Adult Protective Services Social Worker

New as of 01/01/2026:

Your well-being matters from the start — benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.

Position Description

Catawba County Social Services is seeking a committed and compassionate Adult Protective Services (APS) Social Worker to join our team. In this critical role, you will be at the forefront of efforts to protect vulnerable adults and support individuals and families facing complex and often crisis-driven circumstances. APS Social Workers respond to reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled adults, ensuring their safety, rights, and well-being while connecting them to essential services and supports.

We’re looking for individuals who embody our core values – those who act with integrity and professionalism, provide thoughtful, person-centered assessments and interventions, work collaboratively with families, courts, medical providers, and community partners, and strive for excellence in a fast-paced and highly impactful environment. If you are passionate about protecting vulnerable adults and supporting their ability to live safely with dignity and self-determination, we encourage you to apply.

Trainees, those with a Master’s or Bachelor’s degrees in other areas of human services, but do not have the required experience, may be considered. Trainee salary starts at $59,457.24.

Responsibilities

• Initial response to reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled adults
• Conduct face-to-face assessments, evaluations, and safety evaluations
• Apply crisis intervention techniques and respond to urgent or high-risk situations
• Determine whether allegations are substantiated and take appropriate protective action
• Establish protection and service plans to support adult safety and well-being
• Mobilize and coordinate medical, mental health, legal, financial, and social services
• Assess capacity and assure client rights to self-determination
• Assess the need for legal guardianship and facilitate court-ordered evaluations and proceedings
• Prepare legal documentation, court reports, and testify as required
• Provide ongoing case management and long-term service coordination

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited school of social work and 1 year of social work experience; OR
• Master’s degree in counseling or human services field and 2 years of social work experience, OR
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work with Child Welfare Collaborative and 1 year of social work experience; OR
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and 2 years of social work experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field and 3 years of social work experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a non-human services field and 4 years of social work experience

Additional Requirements

• Valid Driver’s License with a safe driving record (Driving is an essential function of this position)
• Strong assessment, investigative, and documentation skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and remain calm in crisis situations
• This position is considered light work, lifting up to 20 pounds on a regular basis.

• Experience working with vulnerable adult populations, including individuals with disabilities, dementia, mental illness, or substance use disorders
• Experience working with courts, guardianship, or legal processes
• Experience conducting psychosocial assessments and crisis intervention
• Applicants with bilingual ability (English/Spanish) are encouraged to apply

As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:

Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee’s children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee’s adult children (ages 18-26) or employee’s spouse if covered on the county’s health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

• Annual Leave:Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Sick Leave:Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee’s annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).