Counselor, Family Advocacy & Support Services, Social Work

What You ll Be Doing

Consider joining #Team Wake, where you can make a difference in the community while working for an employer that values you. Comprehensive benefits and wellness programs are the rewards that go beyond the paycheck, including a 5% employer contribution to NC 401(k); on-site Employee Health Centers; employee assistance programs; and medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options. The County also offers a generous paid leave program, furthering its commitment to supporting employees and their families, both inside and outside of work.

Do you want to help families in Wake County thrive? Work First is North Carolina s plan to help families stay off of welfare or transition from welfare into jobs. We are seeking an exceptional Employment Counselor to be a member of the Work First Employment Services Team. The Employment Counselor empowers clients to move towards self-sufficiency through counseling and advocacy.

Primary duties will be:

• Evaluates for intervention support services to empower clients to move toward self-sufficiency via employment
• Assess the family s needs, educates participants on life-changing decisions, disseminates employment information, and evaluates for services that will eliminate barriers to self-sufficiency
• Gathers information regarding the client and family to determine job readiness
• Discusses the client s goals and develops a plan to accomplish the goals
• Prepares and maintains written narratives of participant s activities and supportive services
• Providing intensive case management, basic family counseling, reporting, monitoring, and preparing family centered assessments
• Coordinating for the provision of supportive services for families in temporary financial crisis, with the goal of economic self-sufficiency
• Attending to needs of walk-in participants and phone calls from the public
• Arranging vocational testing, short-term training leading to employment, and childcare and transportation as needed; making referrals to community resources and conducting site visits to homes, schools and jobs
• Developing the Mutual Responsibility Agreement and utilizing various state reports to monitor compliance with federal and state regulations

The candidate is required to work in-person for the first 6 months and meet a 95% QA accuracy rating.

If selected for this position, our Division provides intensive face to face training for new hires – i.e., program, systems, etc. Formal training normally takes 2 months from its start date. Training requires testing in some areas with a passing grade expectation, normally 80% upon completion of this training program. Additionally, you would be expected to attend at least 95% of our new hire training.

This training is mandatory and is provided to assist in your success as a new employee.

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
• Two years of job-related experience
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

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

• Education-Bachelor s or Master s Degree (social work, sociology, psychology)
• Experience-two years of job-related experience (client assessment or employment related function)
• NCFAST experience

• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to handle frequent client contact
• Ability to convey information both orally and written, to individuals or groups in a clear and concise manner
• Knowledge of Work First Employment Services
• Proficiency in NCFAST
• Excellent interviewing and assessment skills, with ability to…