Social Worker III - START Program

This job posting expires at 11:59PM on January 29, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on January 29, 2026.

 

 

Job Title:  Social Worker III - START Program

 

 

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 is hiring for one START Social Work III position. This individual will report to a START Social Work Supervisor III. This START team consists of 3 START Social Work III positions, and  3 START Family Mentors.

The START Social Work III position works as part of a dyad on the team.  The Social Work III position will be partnered with a START Family Mentor to co-work child welfare cases that have been identified to need mandated Child Protective Services.  

This position will work  Foster Care cases. The START model is an intensive intervention model for substance-abusing parents and families involved with the child welfare system that integrates addiction and recovery services, family preservation, community partnerships, and best practices in child welfare and substance use disorder treatment. START aims to address system issues that result in barriers to families being able to access services in a timely manner. Specialized training or experience working with families with young children impacted by Substance Use Disorder is preferred.

This position will start in-person. Over time, a hybrid schedule will be allowed depending on how quickly the employee becomes familiar with the role and demonstrates reliability. The employees must relocate or reside within a 2-hour drive from 200 College Street, Asheville NC 28801 within 6 months of hire. Typical work schedule: M-F business hours (8:00 am to 5:00PM), After Hours nights and weekends.

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 con