Salary : $65,376.00 - $97,146.00 Annually
Location : Department of Social Services- Hillsborough Commons, NC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 09/28/2026
Closing Date: 10/12/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
General DescriptionThe Orange County Department of Social Services is seeking to fill a CPS Social Worker position. This position will be in the area of Home and Permanency Planning. The work involves the responsibility for providing professional social work services for children and families where child abuse, neglect and/or dependency have occurred, which includes assessments/investigations, in-home services, or foster care/permanency planning. The successful candidate will possess child welfare experience, strong social work, communication, critical thinking, and time management skills. This position does have rotational child welfare after-hours, on-call responsibilities.
Work is performed under the general supervision of the Social Work Supervisor III or Social Work Program Manager with some leeway to exercise independent judgment within the framework of applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures in the performance of duties, both in terms of planning and accomplishing work and in making decisions regarding client/family needs and requests. Supervision is not required of this class. Does related work as required.
Bilingual applicants with fluency in English and Spanish are encouraged to apply.
Hiring range is based on the Orange County Social Services Step Plan. The Step Plan is based on years of CPS Social Worker experience. Full credit is given for years of experience performing the same job functions. Partial credit is given for years of experience performing related job functions. The top half of the scale is reserved for career employees with senior level experience in the same role.* This is a safety sensitive position and participation in the Drug and Alcohol Program and a SBI background check. Full Performance of Knowledge, Skills, AbilitiesClick the link below for full job specification which includes essential functions, knowledge, skills, abilities and physical requirements.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSGraduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in social work
AND one (1) year of social work experience;
ORGraduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work
AND two (2) years of social work experience;
ORGraduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in any field
AND four (4) years of direct social work experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTSPossession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle operated is required.
All offers of employment are conditional upon successful clearance of a pre-employment drug test and background check. Employment cannot commence until the employee has been cleared.
Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
Requires flexibility and adaptability to be re-assigned to assist with other DSS-related functions as determined by the Social Services Director or their designee.
In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager, the DSS Director, or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations, as well as critical agency needs, should be expected. Employees may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours, and/or work location.
Must be able to provide after-hour coverage when needed to meet the needs of caseload assignments. After-hours, on-call coverage is required.
Must be able to assist with disaster management during major weather and other disaster events (i.e. staffs shelters, assists with special outreach and prevention activities and assists with recovery efforts); requires flexibility with working hours as established schedules may change and ability to adjust during quickly changing and stressful situations.
In accordance with Section 28 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, and/or relevant State and Federal statutes, candidates for employment may be required to undergo fingerprinting and a criminal history background check based on the job responsibilities of the position. A fingerprinting check is conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and a criminal history background check is conducted by an authorized Federal or State regulatory agency to determine eligibility for appointment. Employment is contingent upon successful clearance through these checks, which are mandated for certain roles depending on the nature of the job and applicable laws. Further, all offers of employment are contingent upon the satisfactory verification of your eligibility for employment, successful completion of the required pre-employment testing and/or screening, including drug testing when required and the submission and approval of all new hire documentation completion of your new hire paperwork.
As with all positions with the Department of Social Services, this position may be required to serve in shelters in time of natural and man-made disasters including overnight and weekends. The duties assigned during this time may vary from your regularly assigned duties. Assigned duties will be at the discretion of the Social Services Director.Orange County provides a competitive benefits package for permanent full-time and permanent part-time employees that includes:- Participation in the North Carolina State Retirement System;
- Orange County contributes 15.10% of your base salary per pay period and 17.10% for LEO.
- Health Insurance (Medical)
- Orange County pays 100% of premiums for employee only coverage health insurance.
- Orange County pays a portion of premiums for dependent(s) coverage health insurance.
- Dental Insurance
- Orange County pays 100% of premiums for employee only coverage for dental insurance.
- Orange County pays a portion of premiums for dependent(s) coverage for dental insurance.
- Vision Insurance
- Orange County offers vision insurance for employee and dependent coverage with premiums rates between $5-$15 bi-weekly.
- Life Insurance
- Orange County pays for an employee life insurance policy based on employees' salary up to $50,000.
- Optional Life Insurance for employee and dependent life insurance policy.
- Short Term Disability
- Orange County pays for an employee short term disability policy that provides income protection up to 11 weeks with a weekly benefit of 70% of your weekly salary.
- Optional Long Term Disability Coverage Policy
- Optional Insurance Policies: Pet Discount Program, Identity Theft Insurance, Legal Insurance
- 401(k) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
- Orange County contributes $104 per pay period ($2704.00 annually) for supplemental retirement and you will have the option to select between which investment firm you would like to have these funds contributed to.
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Anniversary Leave ( 8 hours of leave on your anniversary each year)
- Annual Leave (based on service years and a 40-hour work schedule, pro-rated for permanent part time employees)
- 0-2 Years of Service = 125.84 hours/year
- 2-5 Years of Service = 145.08 hours/year
- 5-10 Years of Service = 173.68 hours/year
- 10-15 Years of Service = 202.80 hours/year
- 15-20 Years of Service = 231.40 hours/year
- 20+ Years of Service = 260.52 hours/year
- Sick Leave (based on service years and a 40-hour work schedule)
- Tuition reimbursement assistance
- Various other leave programs including civil, funeral, parental, etc.
01
Orange County is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the United States after completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9). I understand, that if hired, my employment eligibility will be verified through E-Verify.
02
I understand that resumes are welcomed but do not substitute for the work experience section of this application and failure to complete the work experience section will result in an incomplete application, which will not be considered for eligibility. Did you fully complete the work experience section of this application?
03
Are you an Orange County Local Government employee?
- Yes, I am a Permanent Employee that has passed the Probationary Period
- Yes, I am an Employee but I have not passed the Probationary Period
- Yes, I am a Temporary Employee
- No, I am not an Employee
04
Do you have, or are able to obtain a valid North Carolina Driver's License?
05
What level of education do you have related to this position?
- Master's Degree in Social Work
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Work
- Bachelor's Degree in related field
- Other Degree
06
If you indicated Related or Other please indicate your degree and major.
07
How many years of social work experience do you have?
- None
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year but less than 2 years
- 2 years but less than 4 years
- 4 or more years
08
Do you have direct Child Protective Services Social Work experience?
09
Please indicate if you have experience in the following areas. Please choose all that apply.
- CPS Assessments
- In Home and Permanency Planning
- Other
10
If other, please indicate.
11
Please indicate your proficiency in Spanish.
- I cannot read, write or speak Spanish
- I am proficient at reading and writing in Spanish
- I am proficient at speaking Spanish
- I am fluent in reading, writing and speaking Spanish
12
An official or unofficial copy of your transcript must be attached to your application. Have you attached your transcript?
13
Are you available to assist with disaster management during major weather and other disaster events (i.e. staff shelters, assist with special outreach and prevention activities and assist with recovery efforts); requires flexibility with working hours as established schedules may change and ability to adjust during quickly changing and stressful situations.
14
Are you available to work outside of traditional working hours when caseload needs require this to include mandatory on call shifts?
Required Question
