Social Services Supervisor

Solano County; Fairfield (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Solano County’s Health & Social Services Department seeks a Social Services Supervisor to lead a unit of social workers across child welfare services, including protective investigations, adoption, and licensing.

The role requires strong leadership, trauma-informed practice, and the ability to guide staff through complex cases while ensuring compliance and program improvements. Flexibility for after-hours and travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Seven years of professional-level social work experience with a public social services agency or private social services provider.
• Master’s degree in Social Services (MSW) or a two-year graduate level counseling degree with five years post-degree experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a unit of social workers providing child protective services and related social services.
• Provide administrative oversight to allied medical, mental health, and substance use staff.
• Oversee programs across the CWS continuum (Emergency Response to Permanent Placement).
• Travel for court appearances, home visits, coordination, or training as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Trauma-informed practice

Equity-focused leadership

Oral and written communication

Education

MSW or graduate counseling degree

Job description

THE POSITION

The Social Services Supervisor plans, organizes, and supervises the work of a unit of social workers providing child protective services, dependency investigations, adoptions, licensing, information and referral, and other related social services. This role provides administrative oversight and supervision to allied medical, mental health, and substance use professional staff assigned to the unit, and performs related duties as required.

This opening is in the Child Welfare Services Division of the Health & Social Services Department. The Social Services Supervisor will oversee programs across the CWS continuum, including Emergency Response, Family Maintenance, Family Reunification, Permanent Placement, Adoption, and Supportive Transition, typically managing a unit of social workers and clerical staff.

The ideal candidate has extensive, direct experience in child welfare practice and operations, with a strong understanding of the complexities of CWS work, including current legislative mandates, practice frameworks, and statewide initiatives. They bring a trauma informed, equity focused leadership style, the ability to guide staff through challenging casework, and skill in implementing policy, monitoring compliance, and supporting program improvements.

The successful candidate exhibits strong leadership, adaptability, creativity, and the capacity to work collaboratively to cultivate positive and harmonious working relationships. Experience working with diverse staff and community groups, excellent oral and written communication skills, and a dedication to co-creating and sustaining a trauma-informed culture are essential to this role.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Child Welfare Services operates as a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week division responsible for the safety and well-being of children and families at all times. As such, this position requires flexibility beyond a standard 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule, including availability for evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call rotation as needed to respond to emergent child safety situations. Travel may be required for court appearances, home visits, interagency coordination, training, and other business-related purposes. Candidates should be prepared to meet the demands of a fast-paced, time-sensitive service environment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Either I

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year accredited college or university AND Seven years of experience performing professional level social work with a public social services agency or private social services provider.

OR II

Possession of a Master’s degree in Social Services (MSW) or a two-year graduate level counseling degree AND Five years post degree experience performing professional level social work with a public social services agency or private social services provider.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Class C California driver's license may be required.

SELECTION PROCESS

11/13/2026 - 5:00 PM - Deadline to submit application and required documentation

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the qualified applicants may be invited for further examination and will either be pre-scheduled by the Department of Human Resources or be invited to self-schedule. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a supplemental questionnaire assessment, a written and/or practical exam, an oral board exam, or any combination listed. Responses to supplemental questions may be used as screening and testing mechanisms and will be used to assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the process; as such, responses to supplemental questions should be treated as test examination responses. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

All potential new hires and employees considered for promotion to management, confidential positions or unrepresented positions will be subject to a background and reference check after contingent job offer is accepted. These provisions are subject to change.

RETIREES - Solano County invites all qualified candidates to apply for positions; however pursuant to Government Code Section 21221(h) and 21224, hiring restrictions may apply to California Public Sector Pension Plan Retirees.

Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources at [phone], business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EOE/AA

Please note that all dates/times listed in the job announcement are Pacific Time.

DOCUMENT SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

All candidates must submit a copy of their official/unofficial transcripts (verifying the courses and units completed) or degree (verifying institution, student, date, degree and area of specialization conferred) by the final filing date of the recruitment. Candidates who fail to submit their degree/transcripts by the deadline will be disqualified from the recruitment.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: Candidates who attended a college or university that is accredited by a foreign or non-U.S. accrediting agency must have their educational units evaluated by an educational evaluation service. The result must be submitted to the Human Resources Department no later than the close of the recruitment. Please contact the local college or university to learn where this service can be obtained.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE POINTS

To be eligible, applicant must have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. A COPY OF THE DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE (GENERALLY COPY 4), MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BY THE FINAL FILING DATE. Applicants who have a service connected disability must also submit a recent award letter from the VA stating they are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons.

Veteran applicants for initial County employment with an honorable or general under conditions discharge shall receive five (5) points added to their combined score. Disabled veterans rated at not less than 30% disability shall have ten (10) points added to their combined score. Veteran’s preference points will only be added to passing scores in competitive open examinations.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES: Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need an accommodation during any phase of the recruitment/testing/examination process (as detailed in the "Selection Process"), must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form: Click here to view form.

This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the final filing date of the recruitment. Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request.