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County of Monterey

Social Worker III (MSS)

County of Monterey, Sacramento, California, United States, 95828

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Position Information Under general direction, the Social Worker III carries a difficult caseload involving the determination of need for basic social services functions for applicants or clients; performs social studies and assignments involving individualized treatment and specialized application of casework methods and skills; provides comprehensive casework services and performs other related work as assigned.

Social Worker III is the advanced journey level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents are normally assigned a selected caseload of the more difficult cases and, when needed, receive supervisory consultation in the development of treatment plans. They may be assigned to a specialized function requiring a high degree of perception, such as a special problem caseload, or to a specific geographic or functional area such as Court Investigations, Family Maintenance/Reunification, Emergency Response, Child/Adult Protection, or Foster Care. A Social Worker III may act as a lead worker to other social service workers and is expected to work independently.

Social Worker III differs from Social Worker II in that the former handles more difficult assignments requiring greater skill and depth of knowledge in assessing problems and formulating service plans. Incumbents normally work with a high degree of independence in administering services and utilizing agency or community resources. Social Worker III differs from Social Worker IV-A/B in that the latter exemplifies the most experienced worker and requires both advanced education and social work experience.

Supervision Exerted and Received Incumbents in the Social Worker III classification receive general direction from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level manager or deputy director, and may act as lead worker to lower classification staff in the same program area.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Carries a caseload of more difficult types of social services cases requiring a high degree of technical competence, such as situations where environmental forces affect family life

Receives and responds to reports of suspected abuse; obtains information from reporters; personally investigates and assesses situations to protect vulnerable adults and children and recommends alternate placement; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys; may be required to work on-call; may testify in court

Performs case studies evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determines appropriate types and methods of treatment

Develops and carries out social treatment plans for an assigned caseload; ensures all services are delivered in a respectful, culturally sensitive and appropriate manner.

Counsels or provides guidance and support to individuals and/or families with more complex or specialized needs including Adult Protective Services, crisis intervention, special medical or legal needs, and other social services

Refers clients to other staff members

Makes a diagnosis of client problems and follows through with the social treatment plans with a high degree of independence

Interprets policies, rules, and regulations to client, applicants, and others

May act as a lead worker to a small group of social service workers or service employees

Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources for individual needs

Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments

Develops and prepares court reports, case plans, case narratives and safety plans in automated computer systems

Enters and retrieves data and narratives from automated computer systems

Prepares and maintains case documentation

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

May be required to testify in court

Works with community organizations and makes referrals to outside resources

Provides self-help information, education, and services; works with clients and caregivers to develop and improve caregiving and independent living skills

Obtains and evaluates police, medical, and psychological reports

Maintains client confidentiality; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics

Performs related duties as assigned

Employment Standards Knowledge Of

Principles and practices of organization, workload management and time management

Principles and practices of note taking, report writing, and 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

Principles of analysis and problem-solving methodology

Basic public welfare programs on the Federal, State, and local level

General principles of public assistance policies and programs

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 and responsibilities of a social worker

Community organization and the social problems calling for the use of public and private community resources

Current problems and methodology in the field of public social services

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

Strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques such as voice modulation and assessing the potential for suicide

Psychopathology, the different types of mental illness diagnoses, how mental illness affects human behavior and mental health services and treatments utilized by clients

Signs, stages and dynamics of abuse, and the effects of abuse on child/adult development and behavior

Signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use/abuse in adults and children and the effects on families

Standards for maintaining clients safely in home; options for placement; effects of removing clients from unsafe situations

Ability To

Communicate effectively with others in writing, in person and over the telephone

Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses

Perform job duties under stressful conditions

Respond appropriately to situations

Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations

Understand and apply the agency program, policy and procedures

Obtain facts and recognize the relevance and significance

Organize and maintain work detail

Establish and maintain effective working relationship with agency staff, clients, and outside organizations

Analyze situation and adopt effective courses of action

Apply the principles of psychology and family relationships to engage individuals and families in social services

Recognize signs of abuse for children, elderly and dependent adults; assess risk factors and potential dangers to clients

Apply existing laws, rules, and regulations to welfare department operations

Interpret and explain to applicants, recipients, 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

Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

Operate a personal computer and other office equipment and related software

Act appropriately in emergency and stressful situations

Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients

Respect cultural differences

Work with difficult or complex cases/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

Supplemental Information Examination Information Training & Experience Examination – Weighted 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate's knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. To obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.

Eligible List Information A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Del Norte. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

Retest Period Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.

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 916-909-3701 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.

Education Documents If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

General Information This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex, and sexual orientation.

Additional Information

A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

As a condition of employment, the County of Del Norte will require proof of ability to work in the U.S.

This recruitment will be used to fill full-time, part-time, and extra-help positions as vacancies occur.

About Del Norte County Del Norte County, where the redwoods meet the sea, is located in the northwest corner of California along the Pacific Ocean and adjacent to the Oregon border. The substantially rural county is notable for forests containing coast redwoods, some over 350 feet tall. These redwoods are among the tallest living things on Earth, and the County is located in one of the few temperate rainforests. The County is home to diverse natural areas and activities.

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