How to hire a family service caseworker

How to hire a family service caseworker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step family service caseworker hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a family service caseworker job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new family service caseworker
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a family service caseworker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your family service caseworker job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a family service caseworker for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a family service caseworker to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a family service caseworker that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of family service caseworkers.

   Type of Family Service Caseworker	Description	Hourly rate
   Family Service Caseworker	Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.	$15-34
   Counselor	Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being... Show more	$9-32
   Substance Abuse Counselor	Substance abuse counselors act as a support system for people with drug and alcohol problems and other behavioral issues. They help the patients control their behavior until they achieve a full recovery... Show more	$12-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Direct Services
   • Family Services
   • DHS
   • Mental Health
   • Community Resources
   • Public Assistance Programs
   • Determines Eligibility
   • Criminal Justice
   • DHR
   • State Services
   • Eligibility Criteria
   • Foster Care
   • Kids

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
   • Collect client data and determine eligibility for medicaid, daycare, food assistance and emergency services programs.
   • Complete documentation for clients to obtain Medicaid waivers.
   • Provide information and support to transitioning foster youth during assessment, case planning or other permanency and transition-relate activities.
   • Provide interventions for at-risk children with emotional disabilities, including sexual/physical abuse, delay development, autism, and social impairment.

   More family service caseworker duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the family service caseworker job description is a good way to get more applicants. A family service caseworker salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a family service caseworker in Kentucky may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level family service caseworker. Additionally, a family service caseworker with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average family service caseworker salary

   $49,645yearly

   $23.87 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level family service caseworker salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average family service caseworker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$61,676	$30
   2	Virginia	$61,578	$30
   3	Colorado	$53,743	$26
   4	Illinois	$52,764	$25
   5	Wisconsin	$50,399	$24
   6	Iowa	$49,573	$24
   7	Pennsylvania	$46,886	$23
   8	Texas	$46,574	$22
   9	Arizona	$43,487	$21
   10	North Carolina	$42,646	$21
   11	Indiana	$42,360	$20
   12	Florida	$35,761	$17

   Average family service caseworker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	El Paso County	$61,492	$29.56
   2	Boulder County	$56,843	$27.33	1
   3	Wake County	$56,808	$27.31	1
   4	Travis County	$55,739	$26.80
   5	A Second Chance	$54,557	$26.23	2
   6	New Hanover County	$54,108	$26.01
   7	Prince William County	$53,221	$25.59	6
   8	State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission	$52,958	$25.46	23
   9	Maine	$52,500	$25.24	10
   10	Adams County Government Center	$52,340	$25.16
   11	Archdiocese Of San Antonio	$50,306	$24.19	21
   12	Save the Children US	$49,847	$23.96	4
   13	International Rescue Committee	$49,498	$23.80	3
   14	Lutheran Services in Iowa	$48,133	$23.14	4
   15	Baptist Children's Homes Of North Carolina, Inc.	$46,182	$22.20	1
   16	Wisconsin Community Services	$46,058	$22.14	1
   17	The Center for Youth and Family Solutions	$45,732	$21.99	4
   18	Rose Hills Mortuary	$45,190	$21.73	2
   19	Service Corporation International	$44,053	$21.18	23
   20	Gateway Longview	$43,872	$21.09	1

4. Writing a family service caseworker job description

   A family service caseworker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a family service caseworker job description:

   Family service caseworker job description example

   This position is eligible for, but not limited to, medical, vision, dental, life and disability benefits in addition to varying time offs.
   
   Scope of Position/Essential Functions: To provide direct services to clients on behalf of The Salvation Army (TSA), and to oversee the daily office and client assistance operations. As an employee of The Salvation Army, a California corporation, the GWS SE Caseworker reports to and is under the supervision of the GWS SE Center Coordinator.
   
   + Must have a good working knowledge of The Salvation Army Family Services and all social services in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The Caseworker must be able to coordinate and cooperate with local partners in government, as well as non-profits, to assess client needs for safety and stability. Provides referrals for applicants with specialized needs.
   
   + Interviews applicants and provides emergency financial assistance and case management within the emergency assistance guidelines of TSA Divisional Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) and SE Department. Maintains client files. Assures client confidentiality.
   
   + Accumulates data and provides complete and required reports, as well as other record keeping, in compliance with, or at the request of, Divisional Headquarters and the GWS SE Center.
   
   + Provides clerical support and serves visitors, in-person and on the telephone, including greeting and carrying out client services from start to finish.
   + Answering Phones
   
   + Working with clients in a one-on-one situation
   
   + Coordinating Kettle ringers
   
   + Exhibits a practical knowledge of the program and its applicability to the needs of the community.
   
   + Updates, organizes, and maintains client information in applicable software, forms, and case records accurately and in a timely manner, while maintaining confidentiality according to Salvation Army and applicational HIPPA standards.
   
   + Provides support in maintaining a safe, healthy workplace in accordance with new public health standards.
   
   + Represents TSA in various community organizations and social service organizations within the community. Demonstrates professional wisdom by setting healthy limits to avoid overextending self towards people in need.
   
   + Other duties as assigned and approved by the GWS SE Center Coordinator, the Divisional EDS/SE Director, and divisional leadership.
   
   Education and Work Experience: High School diploma/GED and equivalent work experience to perform necessary work tasks.
   
   Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required: Strong communication and customer service ability. Writing and budget/accounting skills are needed. Computer proficiency is required. Bilingual Spanish and written abilities are preferred.
   
   Software-Related Skills: Microsoft Word and Outlook required. Working knowledge of integrated database application and ability to use new software programs with basic training.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find family service caseworkers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your family service caseworker job on Zippia to find and recruit family service caseworker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with family service caseworker candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new family service caseworker

   Once you've found the family service caseworker candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new family service caseworker first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a family service caseworker?