Social Worker III

Buncombe County Government • Asheville, NC

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

This job posting expires at 11:59PM on January 25, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on January 25, 2026. Job Title: Social Worker III Department: Social Services - Child Welfare External Hiring Range: $29.51 - $34.96 Compensation Grade: 2009 Pay Range: $29.51 - $42.55 Posted Internally and Externally Buncombe County offers in-office, hybrid, and remote positions. Employees in positions that are approved for remote work must work at a location within a 2-hour drive from the position's assigned Buncombe County facility. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. If you are interested in this position but are not certain if you meet the exact qualification requirements, we encourage you to apply. Buncombe County uses a substantial equivalency standard to determine if applicants are qualified. Candidates are required to submit transcripts with their application. Social workers are required to work in the office (no teleworking) for their first 6 months of employment to ensure they receive the appropriate level of support and training. The selected candidate for this position will be required to submit to a drug test. Please note that CBD or Delta-9 Hemp products may cause a positive drug test. After successfully completing the training period, this role offers flexibility in scheduling to best meet the needs of our customers and the demands of the business. Any flexible work arrangements must be reviewed and approved by the direct supervisor and the program manager to ensure that service levels and operational priorities are maintained. Purpose of the position: The purpose of this position is to provide permanency planning services to children and resource families to ensure a safe and permanent placement of children in agency custody.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Social Work; or a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and one (1) year of directly related experience; or a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, or Human Services and two (2) years directly related experience; or Bachelor’s degree in another field and three (3) years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• A current, valid North Carolina driver's license.
• Ability to prioritize, identify, and assess risks, problems and needs often in stressful situations with clients who are hostile, emotionally confused, and resistant
• Ability to effectively de-escalate individuals.
• Knowledge of medical, behavioral, and socio-economic problems and their treatment.
• Knowledge of numerous funding sources and how to utilize them.
• Knowledge of basic criminal justice procedures, elements of medical and mental disorders, personality theory, family systems dynamics, interpersonal relations, and cultural differences, values, and lifestyles.
• Skills in establishing constructive relationships with resistant clients and utilizing family-centered SW practice.
• Skills and counseling in interviewing and the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively; and skills in creating resources when none are readily available.
• Thorough Knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their application to specific casework and community problems.
• Thorough knowledge of agency procedures and resources, community systems and resources, manual material, state and federal regulations, permanency planning philosophy, and laws governing protective services for children.

Nice To Haves

• BSW and Social Work Collaborative Students preferred.
• English/Spanish bi-lingual speakers preferred.
• Certificate of completion of the NCDHHS Pre-Service Training: Child Welfare in North Carolina is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure children who cannot safely return to their birth families achieve a safe and legally secure placement via adoption or guardianship.
• Provide services through which a plan for temporary substitute care appropriate to a child’s needs is evaluated, arranged, maintained, and supervised in Court sanctioned placement or a licensed facility when the child’s own family is unable to care for him/her adequately due to safety/risk factors.
• Provide direct services to children and their pre-adoptive caregivers to ensure the protection, safety, and permanency of the children.
• Assess, prepare, place and monitor children cleared for adoption.
• Provide state mandated case management services for children in DSS Legal Custody.
• Develop and monitor service plans with families and provide or refer services as needed.
• Make recommendations to the court, including services needed, progress and barriers to permanent plan.
• Establish rapport with children, families, and appropriate professionals/non-professionals in the community to provide a strengths-based, family centered approach in working with families throughout child welfare involvement.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees