(SOCIAL SERVICES) Social Worker III - CPS Trainer

Sampson County; Clinton (NC); On-site; USD 5,900 - 12,000; Full time

Job summary

Sampson County Department of Social Services is seeking a Social Worker III Trainer focused on training Child Protective Services staff. You will lead onboarding and ongoing training, covering policy, safety, documentation, and legal requirements, while coaching staff and ensuring high-quality service delivery.

You will collaborate with supervisors to align training with agency goals, enhance staff performance, and boost retention.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with one year of directly related experience or more.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary trainer and mentor for CPS Social Workers.
• Develop onboarding and ongoing training covering policy, best practices, safety, documentation, and legal requirements.
• Coach and support staff through hands-on learning, shadowing, case consultation, and feedback.
• Conduct case reviews to ensure quality of service and identify gaps in delivery.
• Partner with supervisors to align training with agency goals and improve performance and retention.
• Enhance consistency, confidence, and competence across the foster care team.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Coaching

Training

Leadership

Education

Master’s degree in social work

Bachelor’s degree in social work

Child Welfare Collaborative completion

Job description

GRADE: 73

SALARY: Beginning at $5,858.00/year with benefits package

Are you a seasoned social work professional with a passion for mentorship, leadership, and making a lasting impact in the lives of children and families? Do you thrive on helping others grow and succeed? If so, the Sampson County Department of Social Services invites you to join our dynamic team as a Social Worker III – CPS Trainer, with a primary focus on training Child Protective Services staff.

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as the primary trainer and mentor for new and existing CPS Social Workers, ensuring they are well‑prepared, confident, and capable in their responsibilities.
• Develop and lead comprehensive onboarding and ongoing training programs that cover policy, best practices, safety procedures, documentation, and legal requirements.
• Coach, guide, and support staff through hands‑on learning, shadowing opportunities, case consultation, and constructive feedback.
• Ensure quality assurance by conducting case reviews, identifying service delivery gaps, and helping staff apply interventions that meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.
• Partner closely with the Social Work Supervisor III and other team leaders to align training efforts with agency goals, improve performance, and boost retention.
• Play a key role in enhancing consistency, confidence, and competence across the foster care team.

Why Join Us?

At Sampson County DSS, we’re committed to making a difference—and that starts with investing in our people. As a Social Worker III Trainer, you’ll be part of a supportive, forward‑thinking agency where innovation, professional development, and compassion drive everything we do.

• Opportunities to lead and inspire while making a meaningful impact.
• A collaborative team environment where your expertise and insight are valued.
• The chance to shape the next generation of foster care social workers.
• Stability, benefits, and the satisfaction of serving a strong and caring community.

What We’re Looking For:

• A dedicated social work professional with thorough knowledge of child welfare practices, especially in Foster Care.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching, and training skills.
• Proven ability to lead by example, evaluate performance, and provide constructive feedback.
• A team player who brings heart, skill, and energy to the job.

Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, groupwork, and community problems. Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory. Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, and resources in the community, laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program. General knowledge of the methods and principles of casework supervision and training. In certain settings, considerable knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies based on medical or psychological diagnosis. Skill in establishing rapport with a client and in applying techniques or assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client’s problems. Ability to supervise, train, or instruct lower-level social workers, students, or interns in the program. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of case load and their families, as well as civic, legal, medical, social, and religious organizations. Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.

Minimum Training and Experience Requirements:

Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; Master’s degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience; Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.

Be the Difference. Train the Future.

Applicants may qualify for a work against appointment with a certain degree of education and experience.

PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN TO THOSE WITH BI-LINGUAL SKILLS AND/OR DSS EXPERIENCE.

Application deadline is: November 16, 2026.

SAMPSON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Sampson County will employ only those individuals who are US citizens, or legal aliens authorized to maintain employment in the United States.

All offers of employment are conditional pending candidate undergoing pre‑employment Alcohol & Drug testing and producing satisfactory test results.