Child Protective Services - Social Worker - Tiered Sign-On Bonus Up To $5,000

About the role

Wake County Social Services’ Child Welfare Division is seeking mission-driven, adaptable, and skilled Social Workers who want to make a meaningful impact every day. Our work is guided by three federally mandated goals: Safety – Protect children from abuse and neglect, Permanence – Ensure every child has a stable, permanent home, and Well-being – Support children’s educational, physical, and emotional health.

Responsibilities

• Conduct CPS Assessments
• Evaluate allegations of abuse, neglect, or dependency
• Gather collateral information and apply NC policy to reach clear, evidence-based decisions
• Use structured critical thinking to determine safety threats, vulnerability, and protective capacities
• Decide when circumstances require supervisory consultation versus independent decision-making
• Support & Strengthen Families (Assessment & In-Home)
• Provide services that help children remain safely at home whenever possible
• Build rapport with caregivers and hold difficult conversations with empathy, clarity, and professionalism
• Complete timely, behavior-based safety plans grounded in policy and family capacity
• Facilitate ongoing monitoring of safety plans, caregiver progress, and risk reduction
• Conduct regular home visits, including some evenings and weekends
• Assess the child’s environment using observation, interviewing, and risk-assessment tools
• Respond to crises with calm, regulated decision-making and clear communication
• CPS In-Home Services (If Assigned)
• Develop and implement Family Service Agreements with measurable goals
• Monitor caregiver progress, service engagement, and child safety
• Adjust interventions or safety plans as needed based on ongoing assessment
• Partner with providers, schools, legal partners, and internal teams to support sustained risk reduction
• Act When Protective Services Are Needed
• Facilitate foster care placements when safety cannot be maintained in the home
• File petitions and initiate legal action when needed to protect children
• Prepare and deliver concise, factual, and legally defensible court testimony
• Document Clearly & On Time
• Write accurate, neutral, policy-aligned documentation
• Translate complex observations into clear, objective, court-ready notes
• Complete documentation within seven days of each contact and maintain tracking systems
• Collaborate & Communicate
• Work closely with supervisors, colleagues, multidisciplinary teams, and community partners
• Share timely updates to support coordinated casework
• Maintain compliance with mandated reporting, confidentiality, and professional/ethical standards

Requirements

The ideal candidate should have:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong critical thinking and analytical judgment
• Ability to independently make sound decisions and recognize when supervisory guidance is required
• Reliability, organization, and effective time-management
• Calm, regulated presence during crises and emotionally charged situations
• Capacity to build rapport while maintaining professional boundaries
• Cultural awareness and respect for diverse family systems
• Comfort navigating conflict, difficult conversations, and complex family dynamics
• Professionalism and reliability
• Commitment to safety, ethical decision-making, and policy alignment

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field
• Three years of job-related experience
• Completion of the NC Child Welfare Education Collaborative (CWEC) traineeship can be substituted for 1 year of experience
• Valid Driver's License and "safe" driving record

Skills

• Written and verbal communication skills
• Strong critical thinking and analytical judgment
• Ability to independently make sound decisions and recognize when supervisory guidance is required
• Reliability, organization, and effective time-management
• Calm, regulated presence during crises and emotionally charged situations
• Capacity to build rapport while maintaining professional boundaries
• Cultural awareness and respect for diverse family systems
• Comfort navigating conflict, difficult conversations, and complex family dynamics
• Professionalism and reliability
• Commitment to safety, ethical decision-making, and policy alignment

Benefits

Comprehensive training, coaching, and clinical supervision

Opportunities for internal mobility and career development

Competitive benefits and retirement

A team culture rooted in communication, shared responsibility, and service to families

Pay

Commensurate with Experience

Market Range: 29.60 - 50.33

Schedule

Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:15 pm (requires flexibility to meet family needs and ensure child safety)