Social Worker I/A&T Foster Care

Foster Care Social Worker

Are you ready to be a steady source of hope for children who need safety, stability, and support? Alamance County Department of Social Services is seeking a passionate and dedicated Foster Care Social Worker to join our Child Welfare team!

This isn't just a job—it's a chance to change a child's story. As a Foster Care Social Worker, you will walk alongside children who have entered DSS custody, ensuring they have safe placements, nurturing environments, and opportunities to thrive. You'll work closely with families, foster parents, and community partners to guide children toward reunification or permanency, helping reshape futures with compassion, insight, and purpose.

In this role, you'll use your social work skills to assess needs, coordinate services, support families in crisis, and maintain stability for children navigating one of the hardest moments of their lives. Your ability to build trust, manage complex situations, and advocate fiercely for a child's well-being will make you a true champion for the families you serve.

If you're ready to roll up your sleeves, make tough decisions, and take bold action in the name of justice and care, then this is your call to action! Join us and become part of a supportive, driven team dedicated to changing lives every day.

Let's do something incredible together. Apply now and be a part of the solution!

Why Work with Alamance County DSS? Watch Our Quick Video and Find Out!

Responsibilities

• Champion the well-being of children in foster care by completing ongoing assessments and developing clear, actionable family service plans aimed at reunification and permanency.
• Build strong, supportive relationships with children, biological parents, foster parents, and service providers to ensure consistent communication and support.
• Conduct regular home visits to monitor placements, observe interactions, and ensure safety and stability.
• Coordinate services and referrals, connecting families with community resources that support parenting, mental health, education, developmental needs, etc.
• Prepare timely case documentation, including court reports, case notes, and permanency planning materials.
• Stand as a credible expert witness in court, confidently presenting your findings and recommendations, and testifying in hearings with professionalism and authority.
• Ensure safe transportation of children and families as needed for visits, services, and appointments.
• Collaborate across systems, partnering with schools, mental health providers, foster parents, and other agencies to support every aspect of a child's growth and stability
• Engage with the public, even in challenging situations, motivating others and ensuring safety for all involved — especially when dealing with differing views on laws, rules, or policies.
• Contribute to a supportive team culture, participating in CFT meetings, permanency planning reviews, supervision, training, and on-call rotation.

Qualifications

• Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions. • Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly. • Autonomy – Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. • Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word. • Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely. • Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the customers' needs while following company procedures. • Decisive - Ability to decide thoughtfully and quickly given the information available. • Ethical - Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards. • Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful, maintain high level of confidentiality and be seen as credible in the workplace. • Influence - Ability to gain support and buy-in by way of persuading, convincing or influencing to others to overcome barriers allowing them to support a particular vision. • Judgment – Ability to use good judgment and discretion as it relates to interpreting policies and procedures. • Multitasking – Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. • Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems. • Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers. • Safety-Minded – Creating a safe work environment; managing risks; reducing exposure liabilities. • Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.

Skills & Abilities

Education & Experience: We're looking for someone with the right mix of education and hands-on experience! Here's what we're looking for:

• A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited school (Child Welfare Collaborative) plus one year of social work experience, or
• A Bachelor's degree in Social Work from an accredited school (Child Welfare Collaborative) with one year of social work or counseling experience, or
• A Bachelor's degree in Social Work from an accredited school and two years of social work or counseling experience, or
• A Master's degree in Counseling plus two years of social work or counseling experience, or
• A four-year degree in Human Services or a related field with three years of social work or counseling experience, or
• A Bachelor's degree and four years of experience in rehabilitation, pastoral counseling, or a related human services field, with expertise in casework, group work, or community organization.

If you've got an equivalent combination of training and experience — we want to hear from you!

Additional Requirements:

• A certified college transcript and letter of reference will be required upon request.

Tech Skills:

• You'll need to be proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

License/Credentials:

• A valid N.C. driver's license is required for this role, along with a clean driving record that aligns with Alamance County's policies.