Social Worker - Family and Children's Services

COUNTY OF MENDOCINO; Ukiah (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Mendocino seeks a Social Worker – Family & Children’s Services to provide direct social work services, assessments, case management, and reunification support for children and families. This role requires on-call and call-back capability and involves preparing court reports and participating in hearings.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in social work and at least one year of social work case management experience; licensure or eligibility is required.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college, with a bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, psychology, or related field.
• Experience: one (1) year of social work case management experience.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct social work services, case management, and court reports.
• Handles on-call and call-back requirements for after-hours emergencies.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary teams and coordinates with families and service providers.
• Develops and implements safety plans, assessments, and referrals to community resources.
• Maintains detailed documentation and ensures timely records.

Skills

Crisis Intervention

Case Management

Communication

Cultural Competence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work

Job description

Calibration of recruitment list for future positions.

Position

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 locations throughout the County, should they occur.

Pursuant To Current Bargaining Unit Agreements

• Social Worker Assistants, Social Workers and Social Worker Supervisors whose regular full‑time assignment is Family and Children’s Services in the Social Services Department shall receive a ten percent (10%) premium.
• Employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium.

Under general direction the Social Worker – Family and Children's Services (FCS) provides direct social work services of a moderate nature working with complex child, youth, and family problems; performs intensive assessment, case management and/or casework services directed toward providing the most stable home environment for children and youth who have been, or are in danger of being abused, neglected or abandoned.

This classification requires on‑call and call‑back capability.

Social Workers in Family & Children’s Services handle everything from emergency response and investigations to writing court reports with recommendations and participating in court hearings. They work independently to support families through assessment, service linkage, ongoing case management, and reunification efforts.

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

Job Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Receives reports of child abuse; investigates allegations by conducting interviews with victims and others; may conduct forensic interviews with children, collaborates with an investigative team, or report information to law enforcement or district attorneys; may testify in court and provide support for witnesses and victims who must testify in court.
• Must participate in on‑call and call‑back responding to after‑hours emergencies, high‑risk crises, and immediate safety threats to support critical program operations.
• Assess living situations to determine safety; may submit applications for protective custody warrants to the court to remove children from unsafe situations; recommends, implements and monitors alternate placement; assesses prospective foster and adoptive families; assesses children's placement needs and matches them with appropriate placement settings; coordinates and directly monitors family visits.
• Manages a caseload of clients and conducts assessments to evaluate the effects of physical, cognitive and emotional impairment on function and determines client needs and eligibility through interviews, video platforms, phone calls, home visits, record reviews or consultation with appropriate agencies and individuals.
• Communicate policies, rules, and regulations of the program to clients and others within the scope of responsibility.
• Coordinates, arranges, and transports clients for the purpose of visitation or mandatory services as needed.
• Develops intensive long or short‑term treatment and safety plans; provides intervention and support for children, youth, parents, grandparents, foster and adoptive families, and other caregivers.
• Provides services and refers clients to other staff members or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling.
• Initiates, facilitates, and participates in child and family team meetings as a member of a multi‑disciplinary team and administers validated measurement instruments and assessments to assist with making decisions about the risk and safety of children, safety plans, and placements, acts as a subject matter resource to junior staff and staff members without professional training.
• Analyzes, interprets, develops appropriate responses, and explains rules, regulations, laws, policies, and procedures to clients; communicates decisions, recommendations, timelines, safety plans, and case plans to clients, families, and service providers in person, in writing, and over the telephone.
• Ensures all services are delivered within the guidelines of the department in a respectful, culturally sensitive and appropriate manner; follows policies and procedures for specific unique populations; may perform case reviews and present content analysis findings with resulting recommendations to agency staff.
• Maintains detailed documentation and timely electronic records; assists with peer review of activities.
• Develops and prepares court reports, case plans, case narratives, and safety plans in automated electronic records systems; maintains casework records and handles relevant correspondence.
• Supports the relationship between the County of Mendocino and the constituent population by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with clients, visitors, and other employees.
• Supports, understands and follows the Tribal Consultation policy, ICWA rules, regulations and best practices, and supports the relationship between the Department of Social Services and the Tribes.
• Maintains confidential information in accordance with legal standards and County regulations; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• Advocates on client's behalf for appropriate services. Assist clients to utilize available resources, including assisting in completing paperwork and accompanying clients to appointments.
• Provides self‑help information, education, and services; works with clients and caregivers to develop and improve caregiving and independent living skills.
• Assess and evaluate home and family situations to determine if crisis intervention or a safety plan is needed.
• Utilize community resources to best serve clients' needs.
• Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments.
• Participates in in‑service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work practices and achieve technical proficiency.
• Provides crisis intervention.
• Provides self‑help information, education, and services; works with clients and caregivers to develop and improve caregiving and independent living skills.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Required

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited four‑year college, with a bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, psychology, other behavioral science or related field; and one (1) year of social work case management experience.

Case management is defined as the coordinated process of assessing client needs, developing and implementing service plans, and connecting individuals and families to appropriate resources and supports. The following are examples and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all case management functions: conducting interviews and assessments to identify challenges such as housing instability, financial hardship, health needs, or family concerns; providing referrals to community, governmental, and nonprofit services; advocating on behalf of clients to ensure access to necessary programs; monitoring progress toward goals; and responding to crises when needed. Case management may be delivered across a variety of settings, including social services, healthcare, schools, and community‑based organizations, with the goal of promoting stability, safety, and improved well‑being.

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, Skills, and Abilities

• Current principles, practices, and techniques of social work.
• Casework methods and techniques with reference to problems of child neglect, abandonment, and abuse.
• Current philosophy and practices in the field of Family and Child Social Services.
• 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 child/adult development and behavior.
• Signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use/abuse in adults and children and the effects on families.
• Standards for maintaining children safely in the home and the best practices keeping families together.
• Options for placement; effects of removing clients from unsafe situations.
• 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 and families.
• Strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques and other de‑escalation methods.
• General principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Resources available in the community for referral or utilization in employment or social service programs.

Skill To

• Utilize various strategies to address the cumulative impact of a high stress environment.
• Use social work methods and evaluation techniques to determine appropriate treatment in difficult, emotional, confrontational, and crisis situations while maintaining a professional demeanor.
• Develop therapeutic relationships 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.
• Exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children.
• Interpret, explain, and apply complex laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Provide guidance and consultation to other staff; collaborate with teams and tribes to make decisions about cases.
• Learn and use various computer applications, databases, and specialized software programs.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; write clear, descriptive, and detailed reports under time constraints.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations.
• Keep and prepare accurate and timely records.
• Respect cultural differences.

Mental And Physical Abilities

• Analyze and solve problems.
• Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with agency staff, clients and others.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow up on assignments with a minimal direction.
• Recognize the relevance and significance of obtained facts.
• Work with difficult or complex cases/clients including clients with dual diagnosis, potentially dangerous clients or legally complex cases.
• Work on‑call and extended hours.
• Work effectively in emotionally charged or stressful setting/emergencies.
• Accept and use consultative supervision and constructive criticism.
• Learn, understand and apply the agency program, policy and procedures.
• Use a computer to accurately and rapidly enter and retrieve data and information.
• Effectively speak and make presentations before public groups and respond to questions.
• Effectively handle problems involving several variables in non‑standardized situations.
• While performing the essential functions of this job the incumbent is regularly required to use sound and odor perception and discernment.
• 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. Incumbents may, in the course of their work, be required to occasionally lift and/or carry children, including children in car seats or infant carriers weighing up to 40 pounds.

Selection Procedure & Other Important Information

This announcement is a synopsis of duties and requirements of this job. To review the complete classification specification and benefits, please see the HR website. Applications must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by the final filing date.

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.

Learn More

• E‑Verify Notice of Participation (Download PDF reader)
• Right to Work (Download PDF reader)

The County of Mendocino is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This information is a summary of general benefits. Benefits listed in Mendocino County Resolutions or Memorandums of Understanding prevail over this listing. This information is not legally binding, nor does it constitute a Contract.

Salary

Compensation is based on a five‑step salary range, with annual merit‑based increases within the salary range.

Retirement

Covered Under Social Security And The 1937 Act; Both Employees And The County Pay Into The Retirement Fund. For The Most Current Information Regarding County Retirement Please Go To https://www.mendocinocounty.org/retirement

Holidays And Personal Leave

Mendocino County observes 11 paid holidays per year. Employees are granted 24 – 48 hours of personal leave annually, depending upon Bargaining Unit.

Vacation

Accrues at the rate of two weeks per year for three years. Three weeks per year after three years, four weeks after eight years and five weeks after 15 years.

Sick Leave

Paid sick leave accrues at the rate of 1.25 days per month, or 15 days per year. Accruals are pro‑rated for part‑time employees working at least 20 hours per week. Part‑time employees working less than 20 hours per week, and extra‑help employees receive up to 24 hours (or 3 days) of paid sick leave annually.

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

The County and the employee share the cost of an employee selected health care plan; enrollment in the plan includes $20,000 Life Insurance.

Health Insurance

For the most current information regarding Health Insurance please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/ehb

Employee Assistance Program

For the most current information regarding Employee Assistance please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/eap

Employee Wellness Program

For the most current information regarding Employee Wellness please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/mcwow

Labor Contracts

For the complete list of most current labor agreements please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/labor

Required Proof of Education, Licensure or Certification

To qualify for this classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the recruitment flyer and class specification under the Minimum Qualifications Required section. This includes providing proof of the required education — specifically, college or university transcripts, degrees, licensure, or certifications, as applicable. Please note that a high school diploma, GED, or driver’s license does not satisfy this requirement. Transcripts are required to verify educational qualifications. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable and must be submitted with your application. Applications submitted without the required proof of education, licensure, or certification will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the recruitment process.