Social Worker I/A&T--Foster Care
Alamance County Government
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Alamance County Government seeks a dedicated Foster Care Social Worker to support children in DSS custody, arrange safe placements, and guide families toward reunification and permanency. You will collaborate with foster parents, families, schools, and providers to ensure stability and well-being throughout the case life cycle.
The role emphasizes advocacy, risk assessment, service coordination, and timely documentation.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Social Work and/or counseling experience as listed in the education section.
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.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
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.
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- 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.
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!
- A certified college transcript and letter of reference will be required upon request.
- You’ll need to be proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- 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.
- 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.
N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position.
O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs./day)
F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs./day)
C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs./day)
Stand F
Walk F
Sit F
Manually Manipulate O
Reach Outward O
Reach Above Shoulder O
Climb O
Crawl O
Squat or Kneel O
Bend O
10 lbs. or less O
11-20 lbs. O
21-50 lbs. O
51-100 lbs. O
Over 100 lbs. O
12 lbs. or less O
13-25 lbs. O
26-40 lbs. O
41-100 lbs. O
- Vision (Near, Distance, Peripheral)
Standard office environment
Health Insurance - Full-time employees are eligible for medical/health (Cigna Insurance) benefits upon the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.
Alamance County Government currently offers three plans of medical/pharmacy benefit options including 2 Standard PPO plans and a High-Deductible Health Plan with HSA.
Dental Benefit - Alamance County offers one dental insurance (Delta Dental) plan for FT employees at no cost. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment.
Vision Insurance - A voluntary vision program (Superior Vision) is available to FT employees. The current PPO style plan allows employees to seek treatment and hardware from any vision care provider of their choice. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.
Voluntary Benefits – Alamance County Government provides a variety of voluntary health related benefits (Voya) to allow employees to purchase protection from what life may bring. A sampling of voluntary benefits includes Flexible Spending Accounts with dependent care opportunities, Health Saving Account with an employer contribution, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Cancer Protection Plan, Group Critical Care Insurance and more.
Life Insurance - Basic term life insurance is the amount of one times the annual salary (no greater than $70,000) is provided for all FT employees. Additional coverage is available for purchase through payroll deductions for employee and eligible dependents.
Membership in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System (NCLGERS) is a requirement for all full-time and regular part-time employees (working more than 1,000 hours annually). Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed.
Annual Leave is accrued based on years of service. Employees can accrue from 10-25 days per year.
All County full time employees earn 12 days of sick leave per year.
Alamance County will observe the State of North Carolina Holiday Schedule.
Employee Assistance Program: There are times when everyone needs a little help or advice. The confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through a local provider can help you with things like stress, anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, relationship issues, legal issues, parenting questions, financial counseling and dependent care resources. Best of all it's free for County employees and available for your household to use. Utilization of the EAP is completely confidential and participation isn't recorded. Help is available 24/7/365 by telephone.
Alamance County Employee Health Center: Available to employees and spouses who are covered under the Alamance County Insurance Plan and their covered dependents, 18 years of age and older. Retired employees under age 65 are also eligible to use the health center. Depending on insurance coverage elected, care at the clinic ranges from free to a fair market value cost.
Treatment of injuries or illnesses such as flu, sinus Infection, pink eye, sprains, strains or fever.
Monitor chronic conditions (Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Health Disease, Asthma, etc...).
Assistance with finding a Primary Care Provider
Health Education and Counseling
Triage and referrals to specialists when appropriate.
Alamance County provides a variety of additional benefits including bereavement pay, Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Leave to focus on work-life balance initiatives, Volunteer Time Off (paid time) opportunities to be a part of the Alamance Community, to opportunities for professional certification pay.
Alamance County encourages all employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle both at home and at work. In support of this philosophy an Employee Fitness Center is available for all County employees to use at their convenience during non-work hours and is open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday-Sunday. This center includes weight training equipment, cardio equipment, a small aerobics room along with restrooms, changing room and lockers.
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