WELCOME TO CHATHAM COUNTY'S APPLICATION PROCESS.

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All sections of the application, including work experience, MUST be completed. Please include the last ten (10) years of employment history. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Applications are stored on a secure site accessible only by authorized personnel. Your application can be saved and used to apply for more than one (1) job opening.

Chatham County is an equal opportunity employer and will consider reasonable accommodations as required by law. Chatham County participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Chatham County does not offer sponsorship of job applicants for employment-based visas or any other work authorization for our positions at this time.

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Job Description

Are you a compassionate, dedicated professional with a passion for child welfare and family support? We invite you to become part of our incredible team where your work truly matters. At Chatham County Department of Social Services, we believe in taking care of those who care for others. That’s why we prioritize work-life balance, offer competitive and comprehensive benefits, and foster a culture where employee well-being comes first. You’ll be supported by an amazing team of passionate professionals who value collaboration, empathy, and mutual respect. Together, we’re creating lasting change—one child, one family at a time. If you’re looking for meaningful work with an employer that truly supports your growth and well-being, we’d love to hear from you.

This position operates within the child welfare unit of the agency and provides In-Home and Foster Care social work services to monitor and maintain the safety of children where neglect or abuse has been identified. This position conducts assessments to accurately identify the strengths and needs of the family system and assess the risk of continued harm to the children. Works to strengthen the family’s capacity to protect and nurture children and provides referrals to community services.

Fluency in Spanish desired but not required. English speaking applicants should apply.
**This position requires two professional references.**

Essential Functions

• Monitor the safety of children in their homes where neglect or abuse has been identified and conduct assessments that accurately reflect the strengths and needs of the family system;
• Assess the safety of children and risk of continued harm;
• Actively works with parents and families to engage them in the case planning process and guide them towards safety and permanence for their children;
• Work with families to strengthen their capacity to protect and nurture children through referrals to community resources;
• Conduct home visits to see children, placement providers, and families face to face and in their home environments per NC DHHS policies;
• Coordinate the medical, dental, educational, mental health, and psychiatric services for children in foster care;
• Facilitate shared parenting with placement providers, and family time between children, parents, and siblings;
• Participate in Child and Family Team and Permanency Planning review meetings;
• Work collaboratively with a wide array of partners including the parents, Guardian ad Litem program, foster and relative placement providers, treatment providers, and attorneys in case planning activities;
• Develop comprehensive family services agreements to outline the activities that the social worker and parents will do to be able to safely maintain their children in the home and/or to return them to the home safely;
• Attend and participate in child planning conferences;
• Prepare comprehensive court reports including recommended plans for permanency, participate in associated court proceedings, and testify in court as needed;
• Document all case activities in the record per local and state policy and required timeframes, thoroughly and accurately;
• Participate in the rotation for on-call for children’s services;
• Participate in shelter operations or other weather-related incidents as needed;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience (one year of work experience can be credited for completion of the social work collaborative); or Master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or a four-year degree in a human services field or related curriculum and three years of social work or counseling experience; or graduation from a four-year college or university and four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling or a related human service field providing experience in the techniques of casework, group work or community organization; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of child welfare practice and policy including abuse, neglect, and dependency;

• Considerable understanding of trauma and its impact on children and families involved with the child welfare system;
• Skilled in the ability to manage conflict, remain neutral and fair, engage people and build trust, and promote collaboration and consensus toward positive outcomes;
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work assignments, and be flexible with scheduling as needed;
• Ability to quickly and competently assess the risks and safety of the home environment, employ negotiation skills in complex situations, and de-escalate emotional and tense situations;
• Ability to work independently and manage day-to-day tasks;
• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community and system issues;
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems that children and families may be experiencing;
• Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, and resources in the community, laws, regulations, and policies that govern the program;
• Ability to prepare documentation such as comprehensive court reports;
• Ability to competently testify in court as needed;
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from varying cultures and backgrounds via phone and through personal contact and provide equitable treatment to all;
• Ability to use best practices, strategies, professional judgment, and time management skills in complex situations;
• Ability to plan and coordinate with both internal and external parties;
• Ability to deal tactfully with others and to exercise good judgment in appraising situations and making decisions;
• Ability to be flexible and to work as a team player;
• Ability to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills;
• Ability to demonstrate excellent listening skills;
• Ability to demonstrate good public relations skills;
• Skill in operating standard office equipment such as computers, phones, fax machines, and scanners;
• Ability to perform work using local and state technology systems including NCFAST, CWIS, Northwoods, iiReception, Microsoft Office, internet browsers, virtual meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and other commonly used electronic programs;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county officials, department heads, court partners, peers, associates, and the general public.

Physical Requirements
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking, hearing and repetitive motions, frequently requires touching or feeling and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing, balancing, reaching, pushing, pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; work requires vocal communication to express or exchange ideas orally; work requires hearing to perceive information at normal spoken levels; work requires preparing and analyzing
written or computer data; work is generally performed in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic.) Must be able to operate a vehicle and perform fieldwork.

Work settings include the Department of Social Services, referral/resource agencies, and the homes of individuals. Home visits are made to often crowded, unsanitary dwellings, which lack proper lighting, handicap access, and other amenities. In addition, homes are often sub-standard and may be infested with pests. The worker is exposed to regular traffic hazards and adverse weather conditions.

Special Requirements
Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Must complete all applicable required training including Confidentiality, Civil Rights, FEMA and Red Cross Shelter Training, Bloodborne Pathogens, applicable adult services program training, new employee orientation, and Chatham County Department of Social Services Policy and Procedures.