CHILD WELFARE SOCIAL WORKER (IN HOME) - 40002125

Durham County Government is home to over 2,000 dedicated professionals working together to deliver essential services that strengthen and support our vibrant, diverse community. As the heart of a fast-growing region, we offer meaningful careers across a wide range of fields—giving you the opportunity to make a real impact where you live, work, grow, and play.

Hiring range: $66,016.00 - $89,083.00
Position type: Full-time, exempt
This position is eligible for a tiered $4,000.00 critical position bonus.

About the role

This is an advanced, professional-level casework position providing protective, investigative, counseling, and case management services for children at risk for neglect and/or abuse. Employees are assigned to local departments of Social Services and handle the most complex cases, offering social work services including treatment and immediate crisis response for at-risk children. Work involves investigating alleged neglect and abuse, substantiating findings per federal and state guidelines, providing expert testimony in court, and following up with case management and preventive services. Employees analyze high-stress situations and determine appropriate actions under tight deadlines. Roles may combine investigative and treatment functions or be separate, depending on department size and structure.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of clients in the most difficult and complex cases.
• Provide treatment through group, family, or individual therapy for clients of any age with developmental, mental, medical, financial, substance abuse, or family problems, including abused, neglected, or homeless children.
• Conduct clinical and social investigations, assess individuals and family dynamics, perform crisis intervention, and make referrals for treatment or placement in foster care or residential facilities.
• Provide expert testimony in court proceedings.
• Deliver In-Home Services to families with children found to be abused, neglected, or dependent as defined by North Carolina General Statutes.
• Identify relevant services based on family needs, develop service agreements, prepare court summaries, and participate in associated court proceedings.
• Make difficult agency decisions regarding the removal of children from abusive and neglectful homes.
• Provide prevention services for at-risk families.
• Apply knowledge of child welfare policies and practices, including social work assessments, crisis intervention, family functioning, and child development.

Requirements

• 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
• 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 casework, group work, or community organization techniques; or
• An equivalent combination of training and experience. One year of work experience can be credited for completion of the social work collaborative.
• Valid North Carolina driver’s license with an acceptable three-year driving record and access to a vehicle.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of child abuse or neglect.
• Thorough knowledge of policies and procedures, including the ability to cite federal and state law.
• Thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral, or psychosocial problems and their treatment.
• Considerable knowledge of governmental and private community resources.
• Ability to interact with and motivate resistant, involuntary clients and the public who may disagree with laws, rules, or policies.
• Ability to prepare documentation such as investigative reports for court, case records, and treatment plans.
• Ability to testify as an expert witness and employ advanced case management interview techniques to establish supportive relationships and involve families in assessments.
• Ability to quickly assess risks and safety in client environments during daylight, after dark, and in high-crime areas.
• Expert negotiation skills for complex cases.
• Ability to analyze child development safety issues in relation to risk factors.
• Ability to analyze tense family situations and make decisions about removing children with limited information and consultation.
• Strong communication skills and ability to establish supportive client relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual skills.

Pay

$66,016.00 - $89,083.00 annually, with eligibility for a tiered $4,000.00 critical position bonus.

Background check: This position may require a background check, including criminal history (employment-related and/or SBI fingerprint-based), credit history, motor vehicle records, educational verification, and checks of the sexual offender registry. A conviction record does not automatically disqualify an applicant unless required by state law.