SOCIAL WORKER III - KINSHIP NAVIGATOR (CHILD WELFARE)

Kinship Navigator

This position is being reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and do not need to reapply. 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 $52,332.80 - $62,545.60. Initial placement for new employees is customarily at entry level through 35% percentile. Pay grade for this position is 19.

The Kinship Navigator position aims to address the unique challenges faced by relatives who step in to care for the children of their family members. These caregivers often navigate complex systems and encounter barriers that leave them unsupported, especially within foster care structures where their contributions can be overshadowed. The Kinship Navigator role is designed to bridge these gaps, providing resources and advocacy to ensure these families receive the recognition and assistance they deserve.

The goal is to increase kinship caregivers' ability to provide safety, stability, and permanency for the children placed in their home. This role is pivotal in connecting caregivers to resources, offering guidance, and fostering strong support systems to ensure the well-being of every child under kinship care.

The Kinship Navigator is classified as a Social Worker III and has all essential tasks and duties of a Social Worker III. The role will deliver advanced case management in the service areas of adoption and permanency planning, providing intensive social work services for complex and high-risk cases involving kinship providers. These responsibilities require the use of a diverse range of social work interventions within the Human Services Department. The position operates under the regular guidance and supervision of a Social Work Supervisor III.

The position may be cross assigned to support foster care or other child welfare programs as determined by agency needs and service demands.

Examples of Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Manage a caseload of children in foster care who are placed with relatives or fictive kin.
• Provide advanced case management, including trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
• Conduct home visits to assess safety, progress, and caregiver needs.
• Support kinship caregivers through the adoption process, including documentation, requirements, and adoption assistance.
• Participate in court hearings, case conferences, and multidisciplinary staffing.
• Assist in identifying, locating, and vetting potential kinship placements for children birth to age 21.
• Connect kinship caregivers to community resources such as food assistance, childcare, medical care, and behavioral health services.
• Serve as a liaison between kinship caregivers and agency staff to support effective communication and collaboration.
• Provide advocacy and support to caregivers, including attending meetings to assist with case planning and service coordination.
• Guide caregivers through training and licensure requirements to help maintain safe, stable placements.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
• Collect, track, and analyze program data to support evaluation, reporting, and service improvements.
• Develop and maintain an up-to-date database of community resources and supports tailored to kinship caregivers.
• Plan and coordinate the annual Kinship Celebration event, including logistics, outreach, and partnership engagement.
• Conduct and coordinate caregiver assessments in response to Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) requests.
• Maintain current knowledge of state and federal child welfare laws, policies, and best practices.
• Promote permanency outcomes, including reunification, guardianship, and adoption.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, practices, and techniques, including complex casework, treatment planning, and child abuse/neglect investigation.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and state child welfare laws, policies, procedures, program rules, ethics, and quality assurance standards.
• Strong understanding of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral, and psychosocial issues affecting children and families.
• Considerable knowledge of community organizations, supports, and resources.
• Working knowledge of office equipment, computers, and relevant software applications.

Skills:

• Skilled in preparing clear, concise, and accurate reports, case records, and documentation.
• Skilled in advanced interviewing and case management techniques to build rapport, assess needs, and engage families.
• Skilled in assessing safety, risk, and environmental conditions in a wide range of settings, including high-risk or low-visibility situations.
• Skilled in analyzing child development and safety concerns in relation to identified risk factors.
• Skilled in de-escalation and navigating tense or volatile family situations.
• Skilled in testifying in court as a subject matter expert.

Abilities:

• Ability to make sound, timely decisions with limited information or consultation, including decisions related to child safety and removal.
• Ability to engage, support, and motivate resistant or involuntary clients.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, medical and mental health providers, law enforcement, court officials, attorneys, community agencies, and the public.
• Ability to maintain reliable and regular attendance. Management Preferences and Requirements:
• Must have valid NC driver's license to be able to travel to clients' homes.
• After hours is often required.
• Prior work in Social Services preferred.
• Strong knowledge of agency programs and community resources.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of personal computer is a plus.
• Must have NC pre-service training or willing to attend.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is desirable.

Minimum Education / Experience Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work or;
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and one year of directly related experience or;
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of directly related experience or;
• Master's in Social Work or Master's in Human Services.
• Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.
• Must be available to meet with families and children within a time frame that meets state policy and law as well as provides the greatest protection to children.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Cabarrus County will verify your educational credentials. Official transcripts must clearly show the specific credential awarded to ensure accurate validation.

Special Requirements: Position is a safety-sensitive position as defined by the Drug Free Workplace Policy. Position may include after-hours work and on-call duty rotation. Must possess or attend and complete the required NC state child welfare pre-service training and in-service training for child welfare positions only.

Physical Requirements:

• Up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally
• Up to 10 lbs. of force frequently
• Negligible force constantly
• Up to 50 lbs. occasionally

Additional requirements include:

• Reaching, typing, grasping, and repetitive motions
• Clear verbal communication for conveying information and instructions
• Adequate hearing to understand conversations and receive information
• Visual acuity for reading, computer use, and environmental assessment
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, on-call shifts, and attend community events or emergent case needs
• May be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.
• Interaction with irate, resistant, or hostile clients
• Entry into homes that may be unsafe or poorly maintained
• Travel through areas with elevated safety risks

Supplemental Information

Cabarrus County selects applicants