Social Worker III - Adult Guardianship

FollowYour Calling, Find Your Career!!

Please applyby : Friday, November 14th, 2025

SalaryRange : $63,080.00 to $78,850.00 per year. Thisis an exempt (salaried) position. Payrates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity.Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant's salaryhistory and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirementsfor the job.

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

TheMecklenburg County Department of Child, Family, & Adult Services strives tostrengthen families and communities through a safety-net of services,collaborations, and hope. Our vision is to define and cultivate anorganizational culture that is more compassionate and understanding toward eachother and our clients.

ServicesFor Adults (SFA) is a part of the Adult Services Division of the MecklenburgCounty Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services. The division is responsible for four mainprogram areas : Adult Social Work Services, Community Social Work, the SeniorCitizens Nutrition Program, and the Mecklenburg Transportation System (MTS).

Position Specific Information

The Guardianship Social Worker III is responsible for 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 & 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.

Essential Functions

Assess needs of individuals and families.

Interview clients, obtain family, social, and medical information; collect supplementary information needed to assist clients 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 coordinate benefits and referrals to other agencies.

Develop and evaluate service plans in consultation with clients, and performs 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.

Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as personal care services, medical care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, 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.

May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience :

• Bachelor of Social Work from an accredited school of social work and three 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 four 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 three 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

Prior experience with IDD, behavioral health, dementia, homeless / unhoused, and substance use disorders.

Prior experience with gerontology and aging populations.

Prior experience with case management.

Ability to travel extensively throughout North Carolina in a county vehicle.

Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and during emergency situations, and at the emergency shelters in the event of a disaster.

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

Bilingual (Spanish and English) proficiency both oral and written. A County required assessment is given to determine proficiency towards qualifying for potential Bilingual Premium pay.

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 instills 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 provided

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

Work Environment

Works in an office setting with moderate noise

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.