Address
Form of work
SalaryWorking under close supervision, Social Worker I is the entry/trainee class in the professional Social Worker series. Employees in this class are learning casework methods, procedures, policies and carry a limited non-complex social services caseload under close supervision and receive in-service training; are given close and constant supervision while learning social work principles, social service programs, basic case work methods and techniques, and departmental rules, regulations and procedures. Typical assignments are within child welfare and adult services programs; however, at the agency's discretion positions may be assigned to employment services to perform social services case work for employment services clients as required by department needs. As requisite skill and knowledge is developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility is exercised. Unless a position is permanently allocated to the Social Worker I level due to the nature of the work, employees are expected to advance to the Social Worker II after one year of satisfactory performance at the trainee level.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED
Incumbents in the Social Worker I/II classification receive direct supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor, or other higher-level supervisor or manager.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Social Worker I/II position provides case management to individuals and families through the CalWORKs/General Relief program. The role of the Social Worker I/II is that of a case carrying position which provides support to individuals and families such as: linking to physical and behavioral health services, budgeting and money management, applying for financial benefits, such as Social Security and Unemployment, crisis stabilization, and linking to community resources. The Social Worker I/II works in collaboration with individuals, families, agency staff, and community partners to facilitate a team approach to case planning.Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(Note: For Social Worker I, duties are performed at the entry/trainee level.)
- Conducts interviews with clients, family members, and others in their home, in the office, or via telephone to assess the basic social, physical, and mental needs of clients and obtain health information in order to identify and provide social services
- Performs case studies and evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determines appropriate types and methods of treatment
- Assesses reports of suspected abuse; may be required to work on-call; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys
- Develops and carries out culturally sensitive non-complex to moderate treatment plans for an assigned caseload in conformance with agency, state and federal requirements; assists clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish case plan goals
- Refers clients to other staff members, or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling as necessary; advocates on the clients' behalf for most appropriate services including enabling services
- Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources
- Interprets policies, rules, and regulations of the agency to applicants, clients and others within the scope of their responsibility
- Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments
- Prepares and maintains case records and databases; communicates decisions, timelines, recommendations and case plans to clients, families and service providers
- May testify in court
- May be assigned to specialized functions
- Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work processes and achieve technical competence
- Receives casework consultation from professionally trained staff members
- Provides community outreach for various agency programs
- Maintains client confidentiality; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics
- Performs related duties as assigned
Note: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as distinguished between the two levels in the Definition Section.
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of organization, workload management and time management
- Principles and practices of note taking, report writing, English composition, grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- Phone etiquette and interview techniques
- Socio-economic conditions and trends
- Basic principles of individual and group behavior
- Current issues in the field of social welfare
- Role and responsibilities of social workers
- Principles of interviewing and problem-solving methodology
- Basic public welfare programs on the Federal, State, and local level
- General principles of public assistance policies and programs
- Developing and preparing court report, case plans, case narratives and safety plans in automated computer systems
- Entering and retrieving data and narratives from automated computer systems
- Basic principles and techniques of interviewing and recording of social casework
- Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of the public welfare agency and the role of a social worker
- Community organization and the social problems calling for the use of public and private community resources
- Basic principles involved in the nature, growth, and development of personality and in-group processes
- The medical, legal, economic, and social management needs of individuals and families with special medical needs such as HIV disease, drug dependency, the medically fragile child, Alzheimer's, and the terminally ill
- The strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques such as voice modulation and assessing the potential for suicide
- Basic psychopathology, the different types of mental illness diagnoses, how mental illness affects human behavior and mental health services and treatments utilized by clients
- Understand and learn the agency programs, policies, and procedures
- Obtain facts and recognize the relevance and significance
- Organize and maintain work detail
- Establish and maintain effective client rapport and professional working relationships with agency staff, clients, and others
- Communicate effectively, both orally (phone and in person) and in writing
- Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action
- Interpret and explain to the applicant, recipient, or others public social service programs, policies, rules, and regulations
- Develop skill in interviewing case recording and interpretation
- Work within a community setting and effectively use appropriate resources and services
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations
- Work effectively in emotionally charged or stressful settings/emergencies
- Operate a personal computer and other office equipment and software
- Analyze data, interpret and apply directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses
- Accept and use constructive feedback
- Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients
- Respect cultural differences
- Work with cases varying in difficulty /clients including clients with dual diagnoses, potentially dangerous clients or legally complex cases
- Analyze data from multiple sources, interpret and apply complex directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses
Pattern 1: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university;
OR
Pattern 2: Successful completion of thirty (30) college semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units from an accredited college or university, including fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and a half (22.5) quarter units in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science*;
AND
One (1) year of full-time experience in the Social Service Aide, Eligibility Specialist II, Employment and Training Worker II or comparable classification; OR Three (3) years of full-time experience providing direct client services to disadvantaged adults or children in a private or public agency.
*Examples of acceptable social or behavioral science courses include: anthropology, criminal justice, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, human services, law, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health, social welfare, sociology, welfare, women's studies.
A WRITTEN EXAM FOR THIS RECRUITMENT IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 2, 2023.** At the discretion of Humboldt County Health and Human Services and with the approval of Merit System Services, qualified candidates certified to the eligible list established by this exam may be appointed to the Social Worker I, or Social Worker II level if the appointee meets the minimum requirements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- A valid driver's license is required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Background check: Prior to hire, candidates must pass a background check, including a criminal records check.
- Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records. Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information.
- PERS Retirement
- Tier 1: 2.7%@55 prior to 7/5/12
- Tier 2: 2.0%@55 post 7/6/12
- Tier 3: 2.0%@62 post 1/1/13
If supplemental questions are included as a part of this job bulletin, applicants may be rated based upon their responses to the supplemental questions. If rated, only those that are determined to be highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.
SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at MSSprogram@CalHR.Ca.Gov or 916-323-2766 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school, or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.
ABOUT HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Humboldt County is considered by many to be the most beautiful county in California. It is located 270 miles north of San Francisco, and is an area that has densely forested, mountainous areas, as well as over 100 miles of Pacific coastline, including Humboldt Bay, California's second largest natural bay. Humboldt County is substantially rural, with its greatest population in Eureka, where the College of the Redwoods' main campus is located, and Arcata, home to Cal Poly Humboldt State University. It's a charming and comfortable area, known for its hundreds of structural examples of Victorian architecture and great bike culture. The county produces 20% of the total volume and 30% of the total value of all forest products produced in California. Residents and visitors enjoy the many great performances and cultural events scheduled at Cal Poly Humboldt University, as well as great restaurants, farmers markets, museums, state parks, and nature and wildlife areas. Also popular is the Ale and Spirits Trail, Redwood Coast Music Festival, and the Summer Arts and Music Fest.
