Adult and Aging Social Worker

Position Information

The County of Sonoma Human Services Department (HSD) seeks experienced Social Workers who are ready to make a difference in the lives of adults with vulnerabilities in our community!

Starting salary at $ 56.15 /hour ( $ 117,191 /year) plus a competitive total compensation package!*

This recruitment is currently being conducted to fill one full-time position in the Linkages Care Management unit and one part-time (.5) position in the Aging and Disability Resource unit of the Human Services Department. It is also anticipated that this recruitment will be used to fill future vacancies in other units throughout HSD, including the Adult Protective Services (APS), Case Management, and/or In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Quality Assurance units. If you are interested in current or future vacancies, we encourage you to apply now!

Adult and Aging Social Workers in the Human Services Department provide a full range of social services to protect adults who are older, medically fragile, and/or dependent from neglect, abuse, or exploitation; and provide case management services for older adults and people with disabilities who need support to stay safely in their homes and in the community. Additional responsibilities may include:

• Managing a dynamic caseload, ensuring timely assessments and person-centered service delivery
• Conducting comprehensive client interviews, psychosocial assessments, home visits, and risk evaluations to develop individualized care and safety plans
• Engaging with older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, family members, and multidisciplinary teams to coordinate services and promote equitable access to resources
• Reviewing case files for quality assurance, ensuring compliance with program regulations, and overseeing documentation standards
• Collaborating with medical providers, law enforcement, and other community partners to address client needs and ensure seamless service coordination
• Representing the division at community events, outreach activities, and meetings to strengthen collaboration, partnerships, and public awareness of available services
• Prioritizing multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment, adapting to evolving client needs and program requirements
• Completing required assessments, documentation, and reports with accuracy and on identified timelines
• Investigating reports of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect and documenting findings within mandated timeframes (APS only)

The ideal candidates for the Adult and Aging Social Worker position will be compassionate, resourceful, and adaptable professionals who thrive in a dynamic, community-centered environment. They will bring strong clinical skills, cultural humility, and an ability to navigate complex systems to ensure older adults, people with disabilities, and their families receive equitable access to services and support. The ideal candidates will also possess many of the following:

• Experience with social work case management, including managing complex caseloads
• Significant knowledge of social work principles and mental health conditions in the aging and disabled populations
• Experience supporting older adults and people with disabilities in home, medical, or community-based settings
• Knowledge of community resources, crisis intervention techniques, and risk assessment protocols
• Experience in community care coordination, counseling, and mental health services
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and tactful problem-solving skills in sensitive or traumatic situations
• Experience conducting home visits with older adults and people with disabilities
• The ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, nurses, behavioral health clinicians, and/or community partners
• Experience working with regional centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, or other institutions or medical settings
• Strong skills in assessment, care planning, service coordination, and advocacy
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills working with diverse populations
• A commitment to Trauma-Informed Care and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles
• Master’s degree in Social Work or a related social services field is desired but not required
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired but not required

About the Human Services Department (HSD)

As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is to build upon strengths, as we bridge clients to opportunities through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFRESH, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging.

HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community.

The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services please visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services .

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

* Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified candidates who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this includes a Master's Degree in social work, or a Master's Degree from a two-year counseling program, such as marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, mental health counseling, addiction counseling, and counseling psychology, upon appointment;

OR,

Graduation from college, with a Bachelor’s Degree in social work, sociology, psychology or other behavioral science; and three years of social work case management experience for older and/or adults or people with disabilities or complex medical conditions, which included performing duties such as needs assessments, conducting investigations of abuse and neglect, and/or developing and modifying social work case plans;

OR,

Academic coursework at a college or university in social work, sociology, psychology, and other behavior sciences; and six years of progressively responsible experience providing social services for older and/or dependent adults, or for people with disabilities or complex medical conditions, which included performing duties such as needs assessments, conducting investigations of abuse and neglect, and/or developing and modifying social work case plans would provide such opportunity.

Special Requirement: Some positions require a Master’s degree in Social Work per State regulations; some positions may require bilingual skills.

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
The positions advertised on this announcement require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: current principles, practices, and techniques of social work; casework methods and techniques with particular reference to problems of older and/or dependent adult neglect, abandonment, and abuse; current philosophy and practices in the field of Adult Social Services and gerontology; 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 adult behavior; signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use/abuse in adults and their families/caregivers; standards for maintaining clients safely in the home; options for housing and higher level care; conflict resolution, family dynamics, and caregiver/client dynamics.

Working knowledge of: principles and methodologies of research, analysis, problem-solving, and decision making; laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of public social services agencies and the role and responsibilities of a social worker; medical, legal, economic, and social management needs of individuals; various medical conditions affecting client population.

Knowledge of: Strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques such as voice modulation and de-escalation techniques; principles of community organization; resources available in the community for referral.

Ability to: use social work methods and evaluation techniques to determine appropriate treatment in difficult, emotional, confrontational, and crisis situations while maintaining a professional demeanor; utilize various strategies to address the cumulative impact of a high stress environment; work on-call and extended hours; develop therapeutic relationships in order to conduct crisis intervention and therapeutic social work counseling; employ effective stress management techniques and methods of self-care; exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, sound judgment, and cultural awareness; control personal bias and apply social work ethics; assess and evaluate home and family situations to determine if crisis intervention or a safety plan is needed; exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions; assist in transport of clients; develop and utilize community resources to best serve clients' needs; interpret, explain, and apply complex laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; provide guidance and consultation to other staff; learn and use various computer applications, databases, and specialized software programs; write clear, descriptive, and detailed reports under time constraints; maintain confidentiality of files and records; and keep and prepare accurate and timely records.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How To Apply

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: General*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 10/7/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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