Visitation Coach

Catawba-County; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Catawba County Social Services is seeking a dedicated Visitation Coach to support families toward reunification. You’ll provide strength-based coaching to parents during supervised visits and assist with transportation to visitation and essential services.

You will engage in case management activities, complete documentation in the permanency planning record, and work with the Permanency Planning team to handle crises as they arise. This is meaningful work in child welfare.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or human services; OR a non-human services degree with 1 year social work experience.
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record.
• Strong engagement with parents and children using a strength-based approach.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Solid understanding of trauma and its impact on children in foster care.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide visitation coaching for parent/child visitations with strength-based approaches.
• Transport children and parents to visitations and services.
• Perform case management tasks: social histories, collateral contacts, safety assessment.
• Document interactions and write visitation summaries in the permanency record.
• Collaborate with Permanency Planning team to address crises as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Trauma awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or human services

Bachelor’s degree in non-human services field + 1 year social work experience

Job description

Catawba County Social Services is seeking a compassionate, mission-driven team member to play a critical role in reuniting families. As a Visitation Coach, you'll provide strength-based coaching to parents working toward reunification with children in foster care, giving them practical tools and encouragement during one of the most important chapters of their family's story. This is meaningful, relationship-centered work — you'll see the direct impact of your support as families rebuild trust and move toward permanency.

You'll work closely with a dedicated Permanency Planning team, receiving both support and guidance as you help parents strengthen their skills before, during, and after supervised visits. A county vehicle is provided for transporting children and parents to visitation and other essential services.

SCHEDULE

This position requires availability for 3 evenings per week and two weekend shifts per month (a Saturday or Sunday shift, not a full weekend) to accommodate the needs of the families we serve.

• Provide visitation coaching for parent/child visitations, assisting parents to learn practical behavioral approaches for children through supervision, coaching, modeling, and redirection
• Provide transportation for children and parents to remove barriers and facilitate access to necessary services, such as court-ordered visitation and school.
• Provide case management activities, including but not limited to completion of social histories, calling/interviewing of collateral contacts, evaluation of client situation, and assessment of safety and well-being of the child, participation in Child and Family Team Meetings, informing parents and foster parents of services, and coordinating services when needed
• Complete appropriate and timely documentation in the permanency planning record, including recording all interactions with the child and writing of visitation summaries
• Work with the Permanency Planning team to address any crisis as you are available

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work or in a human services field; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a non-human services field and 1 year of social work experience

• A valid driver’s license with a safe driving record (Driving is an essential function of this position)
• Ability to engage with parents and children with a strength-based approach
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Excellent interpersonal and intervention skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with other professionals
• Compassion when working with families and children who are experiencing foster care
• Solid understanding of trauma and how it impacts children and families engaged in the child welfare system
• This is considered light to medium work; lifting up to 40 pounds

Preferences:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work is strongly preferred.