Permanency Social Worker Jobs (NOW HIRING)

New as of 01/01/2026: Your well-being matters from the start - benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave. Position Description Catawba County Social Services is committed to improving lives by serving children and families with multiple and complex needs. We are currently recruiting for a Permanency Planning Social Worker III.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide services to children and families when children are in the legal and physical custody of Social Services. Children enter foster care due to abuse, neglect, and/or dependency. Social Workers in this role primarily focus on ensuring each child's well-being and collaborating with parents and/or caretakers to reunify them with their removed children.

This involves home visits with the parents/caretakers from whom the child was removed, conducting assessments, creating case plans, making referrals, and evaluating ongoing progress. They will help eliminate obstacles to parents'/caretakers' successful reunification with their children. While assessing and ensuring children's well-being, this worker will conduct monthly home visits with the youth in their residence.

They will verify enrollment in school, ensure regular medical and dental visits, facilitate access to trauma-informed therapy, and supervise visits between siblings and parents. This position will collaborate closely with the court system by attending all court hearings, testifying when necessary, and preparing court reports for the judge's review to make recommendations regarding permanency. The Social Worker will conduct home visits with removal parents, conduct assessments, conduct case planning, make referrals, and assess their ongoing progress.

They will assist in removing barriers to parents' successful reunification with their children. Social Work Realistic Job Preview Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybjt65VnAIg Trainees, those with Master's or Bachelor's degrees in other areas of human services but do not have the required experience, may be considered. Trainee salary starts at $56,616.46

Responsibilities Work with children, their biological families, and others, including extended family, therapists, school and court personnel, foster families, and others involved with the child to help a child achieve their permanent plan Develop case plans and interventions that promote safety, permanency, and well-being to support children and families while a child is experiencing foster care A full range of case management tasks Preparing information for the court Timely and thorough documentation Conduct home visits with birth parents, resource parents, and children Qualifications Master's degree from an accredited school of social work; OR Master's degree in counseling or human services field and 1 year of social work experience; OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and 1 year of social work experience; OR Bachelor's degree in a human services field and 2 years of social work experience; OR Bachelor's degree in a non-human services field and 3 years of social work experience If the Social Worker position is a child welfare position: Possession of a BSW with the Child Welfare Collaborative Scholarship/Waiver will replace one year of social work experience required. Additional Requirements Valid Driver's license with a safe driving record (Driving is an essential function of this position) Weekend and holiday on-call responsibilities shared among all Permanency Planning Social Workers (average of 3 weekends per year) This position collaborates with other mandated positions in Child Welfare Services, so good teamwork skills and flexibility in working across disciplines are essential. Ability to work with a variety of people, public agencies, and professionals Strong verbal and writing skills Effective knowledge of child welfare and social work philosophy and policy This position requires lifting up to 40 pounds to carry children and belongings.

Preferences: Strong experience in using clinical and trauma-focused skills Experience working with and/or in the mental health system Direct social work experience in child welfare services or similar experiences Persons with bilingual ability (English/Spanish) are encouraged to apply