Compare your current skills to what this opportunity needs—we'll show you what you already have and what could strengthen your application.
Job Description
About us The Department of Social Services Cherokee County, North Carolina, provides critical stabilizing and life saving services in Cherokee County, NC. We are agile, inclusive, and innovative. Our goal is to Serve the citizens of Cherokee County in such a manner that all citizens are safe, and all citizens thrive and grow. We offer a wide array of benefits such as Food and Nutrition, Energy, Medicaid, Adult Serivces, Child Protective Serivces, Adoptions, Foster Care, and Foster Parent recruitmeent and training, and Child Support services.
Our work environment includes:
Modern office setting Growth opportunities Safe work environment On-the-job training Casual work attire Work-from-home days Flexible working hours Cherokee County Department of Social Services is seeking dedicated, compassionate, and motivated Social Workers to join our Child Welfare team. Positions may be assigned to Child Protective Services (CPS), CPS In-Home Services, Permanency Planning (Foster Care), or Adoptions, depending on agency needs and candidate qualifications. This is meaningful, fast-paced work focused on ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and supporting families through some of the most critical moments in their lives. Position Overview Child Welfare Social Workers provide professional case management services to children and families involved in the child welfare system. Employees work closely with families, courts, schools, law enforcement, medical providers, foster families, and community partners to assess safety, develop service plans, and achieve safe and permanent outcomes for children. Assignments may include investigative work (CPS), ongoing in-home case management services (CPS In-Home Services), foster care case management (Permanency Planning), and/or adoption services. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Child Protective Services (CPS) Receive and assess reports of child abuse, neglect, and dependency. Conduct safety assessments and family evaluations. Interview children, parents, and collateral contacts. Develop and implement safety plans and service agreements. Coordinate crisis intervention and case management services. Prepare court reports and provide testimony in court proceedings. Collaborate with law enforcement, schools, medical providers, and community agencies. Participate in on-call and after-hours emergency response rotations as assigned. CPS In-Home Services (Ongoing Case Management) Provide ongoing case management services to families involved with Child Protective Services. Conduct comprehensive family assessments to identify strengths, needs, risks, and safety concerns. Develop, implement, and monitor Family Services Agreements and case plans designed to ensure child safety and family stability. Conduct regular home visits to assess child safety, monitor family progress, and provide supportive interventions. Coordinate and monitor services with community agencies, schools, healthcare providers, mental health providers, and other service organizations. Develop and implement safety plans in collaboration with families and community partners. Provide crisis intervention, counseling, support, and referral services to families. Prepare court reports and provide testimony in court proceedings as required. Participate in Child and Family Team meetings and multidisciplinary team meetings. Maintain timely, accurate, and comprehensive case documentation in state automated systems. Work with families to strengthen protective factors, reduce risks, and safely prevent foster care placement whenever possible. CPS In-Home Services (Ongoing Case Management) Provide ongoing case management services to families involved with Child Protective Services. Conduct comprehensive family assessments to identify strengths, needs, risks, and safety concerns. Develop, implement, and monitor Family Services Agreements and case plans designed to ensure child safety and family stability. Conduct regular home visits to assess child safety, monitor family progress, and provide supportive interventions. Coordinate and monitor services with community agencies, schools, healthcare providers, mental health providers, and other service organizations. Develop and implement safety plans in collaboration with families and community partners. Provide crisis intervention, counseling, support, and referral services to families. Prepare court reports and provide testimony in court proceedings as required. Participate in Child and Family Team meetings and multidisciplinary team meetings. Maintain timely, accurate, and comprehensive case documentation in state automated systems. Work with families to strengthen protective factors, reduce risks, and safely prevent foster care placement whenever possible. Adoptions Provide adoption-focused case management for children with a permanent plan of adoption. Recruit, assess, and support prospective adoptive families. Coordinate pre-adoptive placement planning and transition services. Maintain adoption records and required documentation. Prepare court reports and provide testimony in adoption proceedings. Collaborate with attorneys, courts, foster parents, and biological families as appropriate. Provide post-adoption support and resource linkage when needed. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of child welfare principles, practices, and applicable laws. Ability to assess safety and make sound professional judgments in complex situations. Knowledge of family dynamics, child development, trauma-informed practices, and crisis intervention techniques. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage a demanding caseload and prioritize competing responsibilities. Ability to establish effective working relationships with children, families, and community partners. Strong documentation and organizational skills with attention to detail. Ability to work effectively in high-stress and emotionally challenging situations. Minimum Qualifications Minimum qualifications vary by classification level and are established by the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources. Applicants may be considered for various Social Worker classifications based on education and experience.
Social Worker III:
a. MSW from an accredited school of social work b. Master's degree in counseling or human services field and one year of directly-related experience c. BSW from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative •(Child Welfare positions only) d. BSW from an accredited school of social work and one year of directly-related experience e. Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college/university and two years of directly-related experience f. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university and three years of directly-related experience Social Worker-Investigative/Assessment/Treatment (IAT) a. MSW from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience b. MSW from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative •(Child Welfare positions only) c. Master's degree in counseling or human services field and two years of directly-related experience d. BSW and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative and one year of directly-related experience •(Child Welfare positions only) e. BSW from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience f. Bachelor's degree in a human services field and three years of directly-related experience g. Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university and four years of directly-related experience Additional Requirements Valid North Carolina driver's license and ability to travel throughout the county and region. Successful completion of background checks, drug screening, and other pre-employment requirements. Ability to participate in on-call or after-hours emergency response rotation (for CPS assignments). Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as necessary to meet the needs of children and families. Why Join Cherokee County DSS? Meaningful work making a direct impact on children and families in your community. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Participation in the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System (LGERS). Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. Ongoing training and professional development opportunities. Supportive, team-oriented work environment. Cherokee County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Note:
This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position. Duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be subject to change based on the specific needs of the organization.
Job Type:
Full-time Pay:
From $53,189.00 per year
Benefits:
Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Retirement plan
