Social Worker III - Foster Care & Adoptions

This job posting expires at 11:59PM on April 26, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on April 26, 2026.

 

 

Job Title:  Social Worker III - Foster Care & Adoptions

 

 

Department: Social Services - Child Welfare

 

 

External Hiring Range: $29.51 - $34.96

 

 

Compensation Grade: 2009

 

 

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.

 

 

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. If you are interested in this position but are not certain if you meet the exact qualification requirements, we encourage you to apply. Buncombe County uses a substantial equivalency standard to determine if applicants are qualified.

Buncombe County’s Foster Care and Adoptions Division is seeking a dedicated Social Worker III to join our team. 

 

Our Foster Care Program helps provide safe, temporary care for children who have been removed from their homes for safety reasons by the court system. Our mission is to make this transitional period a steppingstone toward reunification or a permanent, loving home. As a Social Worker III, you will play a critical role in supporting foster families and children during this journey, ensuring stability, security, and every opportunity for these kids to thrive. 

 

You’ll work directly alongside a collaborative team of 3 other Social Worker III's under the guidance of a Social Worker Supervisor III, working within a division of approximately 40 professionals dedicated to child safety and well-being. If you are passionate about advocating for children and partnering with families to create safe futures, we invite you to apply.

Please Note:

• Candidates are required to submit transcripts with their application.

• Social workers are required to work in the office (no teleworking) or their first 6 months of employment to ensure they receive the appropriate level of support and training.

• The selected candidate for this position will be required to submit to a drug test. Please note that CBD or Delta-9 Hemp products may cause a positive drug test.

• After successfully completing the training period, this role offers flexibility in scheduling to best meet the needs of our customers and the demands of the business. Any flexible work arrangements must be reviewed and approved by the direct supervisor and the program manager to ensure that service levels and operational priorities are maintained.

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.