Adoption Consultant

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Social Services

Job Classification Title

Human Services Program Consultant II (NS)

Position Number

Grade

NC15

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest most complex agencies in the state and has approximately 17000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health safety and well-being of all North Carolinians providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf blind developmentally disabled and mentally ill and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Adoption Consultant supports statewide adoption and permanency efforts providing consultation and guidance across assigned program areas. The position facilitates the Confidential Intermediary Program by assisting community members clerks of court and agencies seeking support with sealed adoption records and related inquiries. It also conducts continuous quality improvement reviews of completed adoption cases to ensure compliance with applicable laws rules and policies.

This role includes approving and entering case information into the designated data management system to generate documentation required for adoptive families. The position operates within a statewide program environment that requires technical expertise program coordination and effective communication with diverse partners.


Key Duties Include:
Facilitate the Confidential Intermediary Program by providing consultation to community members clerks of court and agencies regarding sealed adoption records.

Review completed adoption cases for compliance with state and federal laws administrative rules and agency policies.

Enter and approve case information within the designated data management system to ensure accurate documentation for issuance of birth certificates.

Interpret adoptionrelated rules statutes and policies to support program operations and guide stakeholders.

Coordinate program functions and communications across statewide permanency and adoption service areas.

Analyze program requirements and identify needed improvements to strengthen adoption case processing workflows.

Prepare and maintain program documentation records and case information in alignment with established standards.

Collaborate with county departments of social services and other partners involved in adoption and permanency services.

Provide consultation and technical assistance to support quality consistency and compliance within adoption program activities.

Manage multiple tasks and priorities to meet deadlines and ensure timely completion of program responsibilities.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Demonstrates expert proficiency interpreting state and federal adoption laws administrative rules and program policies to support accurate case review and decisionmaking.

• Applies advanced skill in conducting detailed qualityimprovement reviews of adoption case files including identifying compliance issues and documenting corrective needs within established standards.

• Utilizes intermediate proficiency in operating the PATH NC data management system and Microsoft Office applications to enter review and prepare required adoptionrelated documentation.

• Demonstrates expertlevel experience collaborating with county departments of social services community partners and court personnel to resolve adoptionrelated inquiries and support program operations.

• Applies advanced capability in managing large volumes of work prioritizing case tasks and organizing time effectively to meet program deadlines and varied professional demands.

About the Division of Social Services (DSS):
The Division of Social Services (DSS) provides direct services that address issues of poverty family violence and exploitation. We aim to prevent abuse neglect and exploitation of vulnerable citizens and promote self-reliance and self-sufficiency for individuals and families.

About Permanency Planning Services:
Permanency Planning (PP) Services are provided to children who must be separated from their own parents or caretakers when they are unable or unwilling to provide adequate protection and care. As a result the child enters the custody of a North Carolina County child agency (CWA). When this happens the county CWA has legal custody and/or placement responsibility. County child welfare (CW) custody must not be considered until reasonable efforts have been made to preserve a childs safety health and well-being in their own home. CWAs are required to provide services to preserve or reunify families until parental rights have been terminated by the juvenile court.

Compensation and Benefits:

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options standard and supplemental retirement plans and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation sick and community service addition paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the website forState Benefits.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employerthat embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federallaws state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governors Executive Order 303 our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the following: Education including high school and all degrees obtained Work Experience and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions you must provide supporting information within the Work Experience section of the application to support your answers.

• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.

• Applicantsmaybe subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered Positions of Trustwill besubject to a criminal background check.

• Due to the volume of applications received we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application please log in to your account. Upon the closing date applications are Under Review and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.

• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.

• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service please visit the NACES membership website at Credit Verification

  Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

  Veterans and National Guard Preference

  • Applicants seeking Veterans Preference must attach aDD-214 Member-4 Form(Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

  • Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS) along with the state application if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.

  • Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22 along with the state application.

  ADA Accommodations

  Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities or known limitations covered by the PWFA are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact the person indicated below.

  CONTACT INFORMATION

  If there are any questions about this posting please contact Talent Acquisition at. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

  Minimum Education and Experience

  Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

  Masters degree in a disciple specific to the program from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of experience in the area of assignment including two years in a supervisory or consultative capacity

  OR

  Bachelors degree in a discipline specific to the program from an appropriately accredited institution and six years of experience in the area of assignment including two years in a supervisory or consultative capacity

  OR

  An equivalent combination of education and experience.

  EEO Statement

  The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination harassment or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs observances and practices.

  Recruiter:

  Tresha Walker

  Email: