Social Worker Assistant I

County of Mendocino; California (MO); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational assistance

Job summary

County of Mendocino invites applications for the Social Worker Assistant position in Adult Services across Ukiah, Willits, and Fort Bragg. Under supervision, you will assist social workers with routine tasks in the In-Home Support Services program, support parents, supervise visits, and help transport clients while handling other duties in various program areas.

This role offers a solid career path in county service, with Title IV-E funding for educational assistance and potential premium

Qualifications

• One year in a public social services agency at a level equivalent to that of a Vocational Assistant, Eligibility Worker, or similar role.
• One year of college with at least 9 semester units in social welfare or related areas.
• Any combination of education, training, or experience that provides required knowledge and skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of infirmed or incapacitated elderly adults receiving household services.
• Conduct home visits or approved alternatives (phone/video).
• Perform ongoing needs assessments and verify needs with providers.
• Document client conditions and services in narrative reports.
• Make referrals to medical personnel or social workers as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Client assessment support

Caseload coordination

Cultural awareness

Education

One year public social services experience

College coursework in social welfare or related field

Job description

The current vacancies are with Family & Children's Services in Ukiah and Willits, and with Adult & Aging Services in Ukiah and Fort Bragg.

The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions in a variety of departments, service areas, and locations throughout the County, should they occur.

Pursuant to current bargaining unit agreements, employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium.

Under direct supervision, provides assistance to social workers by performing more routine tasks by such as ongoing assessments of clients in the In-Home Support Services (IHSS) program, instructing parents in developing parenting and household management skills, supervising parental visits, transporting clients, or performing a variety of the other less complex functions related to assigned program areas which do not require the skill and training of a social worker.

The Social Worker Assistant series provides an excellent career path for those interested in pursuing a career with the County of Mendocino.

Earn your AA, BSW, or MSW with Title IV-E funding—MCDSS employees may qualify for educational assistance. Learn more here.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Adult Services

• Maintain a caseload of infirmed or incapacitated elderly adults receiving household services.
• May conduct scheduled home visits or approved alternatives such as a phone or video call.
• Conduct ongoing needs assessments.
• Verify needs by contacting medical and health services providers.
• Present assessments to review committees.
• Complete narrative reports of client condition and services.
• Make referrals to medical personnel or social workers as needed.

Family Services

• Provide direct training and counseling to parents on a variety of topics which may include general parenting and household management skills such as nutritional meal preparation, budgeting, and household care.
• Monitor medical and psychological care of abused children.
• Supervise visits with parents and children and report observations to social worker.
• Conduct drug screenings for clients.
• Provide emergency childcare.
• Testify in juvenile court hearings, as needed.

All Areas

• Identify and report specific indication of a need for social services.
• Maintain records and written reports.
• May transport clients.
• Perform administrative tasks, such as coordinating visits with families, providers, and staff, and providing office coverage.
• Track progress of clients and perform follow up visits as required.
• Assist social workers in providing a variety of child and adult social services.
• Serve as a liaison between clients and professional staff and individuals and groups in the community serviced.
• Directly assist families in learning and using resources available, with particular attention to medical, legal, and employment services.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Education and Experience

One (1) year in a public social services agency at a level equivalent to that of a Vocational Assistant, Eligibility Worker, or other class providing direct service to clients on a regular basis.

OR

One (1) year of college which has included at least 9 semester units of coursework in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, child development or other behavioral science areas.

Any combination of higher education, training or experience that provides the required knowledge and skills to perform the job duties.

Licenses and Certifications

Valid Driver’s License

Incumbents must possess and maintain, or obtain and maintain, all licenses, certifications, registrations, and/or other requirements identified in the minimum qualifications, as applicable, and within the timeframes specified. These requirements are conditions of continued employment and minimum qualifications for the position. Failure to possess, obtain, or maintain any required license, certification, registration, or other requirement within the specified timeframe may result in rejection during the probationary period, or disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Knowledge of

• Basic principles of human behavior.
• Basic community resources useful to clients served.
• Acceptable housekeeping and homemaking methods and standards.
• Basic instructional methods and techniques.

Skill in

• Identifying and understanding reactions of individuals.
• Identifying problems, developing and recommending options, and implementing solutions, as appropriate.
• Recognizing and reporting specific indications of need for social services.
• Understanding and accepting differences in human behavior resulting from cultural, economic or other forms of deprivation.

Mental and Physical Abilities

• Learn and apply principles and processes for providing client services.
• Interview others to obtain a variety of information applicable to the provision of social services.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and relay information to other employees, clients and service providers.
• Understand and accept differences in human behavior resulting from diverse cultural, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Effectively instruct adults in parenting and household skills.
• Prepare written reports.
• Recognize and report specific indication of need for social services.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to: walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear; and push, pull, move, or lift above and below the neck objects weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Special Requirements

Employment in some County departments or positions may require the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background, which may include fingerprinting, and/or a medical examination, which may include drug screening.

The County of Mendocino participates in the E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility. If hired, the information you provide on your Form I-9 will be used to verify your authorization to work in the United States.

The County of Mendocino is an Equal Opportunity Employer