3 jobs found

The Caseworker performs journey level casework for a variety of identified areas; possibly to provide Child Welfare services using safety organized practice techniques to engage families. Conduct home and community visits, to assess allegations of child/adult abuse and neglect. Assess situations for safety and risk. Make referrals to community and system based services. Create treatment plans. Monitor progress of specific cases, documenting case information and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and other resources for services and supports. Depending on the assigned program: investigate allegations of child/adult abuse and neglect; determine child placement when necessary to ensure safety; work with extended family to create safety and support plans; attend court hearings, prepare court reports and testify when necessary. Apply By: 12/10/23 Division: Children Youth Family & Adult Protection Division Management Level: Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Benefit Eligibility: This position is eligible for Standard Benefits which includes dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, and tuition reimbursement. Description: Hiring salary starts at $64,052.56 Salary will be determined based on education, licensure, and experience; Relatable Master's and Licenses will receive additional salary in addition to base salary. Details will be discussed during the interview process. Benefits includes dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, flexible schedules, remote work options and more. Click Here for our Total Rewards summary. Personal Choice Work Model: After six months of employment, all employees can work with their supervisor to develop a work model that works best for them. This means an employee may choose to work from the office more or from home more, with some general expectations , which may include in -person tasks required by your role, ie in -person facilitated family meetings , if the family chooses, and in-person group supervision at least monthly , among others . Jeffco Division of Children, Youth, Families, and Adult Protection includes exceptional individuals on the following teams: Intake - Day Shift and Swing Shift Permanency Chafee Collaborative Foster Care and Foster Care Placement Early Intervention Services FIT Court Kinship Navigation Permanency Round Table and Facilitated Family Meeting Facilitator Prevention Sex Abuse Please note: we may not currently have vacancies in each team listed above. Are you interested in joining one of the teams above? Does a career focused on strengthening and preserving families excite you? Is self-care and support from all levels of the organization important to you? Do you thrive in an organization where your voice is valued and thinking outside of the box is encouraged? Are you searching for a position that uses your critical thinking , creative problem solving , and organizational skills to collaborate with families to achieve safety and permanency ? Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of families in our community? Join our team to celebrate families’ successes and help people build better, safer lives. Check out Mikayla’s story HERE and watch our job preview VIDEO . here. RESPONSIBILITIES All Child Welfare Caseworkers: Are responsible for extensive case documentation, which includes preparing court reports and social histories, and utilizing family engagement skills to mitigate risk and enhance safety that will be used in the office, client homes, and in the community. Assessing safety of a child/youth and making decisions based on information available, which could include removing a child from their home. Advocating for families and children, testifying in court, and de-escalating potentially volatile situations. Potential for late evening hours to address crisis situations and participation in the emergency coverage schedule. The hours of this position can be unpredictable. Daily travel around the Denver Metro area and periodic travel throughout Colorado. The Permanency Caseworker may travel occasionally outside of Colorado. Will discuss in detail and work with families who are dealing with substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, multi-generational poverty, child abuse, child neglect and sexual abuse. In addition to the above responsibilities a Caseworker will also be responsible for the following duties dependent upon which team a Caseworker is selected for. The Intake Caseworker (Day shift or Swing shift) is also responsible for: Assessing allegations of abuse/neglect and referring clients to appropriate services. Collaborating with law enforcement, schools, medical personnel, mental health agencies, the courts and providers caring for children. Swing Shift Caseworker schedule: 12:00 to 10:30 pm either Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday and will be eligible for a shift differential with a starting salary of $65,052.56 . The Permanency Caseworker is also responsible for: Coordinating resources for child protection, family and adolescent crisis response, delinquency and parent/child conflict, emancipation planning, and facilitating adoptions. Collaborating with service providers, courts, the community, schools, and assessment centers. The Chafee Caseworker is also responsible for: Working with youth who are either in foster care or who have left foster care to ensure readiness for emancipation. Administering and interpreting standard assessments and treatment planning to remediate identified deficiencies. Managing program expenditures to ensure that spending is within the annually approved budget. Collaborating with the fostering youth to independence (FYI) voucher program and managing FYI program expenditures. Maximizing the impact of the Chafee Program through consultation with caseworkers and community partners. This job requires weekend and evening work and may include multi-day trips to accompany youth to activities outside of the metro area several times annually The Foster Care Placement Coordinator is also responsible for: Collaborating with the assigned caseworker of the child(ren) to effectively identify and secure foster care homes for children needing temporary care. Efficiently managing emergency and planned Placement Desk Referrals through the use of the Integrated Case Management System (ICM) Generating the initial contracts of foster and group home placements for Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties. Organizing and facilitating Pending Placement Review Meetings (PPR) and Semi-annual Child Placement Agency Meetings. On a quarterly basis, conducting face to face meetings with CPAs to enhance partnerships, discuss children/youth currently in placement, and addressing issues including but not limited to quality of care, placement openings, better understand the services they are providing, and intentionally match children to their homes. Quality assurance of CFCP foster homes and providers certified through CPA's. The Early Intervention Services Caseworker is also responsible for: Coordinating resources for child protection, family and adolescent crisis response, delinquency and parent/child conflict, emancipation planning, and facilitating adoptions. Collaborating with service providers, courts, the community, schools, and assessment centers. This position is not court involved. Focuses on short term goals. The FIT Court Caseworker is also responsible for: Discussing in detail and work with families who are dealing with drug treatment, substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, multi-generational poverty, child abuse, child neglect and sexual abuse. Coordinating resources for child protection, family and adolescent crisis response, delinquency and parent/child conflict, emancipation planning, and facilitating adoptions. Collaborating with service providers, courts, the community, schools, and assessment centers. Frequent late evening hours to address crisis situations and participation in the emergency coverage schedule. The hours of this position can be unpredictable. The Kinship Navigation Caseworker is also responsible for: Completing Kinship Home Assessments that assess for safety, strengths, needs, and the caregiver’s ability to meet the needs of the child Providing hands on coaching and guidance to kinship caregivers utilizing methods from the Trust Based Relational Intervention model Monthly contact with families, including home visits, to continually assess for safety and provide ongoing support Partnering with caseworkers and conducting joint home visits to ensure case plan objectives are met Identifying back-up placement options and developing extensive support networks for kinship families Working with the Family Search and Engagement team to identify additional family support options when necessary Attending facilitated family meetings, group supervision, and other professional meetings as required Collaborating with the Community Assistance Division and other community partners to ensure families are receiving the benefits, services, and support they need The Permanency Round Table (PRT)/ Facilitated Family Meeting Facilitator (FFM) Caseworker is also responsible for: Facilitating and coordinating PRTs and/or FFMs using a structured framework with children/youth, internal and external consultants, supervisors, caseworkers, support persons, and administration. Demonstrating a thorough knowledge and understanding of social casework principles, concepts and ethics by using a strength-based and solution focused practice. Independently analyzing complex situations and barriers, help teams formulate plans and make decisions regarding the urgency of permanency. Practicing strategies that result in effective engagement of children, youth and families during the course of the case until legal and relational permanency is achieved. Mediating difficult interactions between parties of the case. Using diligent search techniques throughout the life of the case to locate family and kin of children. The Prevention Caseworker is also responsible for: Coordinating and connecting families to appropriate resources and services to prevent future referrals and extensive case documentation. Collaborating with service providers, courts, the community, schools, law enforcement, medical personnel, mental health agencies and assessment centers. Utilizing family engagement skills to mitigate risk and enhance safety that will be used in the office, client homes, and in the community. Advocating for families and children, testifying in court, and de-escalating potentially volatile situations. Discussing in detail and work with families who are dealing with substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, multi-generational poverty, child abuse, child neglect and sexual abuse The Sex Abuse Caseworker is also responsible for: Discussing, n detail and work, with families who are dealing with substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, multi-generational poverty, child abuse, child neglect and sexual abuse. Assessing allegations of abuse/neglect and referring clients to appropriate services. Collaborating with law enforcement, schools, medical personnel, mental health agencies, the courts and providers caring for children. Coordinating resources for child protection, family and adolescent crisis response, delinquency and parent/child conflict, emancipation planning, and facilitating adoptions. Collaborating with service providers, courts, the community, schools, and assessment centers. As an employer of choice, we hope you will feel welcome here. The inclusive environment and culture of dignity and respect are what makes this organization so unique. We appreciate that staff uphold our mission and help provide opportunities for our customers to succeed. J efferson County Human Services upholds a unique set of core competencies and guiding principles. Equitable Access to Community Influences of Health Inclusive Voice Trauma-Informed Customer Service Employer of Choice Resiliency Two-Generation Model Value Curve As an employer of choice, we hope you will feel welcome here. The inclusive environment and culture of dignity and respect are what makes this organization so unique. Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting. If you are reading this and hesitating to click “apply” for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS To qualify, a candidate must meet the bullets listed below: A bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of child welfare social caseworker. Course work examples can include and are not limited to, the development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques; and, Professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human services related agency. Some examples of appropriate experience could include: clinical experience, residential child care experience, milieu experience, domestic violence case manager, paid victim's advocate, paralegal or legal clerk, probation officer, law enforcement, corrections work, shelter experience, arbitration, forensic interviewing, para-professional work, educational work, and/or other case management experience Offer of employment contingent on criminal history, state automated case management system check, MVR check, and education verification. Must not have one of the following convictions: Child abuse, crime of violence, unlawful sexual behavior, or felony for domestic violence. Must not have a felony involving physical assault, battery, or drug-related offense within the past five years. Must not have a pattern of misdemeanor convictions within the past 10 years. Must have valid driver's license, if you are from out of state, you must obtain a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of hire date and you must not have any major violations, including DUI, DWI, and/or DWAI conviction(s) in the past three years. Please note that supplemental questions requiring a written response will serve as a writing sample. We will be reviewing the experience and education fields on your application and a resume is not required. During this process you will be asked to provide a copy of your college transcripts. If you have any questions about this position, please reach out to the hiring managers: Eric Wysocki - ewysocki@co.jefferson.co.us; (303) 271-4069 Liz Huffman - ehuffman@co.jefferson.co.us; (303) 271-4674 Bryan Moats - bmoats@co.jefferson.co.us; (303) 271-4033 Recruitment Process: You are able to see your status and any communication when you log into your candidate portal . Listed below are the steps in our recruiting process: Once the job bulletin has closed, the Talent Acquisition Team evaluates all applications based on the minimum requirements listed in the qualifications section of the job bulletin. Next, the Talent Acquisition Team reviews applications for the preferred skills. While these skills are not a requirement for the position, they will contribute to the success of the new hire in this role. These skills are scored and the highest scoring applicants will be forwarded to the next step. The next step includes the hiring team reviewing applications and deciding who to contact for a phone screen/interview. The number of applications forwarded for Manager Review depends on the hiring teams request and can range from 10 applications to everyone who meets minimum requirements; not everyone who makes it to Manager Review is guaranteed an interview. If the hiring team wishes to speak with you further, they will reach out to you via phone call or email using the contact information listed on your application. You may receive emails asking you to complete a task within your candidate portal and it is important that you are receiving our emails as we do not want you to miss out on an opportunity. The time frame for contacting applicants depends on the hiring team's schedule/workload and how many applications were referred for manager review. Please note that Jefferson County receives on average over 100 applications per job bulletin. Thank you for your patience and for your interest in Jefferson County Government! We wish you success through this process. Do not forget to sign up for Job Interest Alerts through your candidate portal to receive email alerts for future positions you are interested in. Education: Bachelor's Degree Experience: : Certifications: Languages: Category: Health & Human Services

About the Opportunity Effective May 7th, 2023, The Social Worker IV/V classifications will receive a 3% salary increase. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The ideal candidate for the position of Social Worker must possess knowledge of the laws and principles related to child welfare. They must possess broad knowledge and understanding of normal child development and how trauma impacts the developmental process. The successful candidates will have the skill and ability to conduct client interviews, assessments, and crisis intervention activities. Incumbents in the position will exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children and handle high pressure, crisis situations professionally, and be able to extract appropriate information during such situations. They must be able to work with a variety of individuals with varying degrees of mental health functioning, literacy, coping abilities, and life skills. In addition, the ideal candidate should possess the following: knowledge of community resources; the ability to write clear, concise and descriptive reports under time restraints; strong written and verbal communication skills; the ability to work well under pressure and display sound time management; and an appreciation for diversity. To learn more about the Community Services Agency, click here . The Community Services Agency (CSA) provides a certified therapist for all of our social workers as a form of support in this critical field. This beneficial resource provides wellness sessions, training sessions, critical incident debriefing, and psychotherapy sessions to Community Services Agency staff and/or partner agencies stationed at CSA. Stanislaus County now offers an employee bonus worth up to $10,000! Click here for details. THE POSITIONS SOCIAL WORKER IV TRAINEE This is a training level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents perform professional casework in less complicated areas of social services. The casework requires the application of a moderate level of social services, expertise and techniques. Casework is in areas of child protective services. Incumbents at this level will receive necessary training and supervision. Note: Social Worker IV Trainees will earn 15% less than the first step of the Social Worker IV series. ABOUT THE TRAINEE DESIGNATION Trainees are part of the unclassified service of the County; All trainees will be appointed to the first step of the salary range for the appropriate position, and will be compensated 15% below the range established for the Social Worker IV classification involved; Trainee appointments are not to last longer than one year. However, appointments are extendible to a maximum of two years in cases where minimum qualifications are involved; and Upon completion of the training period and the acquisition of minimum qualifications, the individual may be upgraded to a probationary appointment at step 1 of the Social Worker IV salary range. (An approximate 15% increase in salary). SOCIAL WORKER IV This is the next to highest level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents perform professional casework of an advanced nature in the most difficult social service areas. The casework requires the application of high-level and sophisticated social services, expertise, and techniques. Casework is in areas such as adoptions and child protective services. Incumbents at this level are expected to work independently without intensive supervision. SOCIAL WORKER V This is a full journey level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents in this class independently perform difficult professional casework that requires the application of sophisticated social services expertise and techniques. Assignments are typically in the complex social service program areas such as adoptions, court liaison, family reunification, early placement, emergency intake/response, family maintenance, and permanent placement. Incumbents at this level work under direction, choosing from a wide range of procedures to achieve objectives. This position is subject to overtime, standby, and callback assignments. Performs related duties as assigned. Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Community & Health Services bargaining unit for labor relations purposes. Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months for a total of eighteen months. The probationary period does not apply to unclassified positions. Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab. Typical Tasks SOCIAL WORKER IV TRAINEE Investigate child neglect reports from the community; Provide information and referral for services; May be required to utilize own vehicle as the need warrants; Investigate child neglect referrals; Make investigations for Juvenile Court dependency actions; Write court reports and makes presentations and recommendations to the Juvenile Court; Provide initial intake, crisis intervention and counseling services to children and their parents; Provide group orientation to families interested in obtaining County licenses for foster family care; Provide services to children in out-of-home care and to their parents; Provide home-based services to abused/neglected children and their families; Select suitable out-of-home care placements and supervises the children in these placements; Participate on community task forces and committees, and carry out other duties as directed; Understand the principles/philosophies of Team Decision Meetings and Family Engagement Meetings; Be expected to refer cases and participate in the process; Have a working knowledge and be able to utilize CWS/CMS computer system; and Participate and complete Institute and Academy training courses. SOCIAL WORKER IV Receive and screen reports of child/adult abuse or neglect from the community for degree of urgency; Provide information and referral for services; Provide 24-hour protective services as back-up to the assigned after-hours social worker in child welfare; Serve as after-hours emergency response social worker, on a rotation basis; Investigate child abuse or neglect referrals; Investigate for Juvenile Court dependency actions; Write court reports and make presentations and recommendations to the Juvenile Court; Provide initial intake, crisis intervention and counseling services to children and their parents; Provide group orientation to families interested in obtaining County licenses for foster family care; Provide services to children in out-of-home care and to their parents; Provide intensive home based services to abused/neglected children and their families; Select suitable out-of-home care placements and supervises the children in these placements; Provide services and transitional planning to foster youth in out-of-home care; Provide safety and risk assessments throughout the life of a case; Participate on community task forces and committees; Act as a lead worker, when necessary; Assess prospective adoptive parents’ suitability for adoption; Possess a working knowledge and ability to utilize CWS/CMS computer system; and Participate and complete Institute and Academy training courses. SOCIAL WORKER V Provide emergency response intake services in order to receive and screen reports of child neglect and/or abuse from the community and determine the degree of urgency and type of follow up needed; Serve as the after-hours emergency response worker in child welfare on a rotational basis; Investigate child abuse or neglect referrals; When in the field, request law enforcement, mental health, ambulance and/or other emergency services as needed for the immediate safety and protection of children; Consult with a supervisor as needed regarding the removal of a child from the home; Investigate referrals of alleged sexual abuse of children; Order forensic testing; Provide initial intake, crisis intervention and counseling services to children and non-minor dependent youth in shelters and similar types of out-of-home care, as well as to their families; Prepare petition and position statements for juvenile court hearings; Act as the court officer by representing child welfare services and providing case management with regard to early family reunification court processes; performs investigations for Juvenile Court dependency actions; Write court reports and makes presentations and recommendations to the Juvenile Court; Make and coordinate out-of-home placements for children and/or non-minor dependent youth; Gather school, medical and other information to support out-of-home placements; Contact relatives; Investigate backgrounds/criminal histories of potential placements and assesses the home environment; Recommend approval/denial of placements; Select suitable out-of-home care placements and supervise the children/youth in these placements; Provide crisis intervention and counseling services to children, youth and their parents; Provide social casework services to children and youth in out-of-home care and to their parents; Arrange and supervise visitations; Provide intensive home based services to families a high risk of having a child removed; Monitor and report on progress on court-ordered requirements; Serve as the primary caseworker for a caseload of children at various stages in the adoption process; Conduct studies of potential adoptive homes; Assess prospective adoptive parents' suitability for adoption; Conduct periodic visits with adoptive families until the adoption is finalized; Prepare court reports and recommendations pertaining to adoption status and finalization; Provide case management to children and non-minor dependent youth who did not reunify with their parents, were not adopted, and who require permanent placement; Participate on community task forces and committees; May act as a lead worker over a unit of Social Worker III/IV's; Understand the principles/philosophies of Family Decision Meetings and refers cases and participate in the process; Utilize automated computer systems to maintain data and information; and Participate and complete Institute and Academy training courses. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience) SOCIAL WORKER IV TRAINEE & SOCIAL WORKER IV SKILLS/ABILITIES Apply the principles of Social Worker practices related to working with children and their families; Evaluate personal and psychological factors in children and/or family situations; Act effectively under stressful situations; Provide specialized individual, family and group counseling; Work effectively with professionals in other disciplines and at the same time maintain professional identity; Express strong personal and professional ethics; Respect and protect the rights of clients and; Demonstrate a commitment to children, their protection and their rights to permanent placement, preferably in their own homes. KNOWLEDGE Social service research methods; Child development; The impact physical and mental health problems have on personality development and functioning; Group dynamics; and Therapeutic intervention techniques. SOCIAL WORKER V SKILLS/ABILITIES Apply the principles of Social Worker practices related to working with children and their families; Evaluate personal and psychological factors in children and/or family situations; Act effectively under stressful situations; Provide specialized individual, family and group counseling; Work effectively with professionals in other disciplines and at the same time maintain professional identity; Express strong personal and professional ethics; Respect and protect the rights of clients; and Demonstrate a commitment to children, their protection and their rights to permanent placement, preferably in their own homes. KNOWLEDGE Social service research methods; Socioeconomic conditions and trends; Current issues in the field of child social welfare; Social welfare programs at the Federal, State and local levels; Child development; The impact physical and mental health problems have on personality development and functioning; Group dynamics; and Therapeutic intervention techniques We recognize your time is available, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE FOR SOCIAL WORKER IV TRAINEE Be within one (1) year of completing a Masters Degree in Social Work or a two-year Master Degree in Counseling. Applicant must attach proof of education to be considered. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE FOR SOCIAL WORKER IV PATTERN I Master's degree in Social Work or an approved two (2) year (60 unit) Masters degree in Counseling. PATTERN II Possession of a Master's degree must be acquired within three (3) months of the application date for the position and prior to appointment. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE FOR SOCIAL WORKER V Possession of a Master's degree in social work (MSW) or an approved two (2) year (60 unit) master's degree in counseling; AND Two (2) years of experience as a Social Worker IV in a Stanislaus County Child Welfare Program; OR Two (2) years of social work casework experience in a public child welfare program area. LICENSE Employees may be required to use personal transportation during the performance of their duties; AND Proof of liability insurance as required by the State of California; AND Must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license; AND Must possess and maintain a valid Real ID driver license or Identification Card, valid U.S. passport or passport card, military ID or other federally approved identification to fly within the United States during the performance of their duties effective May 2023. Selected candidates will be required to obtain and maintain security clearance to access federal, state and local detention facilities, schools and hospitals in the performance of their duties. Proof of education will be required for verification purposes at the time of application. Applicants who are unable to submit proof must call 209-558-1200 to make other arrangements before 5 pm on the final filing date. Failure to submit proof or make other arrangements before the final filing deadline will result in disqualification. Application and Selection Procedures APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. EXAMINATION PROCESS Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County. Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on. Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position. Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts. Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months. TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE Application Deadline: Applications will be screened periodically on a monthly basis. Oral Examination: Oral examinations will be scheduled periodically on a monthly basis. Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County Departments. GENERAL INFORMATION Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment drug screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation. Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver's license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions. Stanislaus County supports the good health of its workforce. More information is available at http://myclubwellness.org Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627. Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary . Closing Date/Time: Continuous

About the Opportunity Effective May 7th, 2023, The Social Worker IV/V classifications will receive a 3% salary increase. This Recruitment is for full-time Lateral Transfers only . All other applicants will be disqualified at this time. Stanislaus County is accepting lateral transfer applications from current Social Worker IV/Vs. Please click here for more details on Stanislaus County's Lateral Transfer Hiring Incentives Stanislaus County Personnel Policy defines lateral transfers as persons with permanent or probationary status employed in another public agency and originally hired in that agency through a competitive process in the same or comparable classification requiring similar minimum qualifications. Additionally, the candidate must be currently employed with another governmental organization at the time of the conditional offer of employment. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The ideal candidate for the position of Social Worker must possess knowledge of the laws and principles related to child welfare. They must possess broad knowledge and understanding of normal child development and how trauma impacts the developmental process. The successful candidates will have the skill and ability to conduct client interviews, assessments, and crisis intervention activities. Incumbents in the position will exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children and handle high pressure, crisis situations professionally, and be able to extract appropriate information during such situations. They must be able to work with a variety of individuals with varying degrees of mental health functioning, literacy, coping abilities, and life skills. In addition, the ideal candidate should possess the following: knowledge of community resources; the ability to write clear, concise and descriptive reports under time restraints; strong written and verbal communication skills; the ability to work well under pressure and display sound time management; and an appreciation for diversity. To learn more about the Community Services Agency, click here . The Community Services Agency (CSA) provides a certified therapist for all of our social workers as a form of support in this critical field. This beneficial resource provides wellness sessions, training sessions, critical incident debriefing, and psychotherapy sessions to Community Services Agency staff and/or partner agencies stationed at CSA. Stanislaus County now offers an employee bonus worth up to $10,000! Click here for details. THE POSITIONS SOCIAL WORKER IV This is the next to highest level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents perform professional casework of an advanced nature in the most difficult social service areas. The casework requires the application of high-level and sophisticated social services, expertise, and techniques. Casework is in areas such as adoptions and child protective services. Incumbents at this level are expected to work independently without intensive supervision. SOCIAL WORKER V This is a full journey level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents in this class independently perform difficult professional casework that requires the application of sophisticated social services expertise and techniques. Assignments are typically in the complex social service program areas such as adoptions, court liaison, family reunification, early placement, emergency intake/response, family maintenance, and permanent placement. Incumbents at this level work under direction, choosing from a wide range of procedures to achieve objectives. This position is subject to overtime, standby, and callback assignments. Performs related duties as assigned. Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Community & Health Services bargaining unit for labor relations purposes. Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months for a total of eighteen months. The probationary period does not apply to unclassified positions. Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab. Typical Tasks SOCIAL WORKER IV Receive and screen reports of child/adult abuse or neglect from the community for degree of urgency; Provide information and referral for services; Provide 24-hour protective services as back-up to the assigned after-hours social worker in child welfare; Serve as after-hours emergency response social worker, on a rotation basis; Investigate child abuse or neglect referrals; Investigate for Juvenile Court dependency actions; Write court reports and make presentations and recommendations to the Juvenile Court; Provide initial intake, crisis intervention and counseling services to children and their parents; Provide group orientation to families interested in obtaining County licenses for foster family care; Provide services to children in out-of-home care and to their parents; Provide intensive home based services to abused/neglected children and their families; Select suitable out-of-home care placements and supervises the children in these placements; Provide services and transitional planning to foster youth in out-of-home care; Provide safety and risk assessments throughout the life of a case; Participate on community task forces and committees; Act as a lead worker, when necessary; Assess prospective adoptive parents’ suitability for adoption; Possess a working knowledge and ability to utilize CWS/CMS computer system; and Participate and complete Institute and Academy training courses. SOCIAL WORKER V Provide emergency response intake services in order to receive and screen reports of child neglect and/or abuse from the community and determine the degree of urgency and type of follow up needed; Serve as the after-hours emergency response worker in child welfare on a rotational basis; Investigate child abuse or neglect referrals; When in the field, request law enforcement, mental health, ambulance and/or other emergency services as needed for the immediate safety and protection of children; Consult with a supervisor as needed regarding the removal of a child from the home; Investigate referrals of alleged sexual abuse of children; Order forensic testing; Provide initial intake, crisis intervention and counseling services to children and non-minor dependent youth in shelters and similar types of out-of-home care, as well as to their families; Prepare petition and position statements for juvenile court hearings; Act as the court officer by representing child welfare services and providing case management with regard to early family reunification court processes; performs investigations for Juvenile Court dependency actions; Write court reports and makes presentations and recommendations to the Juvenile Court; Make and coordinate out-of-home placements for children and/or non-minor dependent youth; Gather school, medical and other information to support out-of-home placements; Contact relatives; Investigate backgrounds/criminal histories of potential placements and assesses the home environment; Recommend approval/denial of placements; Select suitable out-of-home care placements and supervise the children/youth in these placements; Provide crisis intervention and counseling services to children, youth and their parents; Provide social casework services to children and youth in out-of-home care and to their parents; Arrange and supervise visitations; Provide intensive home based services to families a high risk of having a child removed; Monitor and report on progress on court-ordered requirements; Serve as the primary caseworker for a caseload of children at various stages in the adoption process; Conduct studies of potential adoptive homes; Assess prospective adoptive parents' suitability for adoption; Conduct periodic visits with adoptive families until the adoption is finalized; Prepare court reports and recommendations pertaining to adoption status and finalization; Provide case management to children and non-minor dependent youth who did not reunify with their parents, were not adopted, and who require permanent placement; Participate on community task forces and committees; May act as a lead worker over a unit of Social Worker III/IV's; Understand the principles/philosophies of Family Decision Meetings and refers cases and participate in the process; Utilize automated computer systems to maintain data and information; and Participate and complete Institute and Academy training courses. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience) SOCIAL WORKER IV SKILLS/ABILITIES Apply the principles of Social Worker practices related to working with children and their families; Evaluate personal and psychological factors in children and/or family situations; Act effectively under stressful situations; Provide specialized individual, family and group counseling; Work effectively with professionals in other disciplines and at the same time maintain professional identity; Express strong personal and professional ethics; Respect and protect the rights of clients and; Demonstrate a commitment to children, their protection and their rights to permanent placement, preferably in their own homes. KNOWLEDGE Social service research methods; Child development; The impact physical and mental health problems have on personality development and functioning; Group dynamics; and Therapeutic intervention techniques. SOCIAL WORKER V SKILLS/ABILITIES Apply the principles of Social Worker practices related to working with children and their families; Evaluate personal and psychological factors in children and/or family situations; Act effectively under stressful situations; Provide specialized individual, family and group counseling; Work effectively with professionals in other disciplines and at the same time maintain professional identity; Express strong personal and professional ethics; Respect and protect the rights of clients; and Demonstrate a commitment to children, their protection and their rights to permanent placement, preferably in their own homes. KNOWLEDGE Social service research methods; Socioeconomic conditions and trends; Current issues in the field of child social welfare; Social welfare programs at the Federal, State and local levels; Child development; The impact physical and mental health problems have on personality development and functioning; Group dynamics; and Therapeutic intervention techniques We recognize your time is available, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE FOR SOCIAL WORKER IV PATTERN I Master's degree in Social Work or an approved two (2) year (60 unit) Masters degree in Counseling. PATTERN II Possession of a Master's degree must be acquired within three (3) months of the application date for the position and prior to appointment. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE FOR SOCIAL WORKER V Possession of a Master's degree in social work (MSW) or an approved two (2) year (60 unit) master's degree in counseling; AND Two (2) years of experience as a Social Worker IV in a Stanislaus County Child Welfare Program; OR Two (2) years of social work casework experience in a public child welfare program area. LICENSE Employees may be required to use personal transportation during the performance of their duties; AND Proof of liability insurance as required by the State of California; AND Must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license; AND Must possess and maintain a valid Real ID driver license or Identification Card, valid U.S. passport or passport card, military ID or other federally approved identification to fly within the United States during the performance of their duties effective May 2023. Selected candidates will be required to obtain and maintain security clearance to access federal, state and local detention facilities, schools and hospitals in the performance of their duties. Proof of education will be required for verification purposes at the time of application (degree, transcripts). Applicants who are unable to submit proof must call 209-558-1200 to make other arrangements before 5 pm on the final filing date. Failure to submit proof or make other arrangements before the final filing deadline will result in disqualification. Application and Selection Procedures APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. EXAMINATION PROCESS Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County. Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on. Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position. Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts. Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months. TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE Application Deadline: Applications will be screened periodically on a monthly basis. Oral Examination: Oral examinations will be scheduled periodically on a monthly basis. Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County Departments. GENERAL INFORMATION Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment drug screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation. Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver's license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions. Stanislaus County supports the good health of its workforce. More information is available at http://myclubwellness.org Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627. Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary . Closing Date/Time: Continuous