Social Worker-Invest/Assess and In-home services (CPS)

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : 1000 North First Street, Albemarle, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2000219
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 10/20/2025
Closing Date: Continuous


Job Description


This is advanced, professional-level casework providing protective, investigative, counseling, and case management services for children who are at risk for neglect and/or abuse. Employees are assigned to local departments of Social Services and provide social work services, including treatment and immediate response to crisis situations for at-risk children in the most complex cases in the departments. Work involves an investigation of alleged neglect and abuse, substantiation of the alleged neglect or abuse as prescribed by federal and state guidelines, providing expert testimony in court hearings, and following up with case management and preventive services for clients. Employees analyze situations and determine appropriate courses of action immediately or in short time spans, often under very stressful conditions. Employees may provide group, family, or individual treatment to clients of any age and any developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, financial, or family problem. Employees typically report to a Social Work Supervisor III under general supervision. Employees may have combined investigative and treatment roles or may have separate functions depending on the size and organizational structure of the departments of Social Services. This position works a rotating on-call schedule, which may require night and weekend work.

Examples of Job Duties


The primary duties of this position would include: (1) receiving reports of suspected child abuse, neglect, or dependency and evaluating these reports to determine if the reported information meets the statutory guidelines for child maltreatment (2) CPS assessments to gather sufficient information to determine the following: if child maltreatment occurred, if there is a risk of future maltreatment and the level of that risk, if the child is safe within the home and, if not, what interventions can be implemented to ensure the child's protection and maintain the family unit intact if reasonably possible, continuing services needed to reduce the risk of maltreatment occurring in the future, and out of home placement if necessary to protect the child from harm (3) provision of CPS in-home services where the worker and families determine the strategies to be used to change the conditions and behaviors that resulted in child abuse and neglect; to work with the family, their support system, and other service providers to reduce or eliminate the risk of maltreatment (4) to seek removal of custody through the juvenile court when the child cannot be maintained safely in the home of the parent or caretaker or voluntarily placed safely with relatives or other kin while services are continued (5) placement of children in foster homes or group care-settings, which includes direct treatment and counseling for the children themselves, their biological families and their foster families; and preparation of cases for court and testimony in juvenile court and criminal court (6) develop and implement permanent plans for children such as reunification with parents, adoptive placement or other kinship placements (7) position may be assigned other related duties and activities as deemed appropriate by the supervisor. Competency in computer skills required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of Child Welfare and social work, and their application to social services casework, group work and community programs.

Thorough knowledge of the federal, state and local laws, ordinances, standards and regulations, and department policies and procedures of the Children/Family Services division of the Department of Social Services.

Thorough knowledge of family and group dynamics and risk factors impacting families' ability to protect and care for children.
Thorough knowledge of counseling and intervention methods and techniques.
Thorough knowledge of HIPAA guidelines and ability to apply guidelines to client information and records
Good knowledge of human behavior and variables affecting behavior, including socioeconomic challenges.
Good knowledge of current social, economic and health trends and services, and the ability to adapt trends to practical program applications and link families with services needed.
Good knowledge of governmental, private, and/or nonprofit organizations and resources and programs in the community.
Good knowledge of occupational hazards and ability to use safety precautions in a professional and decisive way.
Skill in assessing and evaluating child maltreatment indicators.

Skill in negotiating and problem solving.

Skill in developing and implementing effective case management plans, and the ability to identify client needs to be met.
Skill in preparing and maintaining accurate records and reports, and the ability to analyze large amounts of information and data.
Skill in public and interpersonal relations, and the ability to relate well with others and perform under stressful conditions.
Ability to demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, resourcefulness, accuracy, thoroughness and the physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position, while maintaining an ethical standard of care.
Ability to read and interpret complex materials.
Ability to conduct home visits.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with racially and socio-economical diverse populations to express information and ideas clearly and concisely.
Ability to plan, prioritize and respond to demands of a heavy caseload in a prompt and effective manner.
Ability to recognize and analyze problems, gather relevant information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to gather, analyze, interpret, comprehend and communicate complex information and in complex situations.

Ability to monitor cases and take action in emergency situations.
Ability to establish and maintain working professional relationships with the county attorney, judges, court personnel, physicians, guardians, law enforcement, co-workers, DSS staff and other agencies.
Ability to collaborate with others and work as part as a team.
Ability to assist with disaster management during major weather and other disaster events (i.e. staff shelters, assist with special outreach and prevention activities and assist with recovery efforts); requires flexibility with working hours as established schedules may change and ability to adjust during quickly changing and stressful situations.
Ability to effectively use computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database software.

Qualifications


Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Social Work AND one (1) year of social work experience; OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work AND two (2) years of social work experience; OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in any field AND four (4) years of direct Child Protective Services social work experience.
Anyone with a Human Services or 4-year degree may apply as "work against appointments" and will be considered.

Must have a valid NC driver's license and reliable transportation.

Stanly County DSS Work Against Information:


Social Worker I Salary: $40,171; after two years of experience, Social Worker II
Social Worker II Salary: $48,087; after three years of experience, Social Worker III
Social Worker III Salary: $52,612; after three years of experience, fully qualified as a Social Worker IAT Salary-$55,031.
STANLY COUNTY BENEFITS (Full-time Employees)


Employees accrue sick and vacation time each paycheck.

Stanly County observes twelve (12) holidays. New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday), Christmas (3 days).

Employees receive one (1) personal day per year.

INSURANCE BENEFITS :
Stanly County provides health & vision insurance with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Our plan is a PPO, 80/20, with a $1000 deductible. Teledoc is offered through our insurance for a $10 co-pay per visit. Primary care visit is a $40 co-payment. Specialist is $50 co-pay. One free eye exam per year. The insurance coverage is FREE to full-time employees.


Dental Coverage is with Guardian dental insurance and is FREE to full-time employees.

Other volunteer insurance benefits include: Flexible Spending Program, Life Insurance, Cancer, Accident, and Disability policies.

Stanly County offers an employee health clinic. Our on-site Advance Practice Provider will see employees and dependents covered on our county insurance plan free of charge. This service does not replace your primary healthcare providers but augments their care.


As a wellness benefit, employees have the option of joining the Stanly County YMCA. The County will pay half of the employee's membership.

Employee Assistant Program is offered through Atrium Health. Each employee will receive up to six (6) free sessions on a rolling year. Dependent children and/or spouse may also use the sessions.

RETIREMENT :
Stanly County Employees will be a member of the N. C. Local Government Employees' Retirement System. Stanly County is required to withhold six percent (6%) from each paycheck and deposit it into the retirement system. The County also contributes to the plan. You are vested at five years as a contributing member. After one year of contributing membership in the system, a death benefit is available if you die while still in active service or within 180 days of your last day of service.

NC 401(k) (Supplemental Retirement Plan):
Employees can contribute to the Empower 401(k) plan upon hire. If the employee contributes at least one percent (1%), Stanly County will match one percent (1%).
Additionally, employees may make additional contributions through the following options: 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and Roth Plan Option.

LONGEVITY:
Longevity pay is earned after three (3) years of continuous Local Government retirement benefited service working with Stanly County government.
Longevity Bonus:
3 years but less than 5 years $300
5 years but less than 10 years $600
10 years but less than 15 years $900
15 years but less than 20 years $1,200
20 years or more $1,500