Foster Care Social Worker-Licensing

Salary : $38,724.00 - $51,894.00 Annually
Location : Department of Social Services, NC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 202500049
Department: DSS
Division: DSS
Opening Date: 05/11/2026
FLSA: Exempt

This position performs professional social work involving the recruitment, assessment, licensing, training, and ongoing support of foster and kinship homes for children in the custody or care of the agency. The Foster Care Licensing Social Worker ensures compliance with North Carolina foster care licensing standards and provides guidance and support to foster families to promote safe, stable, and nurturing placements for children. Work includes collaboration with internal staff, community partners, schools, medical providers, and the court system to support permanency planning and child well-being.
Salary is based on experience and qualifications.

Social Worker I $38,724

Social Worker II $47,064

Social Worker III $51,894

Social Worker IA&T $57,210
Primary Focus

• Recruit, assess, and license foster and kinship families in accordance with state policies and licensing standards.
• Conduct home studies, background reviews, and safety assessments for prospective foster homes.
• Provide ongoing monitoring, support, and re-licensing activities for approved foster homes.
• Coordinate and facilitate pre-service and ongoing foster parent training.
• Support placement stability and permanency outcomes for children in foster care.
• Maintain accurate documentation and ensure compliance with federal, state, and county requirements.

Foster Home Recruitment & Licensing

• Conduct outreach and recruitment activities to increase the number of licensed foster homes within the county.
• Complete comprehensive foster home assessments, including interviews, home visits, safety inspections, and reference checks.
• Prepare and submit licensing recommendations and required documentation.
• Ensure foster homes meet and maintain all applicable licensing regulations and standards.
• Conduct annual re-licensing reviews and ongoing monitoring visits.

Training & Foster Parent Support

• Coordinate and facilitate pre-service orientation and foster parent training programs.
• Provide consultation, guidance, and crisis support to foster parents and kinship caregivers.
• Assist foster families in understanding agency policies, expectations, and child-specific needs.
• Identify training or service needs and connect foster families with appropriate resources.

Case Coordination & Compliance

• Collaborate with foster care social workers, Child Protective Services staff, schools, healthcare providers, courts, and community agencies regarding placement and child needs.
• Participate in placement planning and support placement matching efforts.
• Maintain detailed case records, licensing files, and documentation in accordance with agency and state requirements.
• Ensure timely completion of reports, licensing actions, and compliance activities.
• Monitor foster homes for continued compliance with licensing regulations and child safety standards.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in after-hours or emergency response activities as assigned.
• Attend required trainings, meetings, and professional development activities.
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervision.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of foster care principles, child welfare practices, and family systems.
• Knowledge of North Carolina foster home licensing requirements and child welfare policies.
• Ability to assess family functioning, safety, and caregiver suitability.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with foster parents, children, families, and community partners.
• Ability to manage sensitive situations with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Strong organizational, documentation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion in handling protected information.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, or a closely related field; and experience in social work, counseling, case management, or child welfare preferred.
• Master's degree in Social Work or related field may be preferred depending on agency needs.
• Experience in foster care, child protective services, licensing, or permanency planning is preferred.
• Valid North Carolina driver's license.
• Successful completion of criminal background check, child welfare background requirements, and any additional agency requirements.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel throughout the county and surrounding areas for home visits, meetings, court appearances, and training activities.
• Ability to enter and assess various home environments.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and in writing.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in office settings, client homes, community locations, and occasionally court environments. Employee may encounter stressful or emotionally difficult situations involving children and families. Position may require occasional evening work, flexible scheduling, or emergency response duties.
How to Apply

PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG SCREENING AND BACKGROUND CHECK IS REQUIRED
APPLICANTS WILL BE GIVEN CREDIT ONLY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. No additional information will be solicited by the McDowell County; therefore, persons who submit incomplete applications may not receive full credit for their education, training and experience.
McDowell County is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the County to recruit, hire, train and promote individuals without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, political affiliation or national origin. The County will interactively work with disabled applicants and employees to identify reasonable accommodations that will allow the individual to perform essential job functions.
McDowell County participates in E-Verify.
Applications are available:

• on our website:

- under "Job Opportunities"

• McDowell County Administration Building:

25 W Fort Street Marion, NC 28752
Applications can be submitted:

• Online at
• in person at the County Administration building:

25 W Fort Street Marion, NC 28752

• or by Mail to:

McDowell County Human Resources

60 East Court Street Marion, NC 28752

• or by email to:

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. We also offer up to 8 weeks of paid family leave to eligible employees.