Social Worker III- Family In Home Division

This job posting expires at 11:59PM on January 05, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on January 05, 2026.

Job Title:

Social Worker III
- Family In Home Division 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.

Buncombe County DHHS is hiring for a Social Worker III position in the Family In Home division. This position will be in the domestic violence specialized unit and report to the supervisor. This position entails working specifically with families that have had abuse or neglect of children identified due to domestic violence, to keep the family safe and together in the home/family unit, through case management and direct interventions.
** 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.
** Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):
** 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.  

BSW and Social Work Collaborative Students preferred.
** Additional Training and

Experience:

** English/Spanish bi-lingual speakers preferred. Certificate of completion of the NCDHHS Pre-Service Training:
Child Welfare in North Carolina is preferred.
** License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:
** A current, valid North Carolina driver's license.
** Essential Functions of the position:
*** 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.
** Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
*** 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…