SOCIAL WORKER I

County of Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz (CA); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave

Holidays

Bereavement Leave

Medical Plan

Dental Plan

Vision Plan

Retirement

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Dependent-Care Plan

H-CARE PLAN

Health Care FSA

Deferred Compensation

Job summary

County of Santa Cruz is seeking a Social Worker I to perform trainee-level social work duties within the Adult and Long Term Care division. You will develop interviewing, counseling, and case management skills under supervision, with opportunities to advance to Social Worker II as you gain knowledge of county programs and laws.

Qualifications include two years of related training or experience and 24 semester units in social welfare or related fields. A valid CA driver's license may be required.

Qualifications

• Two years of related training or experience in social work.
• Twenty-four semester units in social welfare, social human services, sociology or other behavior sciences.

Responsibilities

• Learn to apply casework skills and identify client problems; develop and modify case plans with clients.
• Learn interviewing, information gathering and client engagement in problem-solving processes.
• Learn to manage caseload, prioritize to meet client needs and agency expectations; document and explain programs and policies.

Skills

Social work knowledge

Interviewing

Counseling

Caseload management

Community resources

Record keeping

Education

Social Welfare courses

Sociology courses

Job description

Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

INVITES YOU TO APPLY FOR:

THE JOB: Social Worker I is the trainee level class for functions of moderate difficulty in programs such as Licensing, In-Home Support Services, and Public Authority. Incumbents under close supervision are expected to develop knowledge of the laws, policies, and administrative procedures of County social work programs, to learn the principles of human behavior and development, to develop interviewing, counseling, assessment, caseload organization and management skills and to use community resources. Incumbents are expected to gain the knowledge and abilities to promote to Social Worker II. THE CURRENT VACANCIES ARE IN THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, ADULT AND LONG TERM CARE (ALTC) DIVISION. THE LIST ESTABLISHED FROM THIS RECRUITMENT WILL BE USED TO FILL CURRENT AND FUTURE VACANCIES DURING THE LIFE OF THE ELIGIBLE LIST. The option for remote work may be available based on the type of work and operational needs, upon successful completion of probation.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

TWO YEARS OF DIRECTLY RELATED TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE WHICH WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE APPLICATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES OR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TWENTY-FOUR (24)

SEMESTER UNITS IN SOCIAL WELFARE, SOCIAL HUMAN SERVICES, SOCIOLOGY OR OTHER BEHAVIOR SCIENCE FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE THAT DEMONSTRATES POSSESSION OF THE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND

ABILITIES.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License or must be able to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority may be required for certain positions.Ability to be bonded may be required of positions assigned to the Public Guardian function.

SOCIAL WORKER I

CLOSING DATE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026

County of Santa Cruz

County Equity StatementEquity in action in Santa Cruz County is a transformative process that embraces individuals of every status, providing

unwavering support, dignity, and compassion.Through this commitment, the County ensures intentional opportunities and access, fostering an environment where

everyone can thrive and belong.

KNOWLEDGE: Working knowledge of social and economic factors which influence family life. Some knowledge of principles of human behavior and development and psychological defense mechanisms; community resources; public social service and assistance programs; reactions to stress; and interviewing and record keeping techniques.

ABILITY TO: Learn to apply casework skills to identify the client’s problems; learn to formulate and modify case plans in conjunction with clients; learn to interview effectively, gather information and engage the client in the problem-solving process; learn to manage assigned caseload and establish caseload priorities to meet client needs and agency expectations; understand and explain agency programs, limitations, regulations and policies; use community and agency resources; communicate effectively in written and oral form;maintain current and accurate records; communicate and relate effectively with clients, who may be emotionally or mentally disabled, medically disabled, elderly, substance abusers, victims of domestic violence or fiduciary abuse; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, including clients, family members and others who may be under distress or duress; learn complex laws and regulations and apply them appropriately in management of assigned caseload; work effectively under pressure and deadlines; recognize and analyze problems, gather relevant information, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and respond to case details promptly; and deal with hostile, aggressive and abusive persons.

The EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months, and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on

Note: Provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

• ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
• HOLIDAYS - 14 paid holidays per year.
• BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
• MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
• DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
• VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
• RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security.
• LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
• DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
• DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
• H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
• HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
• DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.

Salary: $5,605 – 7,103 / Month