Follow Your Calling, Find Your Career!!

Please apply by: May 10th, 2023

Salary Range: $54,039.00 - $67,548.00 per year. This is an exempt (salaried) position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

At Mecklenburg County, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are with support, inclusive culture, and technology to become the best version of you. We’re counting on YOUR unique voice and perspective to help Mecklenburg County become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

The Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services strives to strengthen families and communities through a safety-net of services, collaborations, and hope. Our vision is to define and cultivate an organizational culture that is more compassionate and understanding toward each other and our clients.

Services For Adults (SFA) is a part of the Adult Services Division of the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services. The division is responsible for four main program areas: Adult Social Work Services, Community Social Work, the Senior Citizens Nutrition Program, and the Mecklenburg Transportation System (MTS).

Position Specific Information

The Guardianship Social Worker is responsible of managing a caseload of 27-35 wards who reside throughout North Carolina. We are the legal guardian of over 300 individuals. Our wards have a variety of diagnoses including medical conditions, mental illness, intellectual and developmental disorders, substance abuse disorders, and a combination of these diagnoses.

The Guardianship Social Worker travels extensively throughout North Carolina to meet with clients and providers on a monthly to quarterly basis. Our wards reside in a variety of settings from residential treatment facilities to non-traditional facilities. The Guardianship Social Worker must be able to navigate this variety of residential settings.

The Guardianship Social Worker must be organized and set priorities while being flexible to handle non-expected situations and emergencies while meeting strict deadlines. Good writing skills are essential as the Guardianship Social Worker must document quarterly assessments, regular progress notes, and legal reports to submit to the courts. Good verbal skills are equally important as the Guardianship Social Worker must discuss and present information to various professionals in the field as well as presenting testimony in court.

Position Summary

Provides community-based services to clients, including evaluation/assessment, case management, counseling and referrals. This position, under general supervision, is mainly responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals who have been adjudicated incompetent as an adult. This includes but is not limited to assisting individuals and families with issues related to adult abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, homelessness, housing/placement, and/or medical care.

Essential Functions

Assess needs of individuals and families
Interview clients, obtain family, social, and medical information; collects supplementary information needed to assist client such as employment records or school reports
Determine clients' eligibility for financial assistance and if referrals are appropriate
Discuss goals, expected outcomes, and means with which to meet goals and expected outcomes
Assist clients in the completion of required paperwork for items that may determine program eligibility, referrals, or provide job assistance, such as job applications
Manage records and maintain history records and prepare reports of services provided
Refer clients to community resources for services and coordinates benefits and referrals to other agencies
Develop and evaluate service plans in consultation with clients, and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided
Help clients work with government agencies to apply for and receive benefits
Transport clients to appointments such as medical, job-related or others, if appropriate
Manage records and documentation of services provided and participate in team case conferences
Act as a liaison with other staff with referrals and transitioning of clients
Counsel and consult with individuals or families in a variety of settings including parents, parents, and teachers; addresses behavior arranges for services, and diagnoses problems
Address legal issues, such as abuse and discipline, and evaluates the need for protective services, assists with hearings, and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements
Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as child care, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, parenting classes or behavioral health treatment to prevent more serious problems from developing
Facilitate appropriate placements for adults commensurate with the level of identified need; evaluates personal characteristics and home conditions of foster home or adoption applicants
May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

Bachelors of Social Work from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work experience; or a qualifying internship;

or a bachelor's degree in a related field with 15 hours of social work/counseling courses and three years of social work experience;

or Master's degree from an accredited school of social work;

or a master's degree in a related field with two years of social work experience.

Education: Please see experience.

Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted: No

Licenses and Certifications:
Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
Requires County Driving Privileges

Preferred Qualifications

Have at least two years of recent experience working directly with adults diagnosed with mental illness and have knowledge of services and resources available in North Carolina for people with mental illness.

Have at least five years of recent experience as a social worker working with adults with dementia and have knowledge of services and resources available in North Carolina for person with dementia.

Have at least two years of recent experience in working with adults with medical conditions and have knowledge of services and resources available in North Carolina.

Have at least two years of recent experience in working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and have knowledge of services and resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities available in North Carolina.

Have at least two years of recent experience in working with adults with substance abuse and have knowledge of services and resources for people with substance abuse disorders available in North Carolina.

Have at least two years of recent experience in working with adults facing homelessness and be knowledgeable of resources for adults facing homelessness available in North Carolina.

Have at least two years of recent experience and working knowledge of residential treatment facilities and non-traditional placement facilities.

Have excellent writing and verbal skills to discuss and present information in various settings including court.

Have computer skills and working knowledge of Windows and Microsoft and ability to learn programs used by the Department.

Can travel extensively throughout North Carolina in a county vehicle.

Have organizational skills to set priorities while having the flexibility to handle crises and emergency situations without compromising deadlines.

Be available to work occasional evenings and weekends and during emergency situations and at the emergency shelters.

Bilingual (Spanish and English) proficiency both oral and written.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of
General social work principles and available resources
Social services procedures, practices and methods
Social services related federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations relating to provision of public assistance, and social welfare
Case management methods and techniques
Services offered by the county and other local public and private community-based service agencies

Skills
Prioritizing work
Managing and executing multiple tasks
Maintaining various confidential records
Evaluating records to ensure accreditation standards are met
Using computers and related software applications
Exercising judgment and discretion

Abilities
Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures
Building Customer Loyalty: Effectively meeting customer needs; building productive customer relationships; taking responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty
Building Partnerships: Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, units, or organizations to help achieve business goals
Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
Care Management: Having the knowledge and skills to secure relevant patient care data and identify key issues and relationships in the management of patient care; understanding the relationships among assessments, interventions, and patient responses; skilled in documentation of assessments and adjusting physical and cognitive prescriptions as needed
Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information received
Customer Focus: Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs
Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences
Inspiring Others: Using interpersonal styles and methods to inspire and guide individuals toward higher levels of performance
Managing Conflict: Dealing effectively with others in an antagonistic situation; using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people
Work Standards: Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed

Computer Skills
Proficient in applicable computer programs

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.

Mecklenburg County requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for any new Mecklenburg County employees.