Job Title: Eldercare Social Worker*
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 05/17/21 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Salary: $19.22 – $22.29 Hourly
$39,978.00 – $46,360.00 Annually
Job Type: Time Limited
Location: 131 W. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough NC 27278, North Carolina
The Orange County Department on Aging has an opening for a Eldercare Social Worker. The work in this position provides professional-level social work services to older adults and their caregivers. The work performs clinical and administrative work including assessments, care planning and counseling, service coordination, advocacy, and community education for persons dealing with dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other chronic conditions with the aging population.
* This is a safety sensitive position and participation in the Drug and Alcohol Program is required. Background Check required.
Examples of Duties:
Examples of Essential Functions: Following are examples of typical work activities and responsibilities. The incumbent may be responsible for performing other related duties and responsibilities as required or assigned. A position may not include all the work examples given, nor does the list include all that may be assigned.
Performs walk-in and telephone assessments, care planning, and intervention in conjunction with physicians and other health care providers. Reassesses needs and revises care plans as client’s status changes.
Conducts biopsychosocial assessments in a client’s home to evaluate functionality including cognitive and emotional status, safety, finances, and resultant needs.
Develops and implements personalized care plans in collaboration with clients and families, and when appropriate, with medical and allied health providers.
Makes referrals to community resources and/or follow-up interventions, identifies and develops new resources, and educates consumers on the availability and cost of options.
Provides options counseling and education to clients and local or long-distance caregivers to reduce stress, improve safety and well-being, and postpone institutionalization. Provides short-term clinical counseling to clients with mood or adjustment disorders.
Ensures compliance with federal, state and local funding programs including Home and Community Care Block Grant and National Family Caregiver Support Program. Maintains documentation in accordance with funding requirements, policies and accepted professional standards.
Serves as an advocate for clients and their families, and assists them in navigating healthcare, government, and private service systems.
Interacts and communicates with various groups and individuals such as county staff, Orange County seniors, informal caregivers, healthcare providers, community and academic audiences, colleagues, and the general public.
Facilitates support groups, and makes presentations regarding aging transition topics.
Serves on various task forces, work groups and advisory groups.
Supervises and/or mentors Master in Social Work (MSW) students and interns.
Leads individuals from culturally diverse populations in various department programs, including volunteers and interns.
Plans and hosts social events and gatherings.
Performs various administrative tasks including preparing reports and correspondence.
Performs related duties as required.
Typical Qualifications:
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of the principles, challenges, practices, and philosophies of the fields of social work and eldercare, including counseling and intervention methods;
Thorough knowledge of information and techniques needed to perform biopsychosocial and clinical assessments including symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventative healthcare measures;
Good knowledge of the characteristics, problems, needs and interests of the aging population;
Good knowledge of social, economic and health trends and innovations in the management and delivery of aging services;
Good knowledge of the laws, ordinances, standards and regulations pertaining to the delivery of aging services;
Good knowledge of the various social and health service functions and interrelationships of the county, other governmental agencies, and community resources, and the ability to make appropriate referrals;
Skill in being customer-focused, adept at problem solving and working collaboratively with others;
Skill in using various clinical assessment tools to evaluate the needs of clients, summarize and interpret findings and develop assistance plans;
Skill in preparing and/or processing various records and reports, including care plans.
Ability to demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, resourcefulness, accuracy, thoroughness and the physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position, while maintaining an ethical standard of care;
Ability to understand the aging process and challenges of families related to caregiving.
Ability to effectively problem solve and handle difficult situations and complex decision making, and react calmly and quickly in emergency situations.
Ability to interpret and apply county, state and federal regulations, policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate complex information effectively with a wide variety of people, both orally and in writing, and deal with culturally diverse populations;
Ability to organize and consolidate information, maintain records, prepare reports, and complete assignments accurately and timely;
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with clients and family members, providers, representatives from the UNC School of Social Work, county staff, agencies, other social services professionals and representatives from civic/community groups;
Ability to mentor MSW candidates in the development of their skills, and requirements of the MSW program.
Ability to lead individuals from culturally diverse populations in various department programs, including volunteers and interns.
Ability to prepare and deliver presentations on aging services and provide education to professional and community groups;
Ability to effectively use computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database software to maintain records, prepare reports, and conduct correspondence related to the work.
Ability to satisfy continuing education requirements for licensure, if applicable.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from a regionally accredited or registered college or university with a Master’s Degree in Social Work AND two (2) years of related experience in assessment and counseling.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver’s license issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
All offers of employment are conditional upon successful clearance of a background check and pre-employment drug testing. Employment cannot commence until the employee has been cleared.
Supplemental Information:
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND POSSIBLE HAZARDS
Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of standing, walking, stooping, climbing, fingering, talking, sitting, bending, kneeling, grasping, hearing, handling, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and reaching.
Must be able to perform medium work up to 10 pounds of force to move objects up to 20 feet.
Must be able to be exposed to contagious and/or infectious diseases, and bloodborne pathogens.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer/Women/Minorities/Veterans/Disabilities
