Salary: $27.38 - $42.45 Hourly
Location : NC 28712, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 00344
Department: Social Services
Division: CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATION
Opening Date: 11/22/2024
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Essential Functions
This position provides protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for children who are at risk for neglect and/or abuse in Transylvania County. Position could be subject to assisting with Assessment, In-Home or Foster Care cases if needed.

• Investigate/assess new protective service reports by observing children involved in the report, identifying verbal and non-verbal behavior, interviewing children and obtaining medical and psychological evaluations as part of the initial evaluation process, as necessary, to determine extent of abuse or neglect; gather data concerning the children from families and schools, community, extended family members, friends or acquaintances; interview family members concerning the alleged abuse or neglect, and the family's overall level of functioning.
• Employees manage a caseload of clients in the most difficult and complex cases. Work may involve providing treatment in group, family or individual therapy to clients of any age and/or with any developmental, mental, medical, financial, substance abuse or family problem including abused, neglected or homeless children. Work includes clinical and social investigation, assessment of individuals and family dynamics, crisis intervention, referrals for treatment and placement in foster care or residential facilities. Employees provide expert testimony.
• Assessment of family dynamics and degree of abuse and neglect using Structured Decision-Making Tools and best practice skills to determine severity and immediacy of the problem and risk to child. Determine if immediate intervention is necessary by removal of children from the home and initiation of appropriate juvenile court action. Arrange for services for family and children as needed.
• Write court petition, giving clear, concise and cogent grounds for petitioning court, accurate description of abuse or neglect leading to the petition, and accurate accounting of reasonable efforts to avoid court intervention. Include plan of intervention outlined to justify court involvement. Consultation with agency attorney to outline court case, including employee's own testimony, testimony of children and witnesses, testimony of other professionals.
• Regular ongoing proactive work with families, including face-to-face contact with children and caretakers through home visits and other contacts in the field, including schools and day care centers. Family centered practice skills will be used by employee.
• Keep timely and accurate documentation in case file, including Structured Decision-Making Tools, narrative documentation, and copies of other evaluations, or records as needed to support all case decisions and actions. Work is reviewed by unit supervisors, program managers or higher-level administrators, usually on a routine basis.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge, skills and abilities required: Identifying and prioritizing problem elements under stress, crisis interviewing and counseling to allow worker to take charge, defuse and manage the crisis by identifying and utilizing both customary and creative resources for the benefit of the client to elicit trust and cooperation from the client and others directly involved. Abilities required of the social worker include accurately observing human behavior and environmental conditions, processing collected data in order to effectively recommend and implement a sound course of action in a short period of time, relying on self as a major resource, while operating in an isolated and stress-laden environment, and acting appropriately and effectively on the acquired information. Worker must have the ability to carry our routine case actions while being involved with crisis situations. Possess thorough knowledge of community resources, manual material and state/federal regulations. Identifies elements of medical and mental disorders. Knowledge of interpersonal helping and treatment modalities. Identifies and prioritizes problem areas, often under stressful situations. Interviews clients who are emotionally confused, hostile, or have conflicting social needs. Creates resources when none are known or available. Establishes constructive relationships with resistant clients. Copes with difficult and demanding situations. Coordinates services effectively for clients through ability to work with multi-disciplinary professionals.
Education and Experience
The minimum level of formal education for this position is a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and two years of social work/counseling experience; or a four-year degree in a human services field or related curriculum including 15 semester hours in courses related to social work or counseling and three years social work/counseling experience. The Division of Social Services requires a minimum of 72 hours of preservice training before assuming direct client contact responsibilities for Child Welfare Services Workers.
Additional Training/Experience: Child Protective Services workers shall complete a minimum of 18 hours of additional training and Foster Care and Adoption Workers shall complete a minimum of 39 hours, as determined necessary by the Division of Social Services to adequately meet the position's training needs. All Child Welfare staff shall also complete 24 hours of continuing education annually.
Medical Insurance

• $50 per month premium paid by the employee / county pay remaining portion
• Employee can cover children/spouse/family at their own cost for medical coverage $77.56/$265.92/ $426.28 per month. In addition to the $50 per month for the employee.
• Employees may qualify for a $50 per month discount. Beginning in 2016, employees must participate in the employee health screening including a base line physical and meet 2 of the 4 accountability standards set forth by the Board of Commissioners to receive the discount.

• Waist circumference abdomen cir < 40" male or <35" female; or improve 5%
• Blood Pressure <140/90 mmhg; or improve 10/5 mmh; or improve 5%
• Cholesterol Ratio <5.5; or improve by 10; or improve 5%
• Hemoglobin A1c < = 6.8; or improve 5%

• Premiums may be pre-taxed which is a savings to your taxes, but if you pre-tax premiums you can't take the costs off of your taxes.
• Blue Options PPO /Administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
• Employee has choice of 2 Health Plans.

• Plan 1 - Co-Pay Plan for In-Network- $40 Copays for Primary Care Visit, $80 Specialist Visit, Urgent Care and RX. All other services apply to $1,500 deductible, then 80/20 co-insurance up to $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum. See Plan 1 document for more detailed information.
• Plan 2 - Deductible Plan for In-Network except $25 co-pay for Primary Care Visit and RX. All other services apply to $1,000 deductible, then 80/20 co-insurance up to $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum. See Plan 2 document for more detailed information.

• Routine eye examinations only are covered annually for a BCBSNC network provider.
• Prescription Drugs - 4 Tiers - $5 generic/ $45 preferred / $60.00 non preferred /4th Tier is 25% up to a max of $100.00./ Mail order is available @ 2.5 co-pays for a 90 day supply. 90 day supply at pharmacy.
• Verify network participation, RX tiers, and obtain information at www.bcbsnc.com.
• Self Funded Health Insurance Plan - Deductible of $75,000.

Dental Insurance - Can choose different level of coverage than Medical

• Administered by Ameritas
• Employee is covered under the dental coverage at no cost. An employee can cover children/spouse/family for $57.26/ $22.52/ $72.38 per month, respectively.
• No Network of Dentists, may choose any provider
• Provides 2 routine cleanings and exams with no deductible
• For other services a $50 plan year deductible
• 80% for root canals, fillings - 50% for crowns, bridgework, dentures
• $1000 maximum for braces/ $1000 maximum per covered individual per year which includes preventative care costs
• Obtain information & replacement cards at www.ameritasgroup.com.

Term Life Insurance - Provided for the Employee - Dearborn National

• $10,000 Life and $10,000 Accidental Death
• Employee may purchase additional amounts. Up to $100,000 Guaranteed Issue for employee;$20,000 for spouse and $10,000 or $5,000 for children (at original eligibility). Otherwise late enrollees are subject to Underwriting guidelines.

Supplemental Insurance Products -
Mark III Brokerage assists the county to provide a full-array of supplemental products such as Health and Dependent Care FSA accounts, Cancer Policy, Short-term and Long-term Disability, Term Life, Universal Life, Accident or Illness Policy, Hospital Indemnity, and a Vision Plan. The Supplemental Products are available during original employment or open enrollment in May/June of each year to employees at group rates and premiums are paid through payroll deduction. Policies will be effective on July 1.
If you are interested in knowing more about these benefits view the following website for details. or a link is available on the county Intranet. Then sign up during your original enrollment window by contacting Human Resources. Some of the products qualify as pre-tax benefits. Website for information is:
Electronic Payroll Deposit -
County Employees are paid bi-weekly, 26 times per year. We deposit your payroll check. Deposits are available to all banks and credit unions. Deposits are made, so you can have access to your funds by Friday morning (payday). You can divide your payroll into two accounts, one you must specify the amount to go into and the second account would receive the balance.
Retirement -
NC Local Government Employees Retirement System - All full-time employees contribute 6% of their gross earnings and the County matches the contribution. Employees are vested in the program after 5 years of service. Transferable within the state system. The website for more information is:
401K - Empower Retirement - Voluntary Contributions, Rollovers, etc. (Info Available). The website is:
457 - Nationwide Retirement Solutions - After 5 years of full-time service the County will provide a contribution of $57.69 per payroll / $1500 per year for employees. At 5 years of service, eligible employees must complete an enrollment form. The website is
Credit Union -
County Employees may be a member in the NC Local Government Employees Credit Union which is affiliated with the State Employees Credit Union. Local office is in Pisgah Forest. Payroll deduction and drafts are available. The website is
Paid Holidays - (12)
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Easter Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas.
Paid Vacation/Annual Leave -

• 1-2 years = 10 days; 3-5 years = 12 days, 5-10 years = 15 days, 10-15 years = 18 days, 15-20 years = 20 days; 20 + years = 24 days. Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, therefore you receive 1/26th each payroll.
• You may accrue vacation and carry over up to 30 days. Thereafter, at the end of the calendar year, if you have more than the 30 days, the excess converts to sick leave.
• You may cash in up to one week of vacation annually, in lieu of time away from work.
• In extreme situations employees may request to transfer vacation leave to other employees. Requests must be in writing to the County Manager and must be approved in advance.
• Vacation should be scheduled in advance as requested by your supervisor. Complete proper leave sheets.
• If you have prior active service in the NC Retirement System, Transylvania County will give you credit for those years of service toward accrual of vacation/annual leave.

Paid Sick Leave -

• Paid sick leave is always equivalent to 12 days per year. It is accrued bi-weekly. Employees accrue 1/26th of the annual amount per payroll.
• You may accrue sick leave with no maximum accrual. At retirement for every 20 days of accrued sick leave you will get one additional month of service time.
• Sick leave may be used for doctor's appointments, personal illness or the illness of an immediate family member.
• If you have prior active service in the NC Retirement System, Transylvania County will transfer in your sick leave balance from your most recent employer.

Wellness Center - Phone Number

• The Wellness Center is open M-W-F 8am -12pm and 1pm to 4pm and T-TH 8am-12pm.
• The Wellness Center is a partnership between Transylvania County and the City of Brevard.
• County Employees may use the Wellness Center for all services at no cost.
• Dependents over the age of 7 who are on your Medical plan may also use the Wellness Center.
• Appointments are encouraged to help minimize any wait and to make the Center Services flow easier.
• Time away from your work location to visit the Wellness Center is not changed to leave.
• Services include: Routine bloodwork monitoring, allergy injections, monitoring chronic illnesses, manage and authorize prescriptions, coordinate referrals, school physicals and testing for flu, mono and strep.