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Social Worker III - Adoptions

Johnston County
Johnston, NC Full Time
POSTED ON 4/25/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/25/2026
*This position is being re-advertised and will remain open until filled. Candidates who have previously submitted an application are still being considered and need not to reapply.*

The Johnston County DSS mission is to serve, aid and protect needy and vulnerable children and adults in ways that strengthen and preserve families. We provide human services programs that are intended to promote the health, well-being, self-sufficiency and protection of families, children and adults within our community.

Johnston County Department of Social Services has immediate openings for Social Worker III - Adoptions positions.

When a parent or caretaker can no longer provide basic needs for their children, it is the agency’s responsibility to become involved with the family and provide necessary services to address the abuse or neglect issues, which may include the removal of the children from the home. If removal occurs and intervention strategies are not successful, a more permanent plan of care is established for the child. 

The primary purpose of this position is to provide foster/adoption case management services to children from infancy to age 18 who have been removed from their home with no plan of reunification. Work is performed under the direction of the Supervisor in accordance with State and Federal regulations for the proper administration of the program.In addition to completing agency adoptions, this position will also be responsible for completing private adoptions for a fee as ordered by the Clerk of Court.
Some duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Conduct ongoing assessment and evaluation of identified risks to children and determines what immediate action needs to be taken as defined by law.
  • Provide foster/adoptive case management services to children and youth
  • Assist families with identifying their own strengths and needs through comprehensive assessment of family dynamics in parenting children of various sexes, ages, races and abilities.
  • Provide education and counseling to address needs and provide emotional support
  • Assist with Foster Parent Groups and Adoption Support Groups
  • Provide crisis intervention and collaborate with providers, agency staff, community professionals to prevent placement disruptions
  • Evaluates placements in independent adoptions and private adoptions by evaluating information acquired through family interactions, consultations with community professionals, and or correspondence.
  • Interview and gather information from children, youth, prospective adoptive parents and caregivers to complete the Pre-Placement Assessments (PPA), home studies and Child Summaries
  • Write court summaries and testify at court hearings
  • Recruits, educates, and assesses potential adoptive and foster families.
  • Provides case management services in cross county and interstate cases
  • Co-facilitate Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanence, Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) classes
  • Determine the child’s eligibility for adoption assistance benefits
  • Provide transportation services as needed
  • Serve as a viable resource for families who are choosing to build or increase their unit through the adoptive process
  • Identifies and assesses the training needs of foster and adoptive parents and address areas of concerns
  • Assesses potential adoptive parents for awaiting adoptees thru NC Kids and other Department of Social Services.
  • Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work and community problems.
  • Considerable knowledge of a wide range of medical behavioral and psychosocial problems and their treatment.
  • Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques.
  • Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.
  • Considerable knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program.
  • General knowledge of medical terminology, diseases processes and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies based on medical or psychological diagnosis.
  • Skill in establishing rapport with a client and in applying techniques of assessing psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client's problems.
  • Ability to supervise, train, or instruct lower-level social workers, students, interns in the program.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of caseload and their families as well as civic, legal, medical, social, and religious organizations.
  • Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.
Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; Master's degree in a human services field and one year of directly related experience; Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.

It is preferred that a copy of an unofficial transcript be attached to the application at time of submission for qualification purposes. Please note should a transcript not be attached, it may be requested.


*Please document all work history relevant to the position for which you are applying. Determination of qualifying for the position and salary may be based on years of experience listed on the application itself, not in supplemental documents attached. Failure to document complete work history may affect qualification determination and salary. Electronic applications cannot be amended once submitted.*

Please note: Final candidates subject to pre-employment drug screen and background check (includes criminal and motor vehicle records)

Salary : $60,178 - $102,302

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