| Employer | Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services |
| Location | Starkville, MS US |
| Posted | May 4, 2026 |
| Minimum Pay | $38,216.22 |
| Maximum Pay | $47,715.60 |
This Opportunity is for a Social Services Specialist - Wellbeing/Permanency Unit with a work location in Monroe County MS.
About the Position
This position is advertised for a Social Services Specialist within the Wellbeing/Permanency Unit, Create and maintain case files for children in care; document in MDCPS online database program; Visit children in care in foster homes, facilities and hospitals; Complete investigations of abuse, neglect for exploitation; Complete ongoing safety and risk assessments; Participate in scheduled county conferences/meetings for assigned children-in-care; Make referrals for children-in-care to receive services including dental, vision and medical; Transport children-in-care to appointments and destinations; Arrange for visitation with siblings and parents; Attend staff meetings with supervisor (normally) and all-staff meetings; Assist with new hires by being “shadow buddies”; On-call for after-hours situation (rotating responsibility with other staff members); Attend court for hearings; Communicate with families, service providers, parents, foster parents and the public; Schedule and attend Family Team Meetings. Along with other duties. This consists of 4 weeks (every other week) of on-site training and 4 weeks of On-The-Job Training, and must pass a comprehensive test prior to continued employment and/or advancement. — This is a Non-State, TIME-LIMITED (14) position.
What you'll need to be Successful
Professional commitment to and caring about clients and the larger profession of child welfare. Personal resilience and strong self-efficacy beliefs about the ability to work with clients to produce positive client outcomes. Efficient organizational and time management skills. Good oral and written communication skills. Positive work morale. Ability to be flexible in thinking and problem-solving. Realistic expectations about the difficulty and challenges of the work. Ability to handle an often-unpredictable work environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 1-3 years of experience. Appointing authority may require a social worker’s license. — Agency Prefers: A Bachelor’s Degree and two (2) to four (4) years of experience. Appointing authority may require a social worker’s license. A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in social work, social services, psychology, educational psychology, sociology, nursing, criminal justice, counseling, marriage and family therapy, family studies, or a related field. In this position, the salary may be based on Education and Qualifications.
MDCPS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Job #651527