Social Worker IAT- Foster Care & Adoptions
About The Position
About Make a Difference Where It Matters Most If you’re passionate about supporting children and families through difficult situations, we encourage you to apply, even if you are still building your experience. Transylvania County Department of Social Services invests in team members who want to learn, serve, and grow long-term in public service. As a Foster Care & Adoptions Social Worker, you will provide services to children and families involved in foster care, adoption, and permanency planning services. This position requires strong assessment skills, sound professional judgment, and the ability to analyze complex family situations to support child safety, well-being, and permanency. About Transylvania County Nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Transylvania County is a place where community still matters. With just over 33,000 residents, we balance small-town connection with big-picture vision. Known as the Land of Waterfalls, our county boasts more than 250 waterfalls, including the 411-foot Whitewater Falls, along with 1,000+ miles of trails, world-class cycling, fly fishing, climbing at Looking Glass Rock, and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. This is a place where professionals can build a meaningful career while enjoying the quality of life that makes this community unique.
Requirements
- Ability to assess safety, risk, family needs, and protective capacities
- Strong interviewing, engagement, counseling, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to analyze complex information and make thoughtful recommendations
- Comfort working in emotionally challenging situations involving children and families
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including case documentation and court reports
- Ability to collaborate with families, professionals, and community partners
- Commitment to ethical, trauma-informed, and family-centered practice
- Master’s degree from an accredited school of Social Work and one year of social work experience; One year of work experience can be credited for completion of Child Welfare Collaborative, OR Master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience, OR Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative and one year of directly related experience, OR Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and two years of social work or counseling experience, OR Bachelor’s degree in a related human services field and three years of relevant experience, OR Bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in human services such as rehabilitation, counseling, or community work.
- Valid North Carolina Driver's License
- Successful completion of SBI background check with required fingerprinting by Sheriff Office.
- Successful completion of Transylvania County standard background check.
- Successful completion of drug screening.
Nice To Haves
- This role is well-suited for professionals who can balance compassion with strong assessment skills and sound judgment in complex situations.
Responsibilities
- Assessing child safety, risk factors, family functioning, and caregiver protective capacities through interviews, home visits, observations, and collaboration with families and professionals.
- Conducting ongoing assessment of placement stability and identifying safety concerns or barriers impacting permanency.
- Developing and monitoring individualized case plans and permanency plans designed to reduce risk, strengthen families, and support reunification or other permanent outcomes.
- Evaluating parental progress, service effectiveness, and readiness for reunification, guardianship, or adoption.
- Providing foster care and adoption case management services, including placement support, visitation planning, child and family team meetings, and permanency planning.
- Preparing and presenting documentation and recommendations for juvenile court hearings.
- Coordinating services with caregivers, schools, medical providers, behavioral health providers, attorneys, guardians ad litem, and community partners.
- Supporting older youth through LINKS services and transition planning for young adults in foster care.
Benefits
- support employees as they work toward full qualification through training, supervision, and professional development.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
