Social Worker IAT- Foster Care & Adoptions

Foster Care & Adoptions Social Worker

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.

Essential Functions

• 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.

Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

This role is well-suited for professionals who can balance compassion with strong assessment skills and sound judgment in complex situations.

• 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

Physical Demands This position requires frequent standing, walking, and sitting for extended periods during home visits, interviews, and court appearances. Must be able to drive regularly to conduct fieldwork, including home visits, school visits, and community meetings. Occasional lifting of materials and equipment up to 20 pounds (e.g., case files, child-related items). Requires the ability to observe and interpret verbal and non-verbal behaviors, which may involve close interaction with children and families in varied settings.

Ability to handle high-stress situations, including crisis intervention and emergency child removal, which may involve quick physical movement and decision-making. Manual dexterity for writing, typing, and handling documents; visual acuity for reading and assessing written reports and evaluations. Work Environment Work is performed in a combination of office settings and field environments, including private homes, schools, hospitals, and community facilities.

Exposure to emotionally charged situations involving child abuse, neglect, and family crises is frequent. Regular travel within Transylvania County is necessary; occasional travel outside the county for court or specialized services may occur.

Note:

This position requires access to and use of confidential information. The individual filling this position shall sign a confidentiality statement as an employee of Transylvania County Department of Social Services.

Education and Experience Minimum Education and Experience 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…