This job posting expires at 11:59PM on July 23, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on July 23, 2026.
Job Title: START Social Worker III/ or Trainee
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.
Buncombe County is hiring a START Social Worker III . This individual will report to a START Social Work Supervisor III. The Social Work START team follows the national, child welfare-based model known as Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START). This position is unique in that the START Social Worker III is partnered with a START Family Mentor who is an individual with lived experience. The START Social Worker and Family Mentor will co-work child welfare cases that have been identified to need mandated Child Protective Services. This position will primarily work Family In Home cases.
The START model is an intensive intervention model for substance-abusing parents and families. This model 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 prevent families access to services. 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. The selected candidate 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 8:00 am to 5:00PM, and some evenings and weekends with time-and-a-half leave accrued for hours worked over 40.
This position will be hired as a fully-qualified Social Worker III or a Social Worker III Trainee depending on candidate qualifications. Salaries are calculated based on education and experience above minimum qualifications.
The Pay Range for a Social Worker III is $29.51 - $35.50 an hour
The Pay Range for a Social Worker III Trainee is $25.77 - $31.01 an hour
Candidates hired as Social Worker III Trainees are expected to advance to a Social Worker III position once the employee becomes fully qualified. At that time the selected candidate will be promoted and compensated as a qualified Social Worker.
The purpose of this position is to provide mandated services to children and families affected by parental substance use and to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being of children in our community.
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:
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.
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.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Ability to prioritize, identify, and assess risks, problems and needs often in stressful situations with clients who are hostile, emotionally confused, and resistant; Ability to effectively de-escalate individuals.
Knowledge of basic criminal justice procedures, elements of medical and mental disorders, personality theory, family systems dynamics, interpersonal relations, and cultural differences, values, and lifestyles.
Thorough knowledge of agency procedures and resources, community systems and resources, manual material, state and federal regulations, permanency planning philosophy, and laws governing protective services for children.
Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.
It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.
