The primary purpose of this position is to conduct the initial screening, assessment, eligibility determination, initial outcome plan and referral to appropriate services for individuals requesting financial assistance, employment services or crisis intervention. This employee works as a member of the Employment Program Team assisting individuals in accessing a variety of social services such as WorkFirst Employment, TANF cash assistance, and Crisis assistance.
- Conduct the Initial Screening process of gathering important, preliminary information about a family, their resources and needs, and the circumstances that brought them to the agency.
- Evaluate alternative services such as Benefit Diversion, Medicaid, FNS and 200% of poverty services. Determine appropriate individualizing services for clients offered by the agency or in the community such as Family support through the Hope Family Resource Center, housing assistance or referrals to the Domestic violence shelter.
- Follows policies and procedures related to eligibility determination and redetermination.
- Uses NC Fast to determine eligibility, record case notes, enter verification forms and conduct substance abuse screening and criminal record search to determine if individual must participate in mandatory drug screening.
- Identify barriers to self-sufficiency and develop the initial Outcome Plan. Set appointment with Employment Services Social Worker or Retention Social Worker.
- Maintains the eligibility case for TANF cash assistance for clients found eligible for Employment Services and Child Only cash assistance. Make changes and conduct reviews as required by policy.
- Discuss with clients the supportive services needed to complete plan such as transportation, medical care, day care, etc. to remove any barriers from participation.
- Attend staffings with Employment Social Workers and periodically participate in CPS staffings.
- Evaluate households for energy assistance through the CIP and LIEAP programs. This position administers the Crisis Intervention Program to assist households who are at risk of losing their heating or cooling source. Eligibility is established based on household size and income. Workers are responsible for contacting vendors to verify past due or disconnect amounts, interviewing clients to thoroughly assess for any household income or resources, then following up with the vendor to pledge funds if the household is eligible. Workers are also responsible for counseling clients about budgeting and income management.
- Workers in this position serve on various committees in the community who partner with Social Services. In this role, workers will present DSS programs such as TANF, Cash Assistance, Energy, Medicaid, FNS, and Family Services. Workers will also gather information about various programs within the community that can benefit families in this program. Workers will also represent Craven County DSS at events held by these partners, such as job fairs. Veteran’s Stand Down, and resource fairs.
- This position also assists in disaster relief efforts that includes but is not limited to shelter duty. Assignment to emergency shelter duty during times of potentially dangerous or manmade disasters is an essential function of this position and you shall be required to fulfill these duties when instructed. Position may perform other duties as assigned by the Social Work Supervisor II, Social Worker Program Administrator I, Social Work Program Manager, Director, and Deputy Director.
Bachelor’s degree in a human services or business field such as human resources, marketing, business administration, business management, healthcare management, or public administration from an appropriately accredited institution; associate’s degree in a human services or business field (identified above) from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of directly related work experience; graduation from high school and four years of directly related work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
