Social Worker I - Coordinated Entry: Grant Funded

Mecklenburg County Government; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 53,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Mecklenburg County is seeking a Social Worker I to support Coordinated Entry for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum of Care. The role combines on-site client work with call-center duties to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to shelter, housing, and services.

The position requires a Bachelor of Social Work (or higher) and relevant experience, with potential for bilingual and fast-paced call center interactions. Standard hours are 8–5, with occasional after-hours coverage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field with relevant experience.
• MSW or equivalent advanced degree preferred; licensure/drive license required?
• Experience with coordinating entry to homeless services and shelters.

Responsibilities

• Assess needs of individuals and families and determine eligibility for financial assistance.
• Conduct intake in person and by phone, develop service plans and follow up.
• Refer clients to community resources and coordinate benefits with agencies.
• Maintain confidential records and prepare reports of services.
• Engage with partners to provide on-site Coordinated Entry at shelters or partner sites.

Skills

Interviewing

Counseling

Case management

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Social Work

Master's degree in Social Work

Tools

SharePoint

DialPad

HMIS/Bitfocus

Job description

FollowYour Calling, Find Your Career!!

Please applyby: Saturday, October 3rd, 2026

SalaryRange: $53,102.00 - $65,165.00 per year. Thisis an exempt (salaried) position. Payrates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity.Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salaryhistory and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirementsfor the job.

At MecklenburgCounty, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are withsupport, inclusive culture, and technology to become the best version of you.We’re counting on YOUR unique voice and perspective to help Mecklenburg Countybecome even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience foryourself, and a better working world for all.

CommunitySupport Services (CSS)

transforms lives and community by supporting veterans,ending homelessness, treating substance use, and preventing and intervening incommunity and domestic violence. As a department in Mecklenburg County’s Healthand Human Services Agency, CSS maximizes community partnerships andcollaborative opportunities to improve access to services and advocate for theneeds of special populations.

Position Specific Information

Thisposition is onsite public facing and may be located between 3205Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208 and between partner locations inwhich people seeking shelter may attend.

This position is funded by a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant (HUD), subject toannual renewal. Current grant ends May 31st, 2027. County restrictions may prohibitannual pay raises.

This positionrequires both in person and call center functions and duties. Standard hours of Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 5:00 pm. Weekendand/or after-hours shifts may be required, depending on volume andbusiness needs. Subject tochange, based on need.

Mecklenburg County is the Lead Agency for CoordinatedEntry (CE) for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Continuum ofCare.Coordinated Entry is the intake for the local homeless responsesystem. It is part of the process to access homeless resources andshelter in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

This Social Worker I position conducts Coordinated Entry (both inperson and telephonically) with individuals and families experiencinghomelessness, or those at imminent risk of homelessness, toefficiently connect them to the best available (scarce) homelessshelter, temporary housing, or homeless prevention options in thecommunity. It may require theprovision of short-term Systems Navigation support to clients untilwhich time they are connected to a homeless services case managerand/or their situation resolves.

This fast-paced, intense work environment position engages clients within astrengths-based, solution focused framework to identify their serviceneeds and goals, and to facilitate referrals to community resourcesso that clients have a plan of action toward enhancedself-determination.

CE clientele is diverse andbrings with them a wide range of experiences and concerns; and may bein different stages of mental health, substance use, and traumarecovery. This requires the ability to compassionatelyengage customers/callers, who may be in crisis, despite limitedresources.

In addition to clients, theSocial Worker I requires the ability to effectively engage withcommunity partners to provide on-site CE to clients wherever they maybe (in places not meant for human habitation, hospitals, treatmentcenters, day centers, shelters, etc.)

Community SupportServices positions: Thisposition performs key job functions at a community partner work site.Employment in this position is conditional upon following allpolicies and procedures of the community partner host agency andadhering to all requirements that the community partner agency hasestablished to grant and maintain physical and/or virtual access tothe work site. If access is revoked, employment MAY beterminated.

Essential Functions

• Assess needs of individuals and families
• Interview clients, obtains family, social, and medical information
• Determine clients' eligibility for financial assistance and if referrals are appropriate
• Provide counseling and services in both individual and group settings
• Discuss goals, expected outcomes and means with which to meet goals and expected outcomes
• Assist clients in the completion of required paperwork for items that may determine program eligibility, referrals, or provide job assistance, such as job applications
• Manage records and maintains history records and prepare reports of services provided
• Refer clients to community resources for services and coordinates benefits and referrals to other agencies
• Develop and evaluate service plans in consultation with clients, and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided
• Help clients work with government agencies to apply for and receive benefits
• Transport clients to appointments such as medical, job-related, or others, if appropriate
• Manage records and documentation of services provided and participate in team case conferences
• Act as a liaison with other staff with referrals and transitioning of clients
• May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience:
• Bachelors of Social Work from anaccredited school of social work and one year of social work experience;or a qualifying internship; or successfully completion of the NC ChildWelfare Collaborative program;
• or a bachelor's degree in a related fieldwith 15 hours of social work/counseling courses and two years of socialwork experience;
• or Master's degree from an accredited school of socialwork;
• or a master's degree in a related field with one year of socialwork experience.
• Education: Please see experience.
• Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted? No
• Licenses and Certifications: Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License Requires County Driving Privileges

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual skills in Spanish (both oral and written) highly preferred. County bilingual skill assessment required to potentially receive bilingual premium pay.
• Prior experience with software/apps such as SharePoint, DialPad, and HMIS/Bitfocus.
• Prior experience in a fast-paced call center setting or understanding of and adherence to call center performance metrics.
• Ability to provide quality customer service (customers include clients, host/partner agencies and the community).
• Commitment to a strength-based, solution-focused, person-centered approach to client engagement with respect for clients’ right to self-determination.
• Working knowledge of Solution-Focused strategies and Motivational Interviewing.
• Experience with crisis response and de-escalation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of General social work principles and available resources Social services procedures, practices and methods Social services related federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations relating to provision of public assistance, and social welfare Case management methods and techniques Services offered by the county and other local public and private community-based service agencies

Skills Prioritizing work Managing and executing multiple tasks Maintaining various confidential records Evaluating records to ensure accreditation standards are met Using computers and related software applications Exercising judgment and discretion

Abilities Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures Building Customer Loyalty: Effectively meeting customer needs; building productive customer relationships; taking responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty Building Partnerships: Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, units, or organizations to help achieve business goals Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that instills confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization Care Management: Having the knowledge and skills to secure relevant patient care data and identify key issues and relationships in the management of patient care; understanding the relationships among assessments, interventions, and patient responses; skilled in documentation of assessments and adjusting physical and cognitive prescriptions as needed Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information provided Customer Focus: Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences Inspiring Others: Using interpersonal styles and methods to inspire and guide individuals toward higher levels of performance Managing Conflict: Dealing effectively with others in an antagonistic situation; using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people Work Standards: Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed

Computer Skills Proficient in applicable computer programs

Work Environment

Works in an office setting with moderatenoise

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, anindividual must be able to perform, with or without reasonableaccommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals withdisabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement

This is not intended to be anall-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills,requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based onbusiness need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reservesthe right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positionsmay be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.