitability for foster parenting relative to licensing standards.

Children who are in foster care range in age from newborn to 18 years. An 18-year-old may elect to remain in foster care up to age 21 in order to complete school or increase independent living skills.

Foster parents can must be at least 21 years of age.  Persons who apply may be single or married individuals of varying educational/ financial status. Personal/ background information is gathered and assessed to determine agency’s recommendations regarding licensure.

AGENCY AND INDEPENDENT ADOPTIONS – 40%

Case Management – Children are eligible to receive adoption services without regard to income. Worker documents eligibility status in case record and prepares data entry forms necessary to enter child in Service Information and Child Placement Tracking Systems at state level. Worker coordinates services needed by the child. All activities relative to services provided are documented in case record.

Counseling – Worker counsels’ prospective adoptive applicants on types of child ren available for adoption, legal process, and special situations/ problems that may arise. Counsel applicants regarding expectations and frustrations they may encounter while waiting for children to be placed and the possibility that placement may not occur. Counsel parents who wish to relinquish their child for adoption in terms of available options and to help them examine their feelings and consequences of their decision. Counsel children who have been cleared for adoption to help them accept to some extent the possible reasons their parents could not provide for them and to resolve feelings toward these parents.

Recruitment and Assessment – Worker prepares detailed preplacement assessment on adoptive applicants based on observations/information gathered during office / home visits from references/criminal background checks. Completed assessments are circulated to other county departments and private agencies to determine if there may be a suitable child awaiting adoption. Worker also prepares pre-adoptive assessments on available children. Children ‘s assessment is circulated to other county/ private agencies.

Court – Children become legally clear for adoption when birth parents sign relinquishments or the court terminates parental rights. In termination proceedings, worker prepares summary documenting specific facts showing parents failure to provide for child while in agency’s custody. Children released for adoption, must have their cases heard in court every six months to review agency’s placement plan and progress towards permanency. Worker prepares written summary to update court.

FOSTER HOME LICENSING – 40%

Case Management – worker opens case record on individuals who apply to be foster parents. All information obtained during study process for licensure is retained in the record. Case activity is documented in narrative. Log of all child re n placed in home must be maintained in record and updated as needed.

Counseling – Worker counsels’ prospective foster parents regarding responsibilities of foster parenting, types of child re n in foster care, problems that may arise, temporary nature of foster parenting and how they would cope with attachment/separation issues. Counsel current foster parents when personal situations occur that could affect their ability to foster parent children at any other time licensing issue arises. Counseling is done relative to foster child’s needs and how to manage/ cope with their behaviors.

Recruitment, Assessment, Supervision – Worker informs prospective foster parents of licensing procedures and standards which must be met before licensure can be granted. Worker conducts comprehensive assessment on individuals who make application for foster parenting. Information is gathered from office / home visits. Part of assessment involves 30 hours of pre-services training such as Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanency – Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (TIPS -MAPP). This training takes individuals through the process which helps them make an informed decision as to whether foster parenting is appropriate for their family. References are contacted and criminal record checks completed. Finger printing is also required as well as a fire inspection on the home. All required forms including agency recommendations for review and issuance of license.  Relicensing standards are maintained every two years.  Minimum of quarterly contact is required.

Training – In addition to 30 hours of p re -service TIPS -MA PP training for prospective foster parents, currently licensed foster parent receives 10 hours of in-service training each year. Both are now standards which have to be met prior to initial and ongoing licensure. TIPS-MAPP deals with topics such as Separation and Los s, Attachments and Trust, and Behavior Management. In Service training is geared toward special developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs of child ren in care.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION – 20 %

Includes completing required reports such as day sheets, time sheets, travel reports when county cars are not utilized, monthly activity reports, travel to / from home visits and meetings, and travel necessary to pick up children for their appointments; maintenance of manuals and frequent reading of manual material conferences (not case specific) with supervisor and staff meetings, trainings and workshops; devising/revising/copying forms; leave and compensatory time.

Adoption worker is responsible for completing assessment of adoptive applicants. Pre-service training, TIPS-MAPP, is also required for prospective adoptive parents, Individuals who wish to adopt initiate process by contacted agency and indicating g in teres t. Time is scheduled for office visit, at which tome requirements and adoptive process are explained. Worker explores with prospective adoptive applicants their motivation for adopting and type of child they feel they can parent. Availability and characteristics of children for adoption is discussed.

If applicants are interested in pursuing process, their contact information is obtained so that they can be informed of the next scheduled TIPS ­ MAPP class. Later, detailed family pro file and office/home visits are conducted to gather essential information relating to applicant’s background information, health, financial status, residence, marital stability, personal qualities, experience with child ren, etc. At least two consultations with each person/ couple.  Worker then assesses information, organizes it in logical format, and prepares written pre­ placement assessment.  Completed assessment is sent to   other county/ private agencies to determine if suitable child is available. Assessment remains in circulation until appropriate child is found or applicants decide to no longer pursue adoption through agency.

Pre­ placement Assessments are updated as needed at least every twelve months. When prospective family is selected by another agency as parents for child in their custody, information on child is received and shared with this family. If, after assessing information, prospective parents feel child is appropriate, worker coordinates with other agency in determining how/ where meeting will take place, number of pre­ placement visits necessary to facilitate transition, and actual placement date. Worker monitors placement of child and reports regularly to another agency. Worker prepares required Report on Proposed Adoption to Clerk of Court once petition for adoption is filed by adoptive parents.  Worker provides supportive services to parents/child during initial adjustment period and throughput adoptive process.

Worker is responsible for recruitment and licensing of foster homes with in the county. This is an important t part of foster care system in that these homes provide temporary living arrangements for child ren who cannot remain with their families. Recruitment can be done through social media or speaking engagements but one of the most effective strategies is other foster parents. Individuals interested in becoming foster parents make inquiries by telephone or office visit. Worker explains general requirements such as medical examinations, environment, fire inspections, criminal records/fingerprint checks and completion of pre­ service training. Worker counsels’ prospective foster parents regarding types of child ren placed into foster care. Worker encourages prospective foster parent to carefully consider information. Worker provides printed information to them. Prospective applicants are required to attend MAPP training. Worker prepares and conducts MAPP class for prospective foster and adoptive parents. This requires preparation or studying after hours. The class is typically held one day a week for ten (10) weeks from 6:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. when offered. Home visits are made to gather necessary background information and ascertain entire family’s feelings on issues relative to foster children and foster parenting. During consultations worker determines that applicable licensing requirements are met not only in terms of space requirements.  Physical facilities but also in terms of abilities/relationships. Worker completes state licensure application form which includes a comprehensive assessment of prospective foster parents (i n cl u d in g the Twelve Skills) and agency’s recommendations about licensure. They review/sign form and worker submit it along with physicals and inspections, and etc. to the Division of Social Services Licensing Unit for their approval / disapproval. Re­ licensure is required every two years and involves worker doing written assessment of foster parents’ experiences/ abilities over the past two years and submitting this along with recommendations for re-licensure to Division.

New inspections are requested and sent also. Then hours of In-Service training per year is a standard required for re-licensure. Worker and foster parents together determine needed/ appropriate topics. Worker provides training or directly arranges a resource person from another agency to do so. Worker supervises foster homes to ensure that standards are maintained and provide technical assistance/support. Standards require that worker have quarterly face to face contact with foster parents with majority of such contacts being in the home.  Worker is in regular telephone contact with foster parents.

Foster homes remain active indefinitely and are closed at point foster choose to have their license terminated or are no longer physically capable of meeting the needs of children placed in their homes. Adoptive applicants are active six months to indefinitely on how quickly child is recruited for them.

In carrying out agency’s mandate to provide Adoption Services, worker prepares and files reports with Clerk of Court (Court of Ad option s).

Worker must complete 72 hours of pre-service with in the first year of hire date and 24 hours of in-service training each year.

Social workers are required to open up emergency shelters prior to the disaster and assist in maintaining them during a disaster. The social worker assists with Disaster Food and Nutrition Services (DSNAP) after the disaster.

Worker performs other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and Director.

Note:

Specific oral instruction is provided by supervisor on individual basis and during staff meetings. Written instructions from supervisor are sometimes distributed to each worker or posted in designated areas. Director provides both written/oral instructions. Regional / state offices periodically send written information on program/procedures. County attorney and court sometimes provide instructions/ directives relative to specific cases.

Worker has access to Children’s Services Manual, Services Information Systems manual, and MAPP train in g Manual and Implementation Guidebook. Worker has contacts with various agencies /persons in order to monitor children’s overall status and well-being and to arrange for needed services. Worker shares information regarding foster care and adoption program during presentation to civic, church, and other groups. Supervisor reviews worker’s adoptive/court summaries foster home licensing information and major correspondences. Supervisor reviews worker’s data entry forms such as day sheets and client entry/ tracking forms before they are keyed into the computer system. Records are read by supervisor to ensure worker is complying with standards. Worker’s records are also subject to review accuracy and effectiveness of work.  Issues relative to specific cases are discussed with supervisor.

OTHER WORK CHARACTERISTICS

Worker has a private office with adequate work space, furnishings, and lighting. Normally work area is quiet/ conducive to work. Conditions that pose potential hazards include necessary travel/transporting of children in various types of weather, exposure to sick children, physically/verbally aggressive foster children, angry/hostile parents, unsafe/unsanitary conditions encountered during home visits.

May have to use personal vehicle regularly to travel to home vis its and to transport foster children to appointments/visitation s. Uses telephone, copy machine, scanner, and fax. Has access to computer for inquiry purposes, documentation and other job functions. General office supplies are available as needed.

Adoptive assessments, foster home licensing assessment must be accurate to reflect true situation and assure credibility of worker/agency. All data entry forms must be accurate as they are basis for statistics, reimbursement, case management, and printouts.

Transporting children for visits and to doctor/other appointments may require lifting/carrying/hold in g. Car seats must be carried and secured in county car. Worker has to lift/carry packed belongings when child is moved to a different placement. Special care/precaution must be taken when driving and anytime worker is supervising children since worker is responsible for maintaining safety. Worker is also responsible for maintaining confidentiality of client’s information to safe guard their privacy.

When meeting with clients, worker closely observes facial expressions, gestures, attentiveness, appearance to help determine person’s emotional/physical state. During home visits, family member’s interactions and conditions of the home are observed. Close visual attention is needed when reading manuals/mail, completing data entry forms, and writing assessments.

Preparation of adoptive assessments, licensing materials requires much intense mental concentration.

Worker’s regular hours of work are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Late afternoon appointments for children and scheduling of home visits in the late afternoon to accommodate working clients may require additional overtime. 

Assist in planning events for awareness activities and other special projects.

Assist other workers in monitoring family dynamics and coordinating community services to meet family needs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Master’s Degree from an accredited school of social work; or a Bachelor’s Degree with the Child Welfare Collaborative (child welfare positions only): or a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited school of social work plus one year of directly related experience; or a four-year degree in a human services field plus two years of directly related experience; or a four-year degree plus three years of directly related experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have valid N.C. driver’s license. Must have access to use of a motor vehicle for travel to client homes and various destinations throughout the county and state. Must provide certified proof of graduation from four­ year college or university.