Durham County Government employs approximately 1,900 employees that work towards providing needed services throughout the community. With a wide array of services, Durham County Government is at the heart of a rapidly growing and diverse area offering residents, employees and visitors exciting opportunities to live, work, grow and play.

RESPONSIBLITIES

The person in this position will be responsible for conducting a prompt and thorough evaluation to determine if the disabled adult is a victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation and is in need of protective services. If it is determined the disabled adult is in need of protective services, this person will also be responsible for developing and implementing a service plan that addresses any identified protective service needs. After services are mobilized, ongoing follow up and assessment of the disabled adult’s status to determine continued needs and risks are provided. Counseling with the adult and/or family is essential. A service record is maintained to reflect the adult’s services and progress, including State-suggested forms that assist with documenting the social worker’s activities. The person's duties also include being On Call after regular business hours via a weekly rotation with the other (8) SWs in the unit. On Call duties include receiving and documenting reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation and communicating this information with the On Call After Hours Supervisor. The person may be required to initiate cases accepted for evaluation. Other On Call After Hours duties may include receiving and handling concerns about Durham County DSS Persons Under Guardianship.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• 
  Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, groupwork, and community problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the community to educate about DSS and services affecting at risk adults
• Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory.
• Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, and resources in the community, laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program.
• General knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training.
• In certain settings, considerable knowledge of medical terminology, disease 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 or assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client’s problems. Ability to supervise, train, or instruct lower-level social workers, students, or interns in the program.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of case load 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.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

MSW from an accredited school of social work; BSW from an accredited school of social work; BSW from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; master's degree in counseling in a human services field and one year of social work or counseling; bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.

Durham County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer