Initial Posting Date:
11/06/2025
Application Deadline:
11/13/2025
Agency:
Department of Human Services
Salary Range:
$4,536.00 - $6,952.00 USD Monthly
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Permanency Worker (Social Service Specialist 1)
Job Description:
The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Opportunity awaits! Imagine a role where you engage with children, families, resource parents and caregivers to achieve safety and optimal outcomes for Oregon’s children and families. Imagine yourself conducting child safety assessments through an equity and culturally relevant lens. If you're looking to make a difference and this sounds intriguing, this Permanency Worker position may be for you!
The following YouTube link will provide more information about this position:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dx3eyBwdks
Understanding North Bend, Oregon:
The city of North Bend is located along the southern Oregon coast. North Bend is home to the towering 500-foot sand dunes of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, historic McCullough Memorial Bridge, beautiful Horsfall Beach and plenty of quaint shops, antique stores and restaurants. Adventures of all kinds await in North Bend!
Want to calculate your commute time? Check out this mileage and driving distance calculator
Summary of Duties
As an employee working within the Child Welfare Program, you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. Your dedication will help us achieve the Child Welfare Vision for Transformation that will support children and young adults to be safer, healthier, experience less trauma and achieve a greater well-being.
As a Permanency Worker, you will:
- Safety and Support: Provides services to children and families to assess protective capacity, maintain children in the family home when possible and support successful reunification.
- A Balancing Act: Navigate the needs of the child and the family while balancing legal requirements.
- Documentation: Maintain a written record of your casework activity in specialized case management software (OR-KIDS) and provide accurate, detailed, chronological case notes of all case contacts and activity on a daily basis.
- Assessment and Interviews: Conduct assessment and fact-finding interviews related to child safety, risk of abuse, neglect, or harm. You will also address necessary care and needs levels of the children and families.
- Decision-Making: Analyzing collected information, you will determine appropriate child placement, considering each family’s unique circumstances with a focus toward preserving the family system and engaging larger family structures.
- Communication: You will create reports, case notes, testify in court, and communicate with diverse populations in office, community, or legal settings.
- Relationship management: Meet regularly with clients to develop and maintain professional working relationships with them which encourages, assists, and empowers them to make needed changes. Maintain availability to clients by phone, community, and office appointments.
Minimum Qualifications
A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record are required for this position.
- A bachelor’s degree in human services or a field related to human service, or
- A bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services and either:
- One year of Human Services related experience, or
- Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency, or
- An associate degree and either:
- Two years of Human Services related experience, or
- One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework, or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
Essential Attributes
We are looking for candidates with:
- Demonstrated ability to work well both independently and with a team.
- Experience utilizing time management, organization, and prioritization skills to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to write clearly, thoroughly, and concisely with minimal spelling or grammar issues.
- Experience working well with people from a wide variety of backgrounds through a culturally competent lens.
- Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel.
Experience in a helping profession that has at least some social work focus or lens; examples include teaching, law enforcement, medical care, domestic violence advocacy, CASA volunteer, etc.
Attention all candidates! Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Your application materials will determine if you are selected to move forward in the selection process. Please include detailed work and education history.
Working Conditions
- Your work will be conducted in offices, participant's homes, and other community sites.
- Frequent travel around the county is required. Some travel may be hours away.
- Hours of work may fluctuate based on service needs. Occasional compensated overtime may be required, including evening and weekend work.
- You may interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions.
- Walking into stressful situations that may require quick decision-making skills to ensure safety of those being serviced and own physical safety. This may also be trauma inducing.
Background Checks and Requirements
- If selected as a finalist, we will conduct a criminal history and background check. Adverse criminal history or background check may lead to disqualification. Additional background check information.
- The Oregon Department of Human Services does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
- Finalists must be cleared by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) through a fingerprint-based criminal records check.
Benefits
Employment Preference
Veterans’ preference:
General Information
- This is a permanent, full-time position and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
- This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification.
Contact Information
We invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions.
- The recruiter for this position is Brent Lawrence If you contact the recruiter, please include the job requisition number.
Email: brent.lawrence@odhs.oregon.gov