Social Services Supervisor

County of Santa Barbar; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SEIU Local 721

Job summary

County of Santa Barbara seeks a Social Services Supervisor I to manage a unit of social workers across IHSS, APS, and CWS, directing casework and staff development. The role emphasizes program guidance, performance reviews, and community liaison duties with a focus on timely, compliant service delivery.

Ideal candidates have a BA in a behavioral science and at least three years of professional social service experience or equivalent, with supervisory experience and bilingual English/Spanish

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree including 30 semester or 45 quarter units in social work, psychology, sociology, or related behavioral sciences; and three years of professional social service experience; OR three years as Social Services Worker with Santa Barbara County; OR a combination equivalent to above.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and directs a unit of social workers/case aides; assesses clients’ needs and provides supervised visitation and transportation.
• Reviews cases to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and regulatory compliance; coordinates with staff on issues.
• Prepares and develops program services, policies, and procedures; interprets laws affecting operations; generates reports on service trends.
• Establishes and maintains community resources networks; represents the department in the community; speaks to groups about assignment.
• Develops training materials; trains staff in human behavior, crisis intervention, family dynamics, aging, and substance abuse.
• Oversees contracts related to the program.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Team player

Written and verbal communication

Multi-tasking

Family dynamics understanding

Learn complex materials

Supervisory experience

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field

Three years of professional social service experience

Equivalent combination of training/education/experience

Job description

SALARY

$41.24 – $49.51 Hourly

$7,148.44 – $8,581.39 Monthly

$85,781.28 – $102,976.64 Annually

plus bilingual allowance when applicable

This position is limited to the regular employees of the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services

The Department of Social Services is accepting applications to fill2 vacanciesin the Adult Services Division. One is in In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) in Lompoc or Santa Barbara, and one isin Adult Protective Services in Lompoc or Santa Maria.

The employment list resulting from this recruitment will also be used to fill future vacancies in Adult Services programs in Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara. Please select the location(s) you are willing to accept current and future employment. The County may require a transfer to a location other than the one stated on the application. By accepting employment with the County, you are consenting to such transfer throughout the County.

THE POSITION

Under direction, supervises the work of a unit of social workers providing social services in areas such as In-Home Supportive Services, Adult Protective Services and Child Welfare Services; plans, develops, and provides training on social service principles and programs; and performs related duties as required.

Ideal Candidate will possess:

• Strong organizational skills
• Ability and willingness to adapt to change
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize
• Understanding of family dynamics
• Interest in and ability to learn complex materials
• Current or prior supervisory experience

Additionally, for the current vacant position, the applicant should possess a general working knowledge of the In-Home Supportive Services program.

1. Plans, organizes, and directs a unit of social workers and/or case aides engaged in assessing clients’ needs for social services, counseling clients, providing supervised visitation with children and parents, transporting clients and children and assisting clients in obtaining social services in accordance with laws, regulations, and department policies; supervises and evaluates staff performance; and interviews applicants and makes recommendations for hire.

2. Reviews cases and/or documentation to ensure timeliness, accuracy, thoroughness, and compliance with regulations and policies; and confers with staff regarding issues or problems.

3. Prepares and/or participates in the development of program services, policies, and procedures; interprets new legislation to determine impact on operations; and prepares narrative and statistical reports to communicate information such as service trends.

4. Assists in establishing and maintaining department community resources network; represents the department in the community; and speaks before groups on matters related to assignment.

5. Develops special reference and training materials in order to meet staff training needs; trains staff in areas such as human behavior, group dynamics, crisis intervention, family dynamics, problems of aging, and alcohol and drug abuse.

6. Oversees contracts that relate to the program.

1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree including 30 semester or 45 quarter units of course work in social work, psychology, sociology, child development, or other closely related behavioral sciences; and three years of professional social service experience in a private or public agency; OR,

2. Three years of experience as a Social Services Worker with Santa Barbara County; OR,

3. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge of:principles and practices of social work including case management; socio-economic factors affecting independent living and social functions; goals and limitations of public social services; socio-psychological aspects of child/elder abuse; counseling and interviewing techniques including crisis intervention methods; home and financial management, family planning, medical needs, substance abuse, and other concerns affecting social functioning; and basic math.

Ability to:plan, assign, coordinate, organize, and prioritize work; train and supervise staff; develop goals and objectives; prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; comply with, interpret, and explain laws, regulations and professional practices governing program services and operations; make decisions independently; deal firmly and fairly with clients of various socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments; research regulations, procedures, and/or technical reference materials; maintain confidentiality of information; recognize and respect limit of authority and responsibility; determine the appropriate course of action in emergency or stressful situations; communicate effectively one-on-one in person and over the phone; prepare and give public presentations; identify and analyze problems and make viable recommendations to solve them; resolve conflicts effectively; establish and maintain rapport with staff, co-workers, and clients; compile and interpret data to identify trends in service delivery and recommend appropriate changes.

Additional Requirements:

Bilingual – Speaking, Reading and Writing Required for Some Positions:The ability to converse, read, and write fluently in English and Spanish is required for some positions. You must self-certify on your application that you are fluent in English and Spanish. Hiring departments may test you on your fluency. If you do not demonstrate sufficient fluency, your name may be withheld from future certifications that require bilingual skills, in accordance with Civil Service Rules.

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License is required at the time of appointment.
• Independent travel is required.
• Selectees for employment in this class must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code relating to child abuse reporting and Section 15630 of the Welfare and Institutions Code relating to dependent adult abuse reporting.
• Selectees for positions in this class assigned to Child Welfare Services are subject to fingerprinting for the purpose of a criminal record check as authorized by Section 16501 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code and Section 11105.3 of the California Penal Code.
• Incumbents are expected to work outside normal business hours.

Desirable Qualifications:

Knowledge of:function and organization of public assistance and social service systems; laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of social service programs; agency purposes, goals, and policies; understanding of the In-Home Supportive Services, Adult Protective Services and Child Welfare Services programs; community facilities and resources providing services to the elderly, people with disabilities, families, and/or children; employment and training services including career guidance and job search techniques; gerontology to deal with the medical and social issues related to the elderly; child development to deal with the dynamics between parents and children; and personnel practices including hiring, counseling, and disciplining employees. Current and/or prior supervisory experience is preferred.

Ability to:plan, train, and supervise the work of others engaged in professional and technical social work and support activities; effectively delegate responsibility and authority to others; evaluate the effectiveness of staff in diagnosing, assessing, and treating case problems; determine and evaluate levels of individual and operational performance; secure cooperation and teamwork among staff; provide effective leadership in staff development and training; assist in the development and formulation of agency policy; identify and analyze operational problems and implement corrective procedural changes; access and use personal computer applications in a Windows (or equivalent contemporary operating system) environment; learn to use mainframe computer applications and use personal computer applications including word processing programs.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

2. Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking:Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates’ final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Applicants must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule 6. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Benefits:The Social Services Supervisor I position is represented by SEIU Local 721. For more details, please visit: SEIU 721

Disaster Service Workers:Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Reasonable Accommodations:The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of accommodation needed from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement:The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Tuesday, September 29, 2026,at 5 p.m. PST; postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Jasmine Gaytan, Social Services Human Resources Recruiter– [e-mail].