Social Work Jobs in Tennessee
Social Work jobs in Tennessee are in steady demand, concentrated in child welfare, behavioral health, school-based services, and healthcare settings with openings at every level from entry-level case aides through licensed clinical social workers. The busiest hiring markets are Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, where organizations like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being, and Tennessee Department of Children's Services maintain consistent rosters of openings. The most sought-after specialties include substance use counseling, foster care case management, and hospital discharge planning. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Social Work, through the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is accepting applications for a Coordinator for the Tennessee Child Support Employment & Parenting Program (TCSEPP). Within SWORPS, the Tennessee Child Support Employment and Parenting Program (TCSEPP) Coordinator builds a strong evidence-informed and trauma-informed practice that assists, supports, and advocates for non-custodial parents involved with the child support system. The Coordinator, based in RHEA, BLEDSOE, and SEQUATCHIE COUNTIES, TN , assists non-custodial parents with overcoming barriers to employment in order to become stable, obtain employment, pay child support, become self-sufficient, and be an active parent in their child(ren)'s lives. The Coordinator works with non-custodial parents to promote trust and communication between them and the systems with which they interact as well as with, when possible and appropriate, with the children and custodial parents. The Coordinator also weaves together a supportive network of formal and informal community-based resources for non-custodial parents and provides outreach and education to non-custodial parents and the community-at-large.
This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.
The TCSEPP Coordinator responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
Determine participant eligibility and properly assess participants' barriers and make appropriate referrals for identified barriers
- Develop individual action plans for participants and provide one-on-one case management to participants to assist them with job readiness activities and emotional support and encouragement
- Maintain accurate records of all participant interactions in appropriate places, i.e. TCSES, Apricot, Excel spreadsheet, etc.
- Monitor participants’ child support eligibility & payments; program involvement & compliance as well as employment.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with local agencies to assist participants with barriers to employment
- Attend community interagency meetings to learn about and share available resources and information
- Participate in partner meetings
- Provide regular updates to Child Support staff and attorneys on participant progress
- Maintain a court presence to foster a positive relationship with the Child Support legal system and to recruit and/or enroll potential participants
- Participate in job/resource fairs
- Fiscal tasks including but not limited to One Card reconciliation and uploading & documenting receipts, monthly gift card reconciliation, and travel reports
Required Qualifications
- Experience: Two years of customer/client (case management) experience. In lieu of a degree candidates with two additional years of experience will be considered.
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Must have valid driver’s license, automobile at their disposal, and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Ability to assess participant needs.
- Ability to develop positive & trusting relationships with participants and offer emotional support.
- Ability to positively interact with partners including child support, court, attorneys, etc.
- Ability to promote the program to potential participants, partners, and employers.
- Ability to advocate for participants.
- Ability to work independently and within a team setting.
- Ability to travel to multiple counties to serve participants.
- Ability to be flexible with respect to changing needs of the project.
- Excellent oral communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work independently and in team settings. Experience with data management systems
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience:
- Experience working with non-custodial parents and/or Employment programs. Experience collaborating with community groups and/or social service organizations.
Work Location
- This position is hybrid and requires travel throughout Rhea, Bledsoe, and Sequatchie Counties, TN (and occasional travel outside this area on a limited basis). Applicants must live within one hour of Rhea, Bledsoe, and Sequatchie Counties, TN .
Compensation and Benefits
- UT market range: 07
- Anticipated hiring range: $50k
Application Instructions
Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews can begin as soon as 7 days from posting.
Interested individuals should provide the following:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
About The College/Department/Division
The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is an applied research center of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW). We are a dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary team of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. We do that by building partnerships that leverage research, technology, and human connection to improve lives in Tennessee and beyond.
Over the past fifty years, SWORPS has worked with local nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Knoxville, University of Tennessee departments and faculty researchers, state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Our annual portfolio consists of 25-40 sponsored projects spanning a wealth of different content areas, but one common thread -each project contributes one more building block for thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all.
Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/
The University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Social Work, through the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is accepting applications for a Coordinator for the Tennessee Child Support Employment & Parenting Program (TCSEPP). Within SWORPS, the Tennessee Child Support Employment and Parenting Program (TCSEPP) Coordinator builds a strong evidence-informed and trauma-informed practice that assists, supports, and advocates for non-custodial parents involved with the child support system. The Coordinator, based in RHEA, BLEDSOE, and SEQUATCHIE COUNTIES, TN , assists non-custodial parents with overcoming barriers to employment in order to become stable, obtain employment, pay child support, become self-sufficient, and be an active parent in their child(ren)'s lives. The Coordinator works with non-custodial parents to promote trust and communication between them and the systems with which they interact as well as with, when possible and appropriate, with the children and custodial parents. The Coordinator also weaves together a supportive network of formal and informal community-based resources for non-custodial parents and provides outreach and education to non-custodial parents and the community-at-large.
This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.
The TCSEPP Coordinator responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
Determine participant eligibility and properly assess participants' barriers and make appropriate referrals for identified barriers
- Develop individual action plans for participants and provide one-on-one case management to participants to assist them with job readiness activities and emotional support and encouragement
- Maintain accurate records of all participant interactions in appropriate places, i.e. TCSES, Apricot, Excel spreadsheet, etc.
- Monitor participants’ child support eligibility & payments; program involvement & compliance as well as employment.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with local agencies to assist participants with barriers to employment
- Attend community interagency meetings to learn about and share available resources and information
- Participate in partner meetings
- Provide regular updates to Child Support staff and attorneys on participant progress
- Maintain a court presence to foster a positive relationship with the Child Support legal system and to recruit and/or enroll potential participants
- Participate in job/resource fairs
- Fiscal tasks including but not limited to One Card reconciliation and uploading & documenting receipts, monthly gift card reconciliation, and travel reports
Required Qualifications
- Experience: Two years of customer/client (case management) experience. In lieu of a degree candidates with two additional years of experience will be considered.
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Must have valid driver’s license, automobile at their disposal, and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Ability to assess participant needs.
- Ability to develop positive & trusting relationships with participants and offer emotional support.
- Ability to positively interact with partners including child support, court, attorneys, etc.
- Ability to promote the program to potential participants, partners, and employers.
- Ability to advocate for participants.
- Ability to work independently and within a team setting.
- Ability to travel to multiple counties to serve participants.
- Ability to be flexible with respect to changing needs of the project.
- Excellent oral communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work independently and in team settings. Experience with data management systems
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience:
- Experience working with non-custodial parents and/or Employment programs. Experience collaborating with community groups and/or social service organizations.
Work Location
- This position is hybrid and requires travel throughout Rhea, Bledsoe, and Sequatchie Counties, TN (and occasional travel outside this area on a limited basis). Applicants must live within one hour of Rhea, Bledsoe, and Sequatchie Counties, TN .
Compensation and Benefits
- UT market range: 07
- Anticipated hiring range: $50k
Application Instructions
Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews can begin as soon as 7 days from posting.
Interested individuals should provide the following:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
About The College/Department/Division
The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is an applied research center of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW). We are a dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary team of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. We do that by building partnerships that leverage research, technology, and human connection to improve lives in Tennessee and beyond.
Over the past fifty years, SWORPS has worked with local nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Knoxville, University of Tennessee departments and faculty researchers, state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Our annual portfolio consists of 25-40 sponsored projects spanning a wealth of different content areas, but one common thread -each project contributes one more building block for thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all.
Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/
See All 14 Social Work Jobs in Tennessee
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Find Social Work JobsSocial Work Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Social Work Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in social work jobs across Tennessee.
- Active Tennessee social work license issued by the Tennessee Social Work Licensing Board
- Bachelor's or master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Experience with case management software and documentation in a regulated setting
- Knowledge of Tennessee child welfare statutes and mandatory reporting requirements
- Ability to coordinate with state agencies including DCS and community mental health centers
- Valid Tennessee driver's license and reliable transportation for field-based caseloads
Social Work Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a social work in Tennessee?
Licensure in Tennessee is issued by the Tennessee Social Work Licensing Board, which oversees four credential tiers: Social Work Associate, Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A bachelor's degree in social work covers the first two tiers, while master's-level credentials require an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Clinical licensure also requires supervised post-graduate hours and a passing score on the ASWB clinical exam.
How much do social works make in Tennessee?
Social works in Tennessee earn a median of about $61,240 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $41,120 for the lowest 10% to over $83,280 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire social works in Tennessee?
Employers hiring social works in Tennessee right now include University of Tennessee, Enhabit Home Health & Hospice, and University of Tennessee Health Science Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Tennessee's large hospital networks, county Department of Children's Services offices, and community mental health centers are among the most consistent sources of full-time openings across the state.
Which Tennessee cities have the most social work jobs?
Jackson, Memphis, and Knoxville have the most social work openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads because of its concentration of major hospital systems, state agency headquarters, and nonprofit social service organizations, while Memphis and Knoxville generate strong demand through regional medical centers, university-affiliated programs, and county child welfare offices serving large surrounding populations.
Are there remote social work jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Most social work roles require in-person contact with clients, home visits, or courthouse appearances that cannot be done remotely. About 100% of social work openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions tend to be in care coordination, utilization review, or telehealth-based counseling rather than direct field casework.
How can I get hired as a social work in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a Social Work Associate or case aide role with the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, which regularly hires candidates holding a bachelor's degree in a human services field and provides structured on-the-job supervision. Large hospital systems such as Vanderbilt and regional community mental health centers also run new-graduate positions that pair you with a licensed supervisor while you accumulate your required hours. Completing your LBSW examination early and documenting any field placement hours from your program gives you a measurable edge over candidates applying without credentials.
Where can I find and apply to social work jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to social work jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your license level and preferred location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 14 Social Work Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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