Special Assistance In-Home Social Worker III

Catawba County -
Hickory, NC

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Job Details

Full-time
$59,457.24 - $74,321.55 a year
9 days ago

Benefits

Wellness program
Health savings account
Paid holidays
Disability insurance
Health insurance
Dental insurance
401(k)
Flexible spending account
Tuition reimbursement
401(k) 5% Match
Employee assistance program
Vision insurance
Gym membership
Flexible schedule
Life insurance

Qualifications

Serving clients
Individual crisis management
Working with seniors
Community support in crisis intervention
Driver's License
Older adults
Experience working with adults with disabilities
Working with families
Medical terminology
Provider communication in social service case management

Full Job Description

New as of 01/01/2026:

Your well-being matters from the start — benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.

Position Description

Catawba County Social Services is seeking a Special Assistance In-Home Social Worker III to serve clients in the Special Assistance In-Home program, helping individuals remain safely at home and avoid placement in an adult care home. The Special Assistance In-Home Social Worker provides services to adults in the community by conducting person-centered assessments and developing service plans with funds that will support an adult’s ability to live safely and as independently as possible in the community. This position assesses client needs, develops and monitors service plans, and coordinates care to protect each client's health, safety, and well-being. The social worker also supports weekly intake and may assist clients receiving In-Home Aide Level 1 services.

Trainees, those with Master’s or Bachelor’s degrees in other areas of human services but do not have the required experience, may be considered. Trainee salary starts at $56,616.46.

Responsibilities

Conduct assessments and develop service plans to determine eligibility and support needs for clients seeking to remain safely at home
Provide ongoing case management, including monthly contacts and quarterly/annual in-home visits and assessments
Monitor client health, safety, and welfare; develop risk agreements, make APS reports, or terminate services when necessary
Coordinate services among multiple providers and make referrals for additional services, supplies, or equipment as needed
Complete Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) billing and ensure compliance with the Special Assistance In-Home Policy Manual
Support clients requiring In-Home Aide Level 1 services alongside a Community Social Services Assistant, as needed
Conduct weekly intake and assist other case managers as workload requires

Qualifications

Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work; OR
Master's degree in counseling or human services field and 1 year of social work experience; OR
Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and 1 year of social work experience; OR
Bachelor’s degree in a human services field and 2 years of social work experience; OR
Bachelor’s degree in a non-human services field and 3 years of social work experience

Additional Requirements

Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record (driving is an essential function of this position)
Previous experience working with older and disabled adults, long term care, medical terminology, and knowledge of community resources
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines
Effective verbal communication skills for working with clients, families, In-Home Aide agencies, physicians, and staff
Strong written communication skills for documentation, assessments, and service plans
Sound social work judgment for mediating family conflicts and navigating atypical or non-traditional situations
Skill in crisis intervention, mediation, and working with diverse populations, religions, and lifestyles
Working knowledge of medical terminology and community resources
Ability to adapt to changing policies and procedures while maintaining continuity of client services
Ability to assist other case managers as needed
This is considered Light Work; lifting up to 20 pounds

Preferences:

Experience with Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) or Medicaid billing processes
Experience working with aging or adult populations in a home- or community-based care setting

As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:

Health Care

Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.

Employee Wellness

Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee’s children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee’s adult children (ages 18-26) or employee’s spouse if covered on the county’s health insurance.
Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

Work Life Balance

Annual Leave:Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
- To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
Sick Leave:Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
- New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
Flexible work schedules.
Time off for activities that support our local schools.
Continuing educational assistance.
Discount tickets to recreational venues.
Employee appreciation days/activities.
Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

Financial Security

Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee’s annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).

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