Social Worker III; Foster Care​/Licensing

Gaston Social Services:
Protecting, caring for and empowering children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves through the administrating of federal, state and county programs focused on improving the well‑being of our citizens.

An hourly salary range of $27.45 - $31.91 is anticipated for this position.

The duties listed below are not all of the duties that may be assigned but are those that are considered as essential for an employee to perform.

• Provision of initial (MAPP) training in a classroom setting or Deciding Together training in a home setting to prospective foster and adoptive parents in order to educate them on the needs of foster and adoptive children. Additional training is also provided for licensed foster homes and approved adoptive homes.
• Seeking licensure of family foster homes through training, information gathering, performing background checks, and completion of state required paperwork including the Mutual Home Assessment in order to provide a safe and secure placement for a child in foster care.
• Securing a safe and stable placement for a child in the foster care or adoption system. Matches are made by assessing the needs of the child and the strengths of the foster/adoptive parents in order to make the placement that would be in a child’s best interest.
• Facilitation of Shared Parenting Meetings on initial placement and any moves, attending court hearings and team meetings, attending local training for job enhancement, completing documentation in case records as well as monthly reports, participation in unit/team staffing’s.
• Provision of other program requirements (i.e. on call for foster care placements, etc.).

• A. Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited graduate school.
• B. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work with a Child Welfare Collaborative (CPS positions only).
• C. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and one year of experience in the areas of case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psychosocial therapy, or treatment planning;
• D. A four-year degree in human services field with at least 25 semester hours of approved coursework and two years of experience in a related area.
• E. A four-year degree and three years of related experience.

A valid driver’s license is required.

The ideal candidate will have good communication skills in working children & adolescents, and appropriate child development knowledge. Knowledge of separation and loss impact for children being removed from their family and home environment would be especially helpful.

A copy of a transcript must be included with the application.

FAILURE TO ATTACH YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION BEING REJECTED.

The applicant selected must undergo and pass a drug screening test prior to employment.

In compliance with G.S. 153A-94.2(b), if the position being filled requires an applicant for employment to work with children in any capacity, the County must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI. These checks must be performed in accordance with G.S. 143B‑1209.26, which authorizes the SBI to provide fingerprint‑based state and national criminal record checks to cities and counties.

At Gaston County, we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees, job applicants, and members of the community we serve. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable laws.

Gaston County will not sponsor applicants for work visas.