Child Protective Services (SISA) - Social Worker - Tiered Sign-On Bonus Up To $5,000

County of Wake, NC • Wake Forest, NC

5d • $30 - $52 • Hybrid

About The Position

Wake County Social Services’ Child Welfare Division is seeking mission-driven, resilient, and highly skilled Social Workers for the Serious Injury & Sexual Abuse Team. Our work is guided by three federally mandated goals: Safety – Protect children and youth from abuse, neglect, and harm; Permanence – Ensure every child has a stable, permanent home; Well-being – Support children’s educational, physical, and emotional health. We achieve these goals by applying trauma-informed practice, critical thinking, and policy clarity, and by working collaboratively with caregivers, medical professionals, law enforcement, and the court system. As a Social Worker on the Serious Injury & Sexual Abuse Team, you play a vital role in ensuring safety and justice for children and youth impacted by severe abuse or sexual assault. You will use advanced judgment, strong analytical skills, and calm, regulated decision-making to assess risk, respond to crises, and support families through highly sensitive and complex circumstances. Success in this role requires balancing independence with teamwork, knowing when to seek supervisory consultation, and demonstrating confidence in the decisions you can make autonomously. Strong candidates remain composed under pressure, navigate trauma-sensitive conversations, and maintain professionalism in emotionally charged situations. This position involves both field and office work, including collaboration with medical providers, forensic interviewers, law enforcement, and legal partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field
• Three years of job-related experience
• Completion of the NC Child Welfare Education Collaborative (CWEC) traineeship can be substituted for 1 year of experience
• Valid Driver's License and "safe" driving record
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong critical thinking and analytical judgment
• Ability to independently make sound decisions and recognize when supervisory guidance is required
• Skill in translating observations into objective, defensible documentation
• Reliability, organization, and effective time-management
• Calm, regulated presence during crises and emotionally charged situations
• Capacity to build rapport with survivors and families while maintaining professional boundaries
• Cultural awareness and respect for diverse family systems
• Comfort navigating trauma-sensitive conversations, conflict, and complex dynamics
• Coachability and openness to feedback
• Initiative and ownership without needing micromanagement
• Flexibility with after-hours, court, or case-driven responsibilities
• Commitment to safety, ethical decision-making, and policy alignment
• Maintain social, ethical, and organizational principles
• Build and maintain positive, productive relationships with colleagues, providers, the community and other professionals
• Use appropriate interpersonal skills and methods to reduce tension and resolve conflict in complex situations while adhering to statute and policy
• Make decisions without regard to that personal prejudices, biases, and experiences
• Deal with high stress situations calmly and effectively
• Recognize and respect the value of individual differences at all levels of the organization

Nice To Haves

• Investigations, compliance, or structured policy environments
• Trauma-informed care, medical social work, or forensic interviewing
• Behavioral or mental health fields
• High-volume case management or coordination
• Legal/court writing, victim advocacy, or paralegal work
• NC Child Welfare Preservice Training
• Child Welfare experience in a NC Department of Social Services, Child Welfare Division
• Experience working with a diverse population
• Experience with the delivery of services to community citizens within their living environment
• Experience in testifying in court

Responsibilities

• Conduct Specialized Assessments: Evaluate allegations of serious injury, sexual abuse, or exploitation; Gather collateral information from medical, forensic, and law enforcement sources; Apply NC policy and trauma-informed practice to reach clear, evidence-based decisions; Use structured critical thinking to determine safety threats, vulnerability, and protective capacities; Decide when circumstances require supervisory consultation versus independent decision-making.
• Support & Strengthen Survivors and Families: Provide services that help children remain safe at home whenever possible; Build rapport with survivors and caregivers, hold difficult conversations with empathy, clarity, and professionalism; Complete timely, behavior-based safety plans grounded in policy and trauma-informed care; Facilitate ongoing monitoring of safety plans, caregiver progress, and risk reduction.
• Ensure Child Safety: Conduct regular home visits, including some evenings and weekends; Assess the child’s environment using observation, interviewing, and risk-assessment tools; Respond to crises with calm, regulated decision-making and clear communication.
• Provide Specialized In-Home Services: Monitor caregiver progress, service engagement, and child safety; Adjust interventions or safety plans as needed based on ongoing assessment; Partner with medical providers, forensic interviewers, schools, legal partners, and internal teams to support sustained risk reduction.
• Act When Protective Services Are Needed: Facilitate foster care placements when safety cannot be maintained in the home; File petitions and initiate legal action when needed to protect children; Prepare and deliver concise, factual, and legally defensible court testimony.
• Document Clearly & On Time: Write accurate, neutral, policy-aligned documentation; Translate complex observations into clear, objective, court-ready notes; Complete documentation within seven days of each contact and maintain tracking systems.
• Collaborate & Communicate: Work closely with supervisors, colleagues, multidisciplinary teams, and community partners; Share timely updates to support coordinated casework; Maintain compliance with mandated reporting, confidentiality, and professional/ethical standards.

Benefits

• Comprehensive training, coaching, and clinical supervision
• Opportunities for internal mobility and career development
• Competitive benefits and retirement
• A team culture rooted in communication, shared responsibility, and service to families
• Tiered Sign-On Bonus Up To $5,000

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level