Social Worker III - Continuous Quality Improvement Social Worker (Departmental Promotional Only)

Description

The Human Services Agency (HSA) of the County of San Mateo is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Continuous Quality Improvement Social Worker (Social Worker III) for Children and Family Services (CFS). The vacancy is within HSA and under the Program Integrity and Community Services (PICS) Branch and reports directly to the Continuous Quality Improvement Supervisor.

Under general supervision, CQI Social Worker III will perform a variety of specialized tasks supporting continuous quality improvement for Children and Family Services (CFS) including: conducting quality case reviews; facilitating and assisting in the implementation of improvement projects/reviews; tracking and reporting performance measures; and supporting compliance with applicable regulations, standards, and policies.

The Continuous Quality Improvement team fosters a culture of continuous improvement by working in partnership with the CFS Program Policy Analyst and other stakeholders to gather information, participate in meetings, and contribute to discussions focused on enhancing program effectiveness.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Completion of Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR) training
• Conduct qualitative case reviews in accordance with the guidelines established by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
• Review case files and conduct interviews with involved parties to gather information to complete the Onsite Review Instrument (OSRI)
• Use professional judgement to make rating decisions in the OSRI based on guidelines and updated guidance from ACF and CDSS
• Prepare detailed review summaries and recommendations to support continuous quality improvement initiatives
• Support implementation of CQI projects aimed at improving service delivery and client outcomes
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify process improvements and monitor effectiveness of interventions
• Participate in quality improvement meetings and contribute to action planning and follow-up activities
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to discuss case outcomes, program performance, and improvement strategies
• Assist in the Training of new workers in CFSR Case review and other Qualitative Case Review techniques

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong assessment skills, including the ability to:
  • Gather information from interviews and from written documents.
  • Pursue the collection of information from various database sources
  • Take notes regarding relevant information during stakeholder interviews, condense information gathered during interviews, and use this information to inform ratings for OSRI.
  • Work collaboratively with review teams, including state and federal team members, to ensure compliance with OSRI instructions;
  • Make professional judgments based on the information collected during the review.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interviewing skills.
• Availability and willingness to travel to conduct interviews

Qualifications
Department Status : An applicant must be a current Human Services Agency employee with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the recruitment closing date.

Knowledge of:

• Theories of human behavior and their practical applications.
• Psycho-social, medical, and economic interrelationships that result in individual and social abnormalities.
• Philosophy and function of social work systems.
• Appropriate utilization of a variety of social resources.
• Laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of social work agencies, specifically those relating to the specific areas of assignment.

Skill/Ability to:

• Formulate, develop, and implement treatment plans.
• Work effectively with persons differing in value systems, ethnicity, cultural backgrounds, and psychopathologies.
• Work with a variety of social resources to plan and coordinate services to individual clients.
• Act as a consultant and trainer to other social service staff.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.

Licensure/Certification:

• California class C driver license or equivalent.

Education:
Satisfactory completion of 36 semester units of Social Welfare and/or appropriate behavioral science courses.

Experience:
Three years of experience performing duties comparable to those of a Social Worker II or higher in the County of San Mateo.

Substitution:
Possession of a Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work and two years of experience performing duties comparable to those of a Social Worker II or higher in the County of San Mateo.
Application/Examination
Departmental Promotional Only. Only current employees of the Human Services Agency with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination will consist of an interview (weight 100%). Depending on the number of applicants an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position based solely on the information provided in the application materials. Because of this screening process, all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

~Tentative Recruitment Schedule~
Final Filing Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Screening Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
Combined Panel Interviews: Friday, June 12, 2026

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.


HR Contact: Arlene Cahill (Social Worker III - G096)

• 

• County of San Mateo Human Resources Department

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