Permanency Services Supervisor

What You'll Be Doing

Are you a critical thinker, a natural leader, and passionate about empowering youth to achieve permanency and success? Wake County Health and Human Services Child Welfare is seeking a Permanency Planning Supervisor to oversee a team of five social workers in one of our adolescent units. This leadership role is integral to helping youth in foster care find permanent, supportive connections to carry them into adulthood.

Wake County currently serves over 400 children in our foster care system, with over one-third being adolescents or young adults. As a supervisor, you will play a key role in shaping positive outcomes for these youth by guiding staff, collaborating with families and community partners, and ensuring that each young person’s well‑being needs are fully addressed.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Supervise and support a team of five social workers providing permanency planning services to adolescents in foster care
• Review new service referrals, attend Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTs), review progress on case plans, and assist in the development of family‑centered case plans to include reunification services, TPR, and adoption services
• Monitor service outcomes to ensure timely permanency is achieved
• Assist social workers in preparing for judicial hearings and testify in Child Welfare and Juvenile Court as needed
• Facilitate Permanency Planning Meetings and coordinate with other agencies and internal departments for integrated service delivery
• Oversee case management for services such as reunification, guardianship, termination of parental rights (TPR), and adoption
• Recruit, interview, train, and evaluate team members to promote professional growth and high performance
• Develop and maintain relationships with youth, birth families, foster families, relatives, fictive kin, mental health providers, schools, and other key partners to support the youth's overall well‑being
• Ensure youth have access to mental health supports, medical and dental care, educational resources, and extracurricular activities appropriate for their development

Key

Competencies:

• Critical Thinking:
  Ability to assess complex situations and develop effective strategies for intervention
• Self‑Starter:
  Strong initiative and ability to work independently within a fast‑paced environment
• Strong Verbal and Written Communication:
  Effectively convey information to staff, courts, families, and community stakeholders
• Delegation and Leadership:
  Ability to manage a team through effective delegation, motivation, and guidance
• Flexibility and Adaptability:
  Comfortable adjusting to shifting priorities and evolving case dynamics
• Positive Attitude:
  Promotes a supportive and empowering environment for both staff and families
• Problem‑Solving
  
  Skills:
  
  Anticipates challenges and implements creative, strength‑based solutions
• Collaboration and Partnership:
  Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong, solution‑focused relationships with internal and external partners

The Wake County Department of Social Services team is grounded in a deep commitment to connection, compassion, and community. We bring together experienced professionals who collaborate to support individuals and families through complex challenges, connect them with critical resources, and promote long‑term stability. We value insight, innovation, and a solutions‑focused approach, and we welcome those who are ready to contribute their expertise to meaningful, community‑centered work.

Join us in making a lasting difference!

• Bachelor's degree
• Three years of job‑related experience
• Valid Driver's License and "safe" driving record
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

• Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field
• At least 2 years in a child welfare supervisory or leadership role
• Knowledge of state and federal child welfare policies, laws, and best practices, especially in permanency planning
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet mandated timelines…