About the Department

This position is being reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and do not need to reapply.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The application review process will take place immediately and continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may close any time after the first review or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. 

Hiring range for this position is $52,332.80 - $62,545.60. Initial placement for new employees is customarily at entry level through 35% percentile. Pay grade for this position is 19.

General Definition of Work:

The Kinship Navigator position aims to address the unique challenges faced by relatives who step in to care for the children of their family members. These caregivers often navigate complex systems and encounter barriers that leave them unsupported, especially within foster care structures where their contributions can be overshadowed. The Kinship Navigator role is designed to bridge these gaps, providing resources and advocacy to ensure these families receive the recognition and assistance they deserve. 

The goal is to increase kinship caregivers’ ability to provide safety, stability, and permanency for the children placed in their home. This role is pivotal in connecting caregivers to resources, offering guidance, and fostering strong support systems to ensure the well-being of every child under kinship care.

The Kinship Navigator is classified as a Social Worker III and has all essential tasks and duties of a Social Worker III. The role will deliver advanced case management in the service areas of adoption and permanency planning, providing intensive social work services for complex and high-risk cases involving kinship providers. These responsibilities require the use of a diverse range of social work interventions within the Human Services Department. The position operates under the regular guidance and supervision of a Social Work Supervisor III.

The position may be cross assigned to support foster care or other child welfare programs as determined by agency needs and service demands.

Position Duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Kinship Case Support & Case Management:

• Manage a caseload of children in foster care who are placed with relatives or fictive kin.
• Provide advanced case management, including trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
• Conduct home visits to assess safety, progress, and caregiver needs.
• Support kinship caregivers through the adoption process, including documentation, requirements, and adoption assistance.
• Participate in court hearings, case conferences, and multidisciplinary staffing.

Kinship Resource Identification & Engagement:

• Assist in identifying, locating, and vetting potential kinship placements for children birth to age 21.
• Connect kinship caregivers to community resources such as food assistance, childcare, medical care, and behavioral health services.
• Serve as a liaison between kinship caregivers and agency staff to support effective communication and collaboration.
• Provide advocacy and support to caregivers, including attending meetings to assist with case planning and service coordination.
• Guide caregivers through training and licensure requirements to help maintain safe, stable placements.

Program Coordination, Data, and Community Engagement:

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
• Collect, track, and analyze program data to support evaluation, reporting, and service improvements.
• Develop and maintain an up-to-date database of community resources and supports tailored to kinship caregivers.
• Plan and coordinate the annual Kinship Celebration event, including logistics, outreach, and partnership engagement.
• Conduct and coordinate caregiver assessments in response to Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) requests.

Regulatory Compliance & Professional Practice:

• Maintain current knowledge of state and federal child welfare laws, policies, and best practices.
• Promote permanency outcomes, including reunification, guardianship, and adoption.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge:

• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, practices, and techniques, including complex casework, treatment planning, and child abuse/neglect investigation.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and state child welfare laws, policies, procedures, program rules, ethics, and quality assurance standards.
• Strong understanding of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral, and psychosocial issues affecting children and families.
• Considerable knowledge of community organizations, supports, and resources.
• Working knowledge of office equipment, computers, and relevant software applications.

Skills:

• Skilled in preparing clear, concise, and accurate reports, case records, and documentation.
• Skilled in advanced interviewing and case management techniques to build rapport, assess needs, and engage families.
• Skilled in assessing safety, risk, and environmental conditions in a wide range of settings, including high-risk or low-visibility situations.
• Skilled in analyzing child development and safety concerns in relation to identified risk factors.
• Skilled in de-escalation and navigating tense or volatile family situations.
• Skilled in testifying in court as a subject matter expert.

Abilities:

• Ability to make sound, timely decisions with limited information or consultation, including decisions related to child safety and removal.
• Ability to engage, support, and motivate resistant or involuntary clients.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, medical and mental health providers, law enforcement, court officials, attorneys, community agencies, and the public.
• Ability to maintain reliable and regular attendance.
  
  Management Preferences and Requirements:

• Must have valid NC driver's license to be able to travel to clients' homes.
• After hours is often required.
• Prior work in Social Services preferred.
• Strong knowledge of agency programs and community resources.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of personal computer is a plus.
• Must have NC pre-service training or willing to attend.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is desirable.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work or; 
• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and one year of directly related experience or; 
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two years of directly related experience or;    
• Master’s in Social Work or Master’s in Human Services.
• Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.
• Must be available to meet with families and children within a time frame that meets state policy and law as well as provides the greatest protection to children.  
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Some county job postings indicate that you can qualify with an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If this language is included in the job description, it means you may qualify through either education, your years of directly related experience, or a combination of both.

If you have indicated that you have earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from a technical school, college, or university, please note that Cabarrus County will verify your educational credentials. Official transcripts must clearly show the specific credential awarded to ensure accurate validation.

Physical Requirements:

This position generally requires light physical work, including:

• Up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally
• Up to 10 lbs. of force frequently
• Negligible force constantly

In certain situations, tasks may require:

• Up to 50 lbs. occasionally

Additional requirements include:

• Reaching, typing, grasping, and repetitive motions
• Clear verbal communication for conveying information and instructions
• Adequate hearing to understand conversations and receive information
• Visual acuity for reading, computer use, and environmental assessment
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, on-call shifts, and attend community events or emergent case needs
• May be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.
• Interaction with irate, resistant, or hostile clients
• Entry into homes that may be unsafe or poorly maintained
• Travel through areas with elevated safety risks

(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Other Qualifications

Supplemental and Contact Information:

Cabarrus County selects applicants for employment based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or political influence.  

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.  Applicants who obtained their education outside of the United States and its territories are expected to assume responsibility for having their academic degrees validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. 

Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit.  "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.

If multiple applications are submitted to an individual position, only the most recent application received prior to the posting closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone.To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Processing applications will take an average of 6 – 8 weeks due to the high volume of applications received. It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the most qualified applicants.

For technical issues with your applications, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 704-920-2200.