Salary : $58,240.00 - $69,659.20 Annually
Location : Cabarrus County, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: FY26-01335
Department: SOCIAL WORK SERVICES - DSS
Opening Date: 07/02/2026
Closing Date: 10/4/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The application review process will take place immediately and continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may close any time after the first review or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Hiring range for this position is $58,240.00 - $69,659.20. Initial placement for new employees is customarily at entry level through 35% percentile. Pay grade for this position is 21.
The work schedule for this position is 12pm-12:00am rotating nights during the week and 8:00am-8:00pm on weekends and holidays. 48 hours one week and 36 hours the second week.
This position will require employees to be in the office for their entire shift during the week. Remote possibilities on weekends and holidays depending on workload. This is subject to change at any time.
General Definition of Work:
The Second Shift Social Worker performs advanced professional social work focused on protecting children who are at risk for or have experienced abuse, neglect, or dependency. This position provides investigative, case management, crisis intervention, and counseling services during second-shift hours, responding promptly to reports requiring immediate assessment and safety planning. Work is performed under the regular supervision of a Social Work Supervisor III.
Examples of Duties
Essential Functions/Typical Tasks:
Providing social work services including intervention and immediate response to crisis situations for at-risk children in the most complex cases in the department; investigating and substantiating the alleged neglect and abuse, providing expert testimony in court hearings, assessing and evaluating child(ren)'s needs, making case decisions and judgments that impact the life and safety of children, developing service plans and goals and follows-up with case management, treatment referrals and preventive services; managing an investigations or in-home services caseload; preparing detailed and complex court summaries and reports; maintaining records, files and confidentiality
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
- Intake, Investigations, Assessment & Crisis Response
- Conduct CPS investigations and assessments during second shift hours within mandated timeframes, including immediate response to crisis situations.
- Determine whether abuse, neglect, or dependency has occurred and evaluate immediate and ongoing child safety risks through receiving and screening intakes, interviews, and home visits.
- Interview children, parents, caregivers, and collateral contacts; gather history and assess family functioning.
- Develop, implement, and monitor Safety Plans in compliance with guidelines.
- Provide crisis de-escalation, stabilization, and supportive intervention during crisis situations by utilizing trauma-informed and solution-focused practices.
- Case Management
- Manage a small safe caseload during assigned shift.
- Provide immediate safety planning, emergency placement coordination, or removal when necessary.
- Frontload services when deemed necessary by making appropriate referrals for the family.
- Monitor family progress, assess risk changes, and adjust safety assessment accordingly.
- Complete all documentation in required systems.
- Professional Judgment & Decision-Making
- Make time-sensitive decisions impacting child safety with limited supervision.
- Analyze complex situations and determine appropriate action quickly.
- Respond independently to crises using calm, trauma-informed, and de-escalating approaches.
- Collaboration & Court Work
- Collaborate with law enforcement, schools, and medical/mental health professionals.
- Prepare accurate documentation, case records, and court petitions/summaries.
- Testify in court proceedings as required.
- Shift-Based Responsibilities
- Assist peers and supervisors with tasks requiring evening or weekend attention.
- Provide after-hours placement coverage in accordance with the Cabarrus County "Youth in Office" protocol.
- Support emergency shelter operations and countywide emergency response efforts as needed.
- Complete day sheet and timesheets for hours worked during shift.
- Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of CPS practices, trauma, child development, and family systems.
- Knowledge of child welfare laws, procedures, ethics, and documentation requirements.
- Ability to assess risk and safety in various environments, including at night or in unsafe areas.
- Skill in engaging resistant or hostile clients while maintaining professionalism.
- Strong communication skills including report writing and expert testimony.
- Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and maintain strong community partnerships.
- Ability to remain composed during crisis situations.
Minimum Education / Experience requirements
Education & Experience
Education LevelRequired Experience in Social Work (or related)Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW)1 year of experience
OR a qualifying internship
OR successful completion of the NC Child Welfare Collaborative program
Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)None
Master's Degree in Human Services1 year of experience
Bachelor's Degree in Human Services2 years of experience
Master's Degree (Any Field)2 years of social work experience
Bachelor's Degree (Any Field)3 years of social work experience
- An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.
- Previous CPS or SW-IAT experience, especially during after-hours or second shift, is preferred.
- Must complete NC Child Welfare Pre-Service Training and required in-service trainings.
One year of experience may be substituted for the NC Child Welfare Pre-service/Collaborative training. One year of credit may be substituted for Income Maintenance Casework experience.
Directly related experience is defined as (but not limited to) human services experience in the areas of social work, case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy, treatment planning, rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling or a related human services field providing experience in techniques of casework, group work or community organization.
Some county job postings indicate that you can qualify with an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If this language is included in the job description, it means you may qualify through either education, your years of directly related experience, or a combination of both.
If you have indicated that you have earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from a technical school, college, or university, please note that Cabarrus County will verify your educational credentials. Official transcripts must clearly show the specific credential awarded to ensure accurate validation.
Special Requirements
- Valid North Carolina driver's license.
- Position is designated as safety-sensitive under the County Drug Free Workplace Policy.
- Must meet required timeframes for responding to reports according to state policy.
- Requires second-shift hours including holidays, weekends, or on-call duties.
Physical Requirements
- Frequent bending, kneeling, standing, and walking, including the ability to climb stairs quickly during home visits.
- Ability to occasionally lift/exert up to 50 pounds (e.g., car seats, small children), frequently up to 20 pounds, and constantly up to 10 pounds.
- Requires the use of hands for fingering, reaching, grasping, and performing repetitive motions (e.g., keyboarding, paperwork).
- Ability to speak clearly, loudly, and quickly to convey detailed instructions or de-escalate crisis situations.
- Ability to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and make fine distinctions in sound (e.g., detecting signs of distress).
- Required for computer data analysis, operating office equipment, document review, and observing general surroundings and activities (day and night).
Supplemental Information
Supplemental and Contact Information:
Cabarrus County selects applicants for employment based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or political influence.
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application. Applicants who obtained their education outside of the United States and its territories are expected to assume responsibility for having their academic degrees validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual position, only the most recent application received prior to the posting closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Processing applications will take an average of 6 - 8 weeks due to the high volume of applications received. It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the most qualified applicants.
For technical issues with your applications, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at
855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 704-920-2200.
- Earned vacation & sick leave
- 11-12 paid holidays per year
- Floating Holiday
- Paid Personal Day
- Bereavement Leave
- Paid Parental Bonding Leave
- Participation in the Local Government Employees Retirement System
- Mandatory 6% employee contribution
- 5% employer-paid contribution to NC401K, with no employee match required
- Employees have the option to contribute additional monies to the NC401K plan or to a 457 retirement savings plan
- Health Insurance plans
- Consumer driven plan including a health savings account
- PPO Plan
- Optional dependent coverage - employee/spouse, employee/children, & employee/family
- Comprehensive health & wellness program
- On-site exercise equipment & programs
- Health & wellness themed instructional classes
- Employee health clinic
- Employee assistance program (ex. Individual & family counseling, legal & financial services, child & elder care location assistance, etc.)
- Choice of optional dental plans
- PPO (Preferred Provider Option) or non-PPO
- Optional dependent coverage - employee/spouse, employee/children, & employee/family
- Vision Plan
- Includes an annual routine eye exam for individuals on the health insurance plan.
- Optional eyewear plan available
- $20,000 of term life insurance & accidental death & dismemberment coverage with employer-paid premiums
- Employee option for up to $50,000 of additional term life coverage
- Optional dependent life insurance coverage for spouses & children
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I understand in order to be qualified for this position, the description of my work experience must clearly reflect the required education and experience as well as the posted knowledge, skills and abilitie