Region Child Welfare Permanency Specialist

Agency Dept of Health and Human Services Division Social Services Job Classification Title Human Services Program Consultant III (NS) Position Number  Grade NC16

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

The Region 1 Child Welfare Permanency Specialist provides ongoing support to county child welfare programs in Region 1 by delivering monitoring, training, consultation, and technical assistance that strengthen program performance and outcomes for children and families. It directs Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, reviews records and performance‑related data, and supports counties in aligning their work with federal regulations, North Carolina General Statutes, and Administrative Rules and policies.

This role includes both on‑site and off‑site coaching and partnership with county staff to promote consistent practice and improved service delivery. It also requires building professional relationships across a multi‑county region to identify needs, address concerns, and support program advancement.

The Region 1 Child Welfare Permanency Specialist serves a region of approximately 14–16 counties, including Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey.

• Monitor county child welfare program activities to assess performance needs and identify areas requiring support.
• Deliver training and arrange technical assistance to county staff to strengthen child welfare practice and program operations.
• Direct and support county Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) processes to improve program functioning and outcomes.
• Conduct on‑site and off‑site consultation and coaching sessions to guide counties in applying child welfare policies and best practices.
• Review case records to evaluate practice quality, compliance, and alignment with policy expectations.
• Analyze data related to performance measures and other metrics to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with county partners to support collaborative problem‑solving and strengthen family‑centered outcomes.
• Provide guidance to counties to ensure alignment with federal regulations, state statutes, administrative rules, and child welfare policies.
• Serve and support a region of 14–16 counties by coordinating communication, consultation, and action planning across geographically diverse jurisdictions.

Salary Grade Range: $57,983.00 - $ Recruitment Range: $57,983.00 - $73,941.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Demonstrated expert‑level experience applying North Carolina child welfare statutes, rules, policies, and best practices to guide county staff through consultation and technical assistance activities.
• Proven experience implementing change‑management and CQI strategies by delivering intensive technical assistance that strengthens county child welfare program performance.
• Established record of conducting detailed record reviews and analyzing performance‑related data to identify…