Social Services Team Lead - Wellbeing and Permanency

State of Mississippi; Mississippi; On-site; USD 51,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Mississippi is seeking a Social Services Team Lead in Wellbeing and Permanency in Lowndes County, MS. The role oversees safety, risk assessments, and permanency planning for children in the MDCPS system.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree with 2–4 years of experience; a Master’s degree or social work license may be required by the appointing authority. Salary range is $50,791.10–$51,811.10 annually and includes full-time benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 2-4 years of experience preferred.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
• Agency may require a Master’s Degree or social work license.

Responsibilities

• Conduct ongoing safety and risk assessments that identify safety concerns throughout the life of the case.
• Identify safety concerns and implement safety plans.
• Gather demographic information on the child and family to locate the child/family when contact is unavailable and to achieve timely permanency.
• Ensure visits with children and families are adequate to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Establish permanency goals for the child(ren) through coordination with local youth court.
• Prepare professional court reports and provide professional recommendations in court proceedings.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Time management

Flexibility

Resilience

Professionalism

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

Job description

Social Services Team Lead - Wellbeing and Permanency in 44 - LOWNDES COUNTY, MS

State of Mississippi

$50,791.10 - $51,811.10 Annually

Location

44 - LOWNDES COUNTY, MS

Full-Time

Job Number

9799-0681-20261006LOW

0681 - CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

Opening Date

10/12/2026

10/16/2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (US & Canada)

Agency Minimum Salary

$50,791.10

$51,811.10

About the Agency

The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services has a position available for a Frontline Social Service Supervisor position within Wellbeing and Permanency Unit. The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) is committed to protecting and nurturing Mississippi's at-risk children and families. MDCPS offers a variety of positions statewide, including social work positions providing case management services and working with potential foster families, supervisor positions providing clinical and administrative support, and agency support positions such as policy development, human resources, information technology, program management, training, and budgeting/finance. Working with MDCPS will give you the chance to make a life-changing difference for Mississippi's most vulnerable children and families. If you have any additional questions, you can contact Touya Harrington, Director of Workforce Development at 601-301-8494 or [e-mail]

The individual selected for this position will conduct ongoing safety and risk assessments that identify and address safety concerns throughout the life of the case. Identifies safety concerns and implements safety plans. Gathers demographic information on the child and family to conduct ongoing diligent search efforts to locate the child/family when unable to make contact and as needed to achieve timely permanency. Ensures that frequency and quality of visits with children and families are adequate to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being. Identifies the physical, educational, and mental/behavioral health needs of children, parents, and foster parents and ensures identified needs were effectively addressed through collaboration with internal and external supports. Establishes permanency goals for the child(ren) through coordination with local youth court. Ensures foster care placements and/or living situations are stable and in the best interests of the child(ren) and are consistent with achieving established permanency. Makes concerted efforts to achieve permanency for children in a timely manner and consistent with regulations contained in the Adoptions and Safe Families Act. Ensures that siblings in foster care are placed together unless a separation is necessary to meet the needs of one of the siblings. Maintains child's connections to his or her neighborhood, community, faith, extended family, tribe, school, and friends when safe to do so. Documents case management activities within time frames established by policy. Prepares professional court reports and provides professional recommendations in court proceedings. Celebrates positive outcomes with child(ren) and family. Utilizes privately owned vehicle for work-related travel and duties (including transportation of children). Routinely serves on after-hours on-call duty for foster care and in-home service needs. Embraces ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.The incumbents receive training related to job content and MUST PASS a comprehensive test prior to continued employment and/or advancement.

What you'll need to be Successful

Professional commitment to and care for clients and the larger profession of child welfare. Personal resilience and strong self-efficacy beliefs about the ability to work with clients to produce positive client outcomes. Efficient organizational and time management skills. Good oral and written communication skills. Positive work morale. Ability to be flexible in thinking and problem solving. Realistic expectations about the difficulty and challenges of the work. Ability to handle an often-unpredictable work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 2-4 years of experience. The appointing authority may require a Master’s Degree and/or a social worker’s license. — Agency Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in social work, social services, psychology, educational psychology, sociology, nursing, criminal justice, counseling, marriage and family therapy, family studies, or a related field. Two (2) to four (4) years of experience in a human service-related field. Salary is determined by the employee’s education and experience. MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE AND INSURANCE.

Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201