CHILD WELFARE SOCIAL WORKER - CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES- MULTIPLE

Durham County Government is home to over 2,000 dedicated professionals delivering essential services that strengthen and support a vibrant, diverse community. The Department of Social Services (DSS) seeks qualified candidates for a full‑time, exempt Child Protective Services position.

Responsibilities

• Provides family assessments, forensic investigations, and case management for families with substantiated reports of suspected child neglect and abuse.
• Conducts comprehensive assessments of child safety, family strengths and needs, and family support systems.
• Prepares court summaries and participates in associated court proceedings.
• Uses best‑practice strategies and professional judgment in complex situations.
• Applies knowledge of child welfare policies and practices in judicial and other legal proceedings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices applied to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of child abuse or neglect.
• Thorough knowledge of policies and procedures, with ability to cite the authority of federal and state law.
• Understanding of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral, and psychosocial problems and their treatment theories.
• Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and community resources.
• Ability to interact with and motivate a resistant, involuntary client population and the public.
• Ability to prepare documentation such as investigative reports for the court, case records, and treatment plans.
• Ability to testify as an expert witness and employ advanced case‑management interview techniques.
• Ability to quickly assess risks and safety of client environments during daylight, after dark, and in high‑crime areas.
• Expert negotiation skills for the most complex cases.
• Ability to analyze and assess child‑development safety issues in relation to risk factors.
• Ability to analyze tense family situations and make removal decisions with limited information and consultation.
• Effective communication skills and ability to establish supportive client relationships.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

One of the following combinations is required:

• Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience; or
• Master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or
• Four‑year degree in a human services field (or related curriculum) and three years of social work or counseling experience; or
• Four‑year college or university degree and four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling, or a related human‑service field providing casework, group work, or community organization experience; or
• An equivalent combination of training and experience.

One year of work experience can be credited for completion of the social work collaborative.

Preferred Requirements

• Preference will be given to applicants with bilingual skills.

Special Requirements

• Valid North Carolina driver’s license with an acceptable three‑year driving record.
• Personal vehicle.

Pay

Hiring Range: $66,016.00 – $89,083.00. This position is eligible for a tiered $4,000.00 critical‑position bonus.

Background Check

This position may be subject to a background check, which could include criminal history (employment‑related and/or SBI fingerprint‑based), credit history, motor vehicle records, educational verification, and checks of the sexual offender registry, depending on the specific requirements of the role. A conviction record does not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment consideration, unless otherwise required by applicable state law.