Job Description

Social Worker 1 - Work First Employment Services

Economic Mobility Division - The Department of Community Resources

Please apply: 10/7/2026

“Follow Your Calling, Find Your Career”

Salary Range: $52,132.00 - $65,165.00

This is an exempt (salaried) position. Please note: pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

At Mecklenburg County, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are with support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. We’re counting on YOUR unique voice and perspective to help Mecklenburg County become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

The Economic Mobility Division focuses on connecting residents to the resources, education, and employment opportunities needed to achieve long-term stability and self-sufficiency. Through coordinated programs and partnerships, the division works to remove barriers and create clear pathways to economic advancement. Our approach is centered on outcomes, ensuring that residents are supported in making measurable progress.

The Economic Mobility Division consists of MeckSuccess, MeckWorks, More Than A Job NC, Work First Employment Services, Work First Kinship Services and Quality and Training.

Position Specific Summary

Work First Employment Services is a mandated program that requires all abled bodied adults receiving Work First Benefits to perform work or work-related activities. Work First Employment Services’ Social Workers provide assessments, assist customers with soft skills, vocational training, work experience, job readiness, and supportive services to guide them on their path to self-sufficiency.

Position Summary

Provides community-based crisis intervention services to individuals and families by gathering information from clients, family, landlords, utility companies, doctors, pharmacies, vendors and other available resources in determining the individuals' specific problems and assisting in developing an action plan and/or mutual responsibility agreement. This is the first level of professional social work.

Location

301 Billingsley Drive

Charlotte, NC 28211

Essential Functions

• Assess needs of individuals and families
• Interview clients, obtains family, social, and medical information
• Determine clients' eligibility for financial assistance and if referrals are appropriate
• Provide counseling and services in both individual and group settings
• Discuss goals, expected outcomes and means with which to meet goals and expected outcomes
• Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.
• Determine clients' eligibility for financial assistance.
• Assist clients in the completion of required paperwork for items that may determine program eligibility, referrals, or provide job assistance, such as job applications
• Manage records and maintains history records and prepare reports of services provided
• Refer clients to community resources for services and coordinates benefits and referrals to other agencies
• Help clients work with government agencies to apply for and receive benefits
• Manage records and documentation of services provided and participate in team case conferences
• Act as a liaison with other staff with referrals and transitioning of clients
• May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster
• Research and refer clients to community resources, such as food stamps, Medicaid, SOAR, NC Works, Good Fellows, Good Friends, Community Support Services, RISE, YFS, APS, Just1 Call, Community Links, Veterans Services, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Charlotte Family Housing, Matthew Help Center, Pineville Neighbors, etc.
• Advocate for and help clients get resources that would improve their well-being.
• Follow up with clients to ensure that their situations have improved.
• Evaluate services provided to ensure that they are effective.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

Bachelors of Social Work from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or a bachelor's degree in a related field with 15 hours of social work/counseling courses and two years of social work experience; or Master's degree from an accredited school of social work; or a master's degree in a related field with one year of social work experience.

Education

Please see experience.

Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted?: No

Licenses and Certifications

• Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
• Requires County Driving Privileges

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of

• General social work principles and available resources
• Social services procedures, practices and methods
• Social services related federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations relating to provision of public assistance, and social welfare
• Case management methods and techniques
• Services offered by the county and other local public and private community-based service agencies

Skills

• Prioritizing work
• Managing and executing multiple tasks
• Maintaining various confidential records
• Evaluating records to ensure accreditation standards are met
• Using computers and related software applications
• Exercising judgment and discretion

Abilities

• Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures
• Building Customer Loyalty: Effectively meeting customer needs; building productive customer relationships; taking responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Building Partnerships: Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships
• Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that instills confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Care Management: Having the knowledge and skills to secure relevant patient care data and identify key issues and relationships in the management of patient care; understanding the relationships among assessments, interventions, and patient responses; skilled in documentation of assessments and adjusting physical and cognitive prescriptions as needed
• Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information provided
• Customer Focus: Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs
• Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences
• Inspiring Others: Using interpersonal styles and methods to inspire and guide individuals toward higher levels of performance
• Managing Conflict: Dealing effectively with others in an antagonistic situation; using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people
• Work Standards: Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed

Computer Skills

• Proficient in applicable computer programs

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.