Social Worker III*

Social Worker III*

Salary

$56,415.00 - $83,828.00 Annually

Location

Department of Social Services- Hillsborough Commons, NC

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

152-2026-303

Department

Social Services

Opening Date

08/27/2026

Closing Date

9/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

General Description

The Orange County Department of Social Services has an opening for a Social Worker III - Adult Services. This position evaluates adult protective services reports received by the agency alleging abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of disabled adults as mandated by N.C.G.S. 108A and provides protective services when statutorily appropriate. This position provides services for adults where abuse, neglect and/or exploitation has occurred and these services include developing a plan of protection, case management, counseling, and working with county attorney to obtain necessary legal authority as needed. This position will represent the Department of Social Services in the guardianship process and provide oversight to adult wards and serves as the Directors designee for persons who have been adjudicated incompetent by the Clerk of Court. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. Hours must be flexible to meet work demands. Requires rotating after hours on-call responsibility.

An employee is responsible for responding outside normal business working hours and providing onsite services when necessary in emergency shelters.

The hiring range is based on the Orange County Social Services Step Plan. The Step Plan is based on years of Human Services Technician 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 is required. SBI background check with fingerprinting is required.

Full Performance of Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Click the link below for full job specification which includes essential functions, knowledge, skills, abilities and physical requirements.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/orangecountync/classspecs/914927

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in social work; OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a masters degree in a human services field AND one (1) year of work experience in a human services program; OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work AND one (1) year work experience in a human services program; OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a human services field AND two (2) years of work experience in a human services program.

An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined above. A higher degree does not substitute for work experience.

Work experience in a NC DSS and completion of relevant training is preferred.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.

All offers of employment are conditioned upon successful clearance of an SBI background check with fingerprinting and pre-employment drug test. Employment cannot commence until the employee has been cleared.

In accordance with Section 28 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, and/or relevant State and Federal statutes, candidates for employment maybe 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.

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 is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

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)

• 96.2 hours/year

• 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 employees 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.

• Yes

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?

• Yes
• No

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 Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

05

Please indicated your highest level of education from an accredited school?

• High School/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• None

06

Please indicate your degree major.

• Social Work
• Human Services
• Related
• Other

07

If you indicated Related or Other, please indicate your degree major.

08

How many years of work experience do you have in a human services program?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 4 years
• 4 years but less than 6 years
• 6 years or more

09

Do you currently or have you previously worked in a NC County Department of Social Services?

• Yes
• No

10

Please describe any training you have completed related to this position? If none, indicate N/A.

11

Please list any non-English language(s) you are proficient in speaking. If no other languages indicate N/A.

12

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. Are you willing and able to respond during disasters?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Orange County Government

Address 131 W. Margaret Lane, 3rd Floor

Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278

Phone 919-245-2550

Website http://www.orangecountync.gov