Social Worker III

Salary : $65,769.60 - $79,934.40 Annually
Location : Ukiah, CA
Job Type: Full-time Permanent
Job Number: 26.155
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 05/13/2026
Closing Date: 6/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


The Position
The current vacancy is within Adult & Aging Services in Ukiah.

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 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 general direction the Social Worker III carries a caseload of difficult cases determining the services required by County applicants or clients for social services; performs difficult studies and develops comprehensive client service plans. Typical assignments are within child welfare and adult service programs.

Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Se buscan personas bilingües en inglés y español. Para recibir una solicitud en español, llame a Recursos Humanos al 234-6600.
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:

• Conducts interviews with clients, family members, and others in their home/field, in the office, or via telephone to assess the basic social, physical and mental needs of clients and obtain health information in order to identify and provide social services. Performs case studies and evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determines appropriate types and methods of treatment.
• Carries a caseload of more difficult types of social services cases requiring a high degree of technical competence.
• Receives reports of suspected abuse/neglect; investigates allegations by conducting interviews with victims and others; assesses situations and recommends, implements and monitors alternate placement; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys; may testify in court.
• Maintains confidential information and client confidentiality in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• Develops and carries out culturally sensitive service plans for an assigned caseload in conformance with agency, state and federal requirements; assists clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish service plan goals.
• Assess and evaluate client problems and determine service plans with a high degree of independence.
• Refers clients to other staff members or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling as necessary.
• Advocates on clients' behalf for appropriate services. Assists applicants and clients in utilizing available resources including assisting in completing paperwork and accompanying clients to appointments.
• Interprets policies, rules, and regulations of the agency to clients, applicants and others within the scope of responsibility.
• Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments.
• Prepares and maintains case records and databases; communicates decisions, timelines, recommendations and service plans to clients, families and service providers.
• Develops and prepares court reports, service plans, case narratives and safety plans in computer systems.
• Coordinates and directly monitors family visitations to assess progress toward the case plan goals.
• Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of social work practices and achieve technical proficiency.
• Develops, coordinates, and may facilitate a team of professionals and natural supports working with clients to achieve client goals.
• Provides community outreach for various agency programs.
• Counsels or provides guidance and support to individuals and/or families with more complex or specialized needs including protective services, crisis intervention, special medical or legal needs, and other social services.
• Provides self-help information, education, and services; works with clients and caregivers to develop and improve caregiving and independent living skills.
• Obtains and evaluates law enforcement, medical, and psychological reports.
• Enters and retrieves data and narratives from computer systems.
• May counsel client/family regarding marital, family inter-relationship, abuse/neglect and life skill issues.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education and Experience:
EITHER


Pattern 1: One (1) year of full-time experience performing journey level social work case management, as defined below, at the level, or the equivalent in education and experience, of the Social Worker II classification in Mendocino County.


Pattern 2: Bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university with a major in any field with successful completion of 30 semester units (45 quarter) in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science; AND two (2) years of full-time social work case management experience as a professional Social Worker or Protective Services Worker in a private or public social services agency setting, as defined below.


PATTERN 2 SUBSTITUTION: Successful completion of twenty four (24) semester units (36 quarter units) of a master's degree program from an accredited college or university in social work or from an accredited two year counseling program emphasizing marriage, family, and child counseling or marriage and family therapy, clinical psychology, or gerontology (adults only) may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.


Social work case management is defined as: case management performed by a professional Social Worker or Protective Services Worker, as opposed to healthcare (or other non-social work) case management, with direct responsibility for assessing and evaluating clients; conducting investigations of abuse and neglect; preparing court reports; responsibility for a long term caseload, monitoring compliance through home calls and other personal contact; collaborating with other agencies and linking clients to resources and programs; developing a case plan, modifying case plans as needed/required; and having authority to impose sanctions or implement actions that impact services.


Licenses and Certifications :
Valid Driver's License

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of organization, workload management and time management.
• Principles and practices of note taking, report writing, and English composition, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Phone etiquette and interview techniques.
• Local socio-economic conditions and trends.
• Principles of individual and group behavior.
• Current issues in the field of social welfare.
• Public welfare programs on the federal, state, and local level.
• General principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Principles and techniques of interviewing and recording of social casework.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of the public welfare agency and the role and responsibilities of a social worker.
• Community organization and the social problems calling for the use of public and private community resources.
• Medical, legal, economic, and social management needs of individuals and families with special medical needs such as HIV disease, drug dependency, the medically fragile child, Alzheimer's, and the terminally ill.
• Strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques such as voice modulation and assessing the potential for suicide.
• 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/neglect, and the effects of abuse/neglect on child/adult development and behavior.
• Signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use abuse/neglect in adults and children and the effects on families.
• Standards for maintaining clients safely in home; options for placement; effects of removing clients from unsafe situations.

Skill to:

• Evaluate psychological factors in the child and/or family's situations.
• Recognize signs of abuse/neglect of children, the elderly and dependent adults; assess risk factors and potential dangers to clients.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations.
• Organize and maintain work detail.
• Apply existing laws, rules, and regulations to welfare department operations.
• Interpret and explain to applicants, recipients, or other public social service programs, policies, rules and regulations.
• Write clear and concise narrative reports, correspondence and other materials.
• Interviewing, case recording, and interpretation.
• Work constructively within a community setting and effectively use appropriate resources and services.
• Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients.
• Respect cultural differences.
• Analyze data from multiple sources, interpret and apply complex directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.

Mental and Physical Abilities:

• Analyze and problem solve.
• 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 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 effectively in emotionally charged or stressful setting/emergencies.
• Accept and use consultative supervision and constructive feedback.
• Learn, understand and apply the agency program, policy and procedures.
• Use a computer to accurately and rapidly retrieve data and information.
• Assess, evaluate and determine situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• 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, during the course of their work, occasionally be required to lift and/or carry children weighing up to 40 pounds, including children in car seats, infant carriers, or strollers.

Selection Procedure & Other Important Information
Important Application Information:

• It is your responsibility to demonstrate through your application materials how you meet the minimum qualifications of the position/s for which you apply.
• You must complete all sections of the application. A résumé or other information you feel will help us evaluate your qualifications may be attached to your completed application, but will not be accepted in lieu of completing any part of the application. Blank applications that contain only a résumé or those that reference "see résumé" will be rejected as incomplete.
• Check your application before submitting to ensure it is complete and correct; no new or additional information will be accepted after the closing date.
• Inquiry will be made of your former and current employers; please provide the names and telephone numbers of supervisors on your application.
• You must provide the names and contact information of at least three (3) references (not relatives) that have knowledge of your job skills, experience, ability and/or character.
• Application materials are the property of Mendocino County and will not be returned.
• It is your responsibility to keep your NEOGOV profile updated, including any changes to your telephone number or address. Failure to do so may result in missed notification of exams or interviews.
• The exam process listed on this flyer is tentative. Mendocino County reserves the right to make necessary modifications to the examination plan. Such revisions will be in accordance with approved personnel standards. Should a change be made, applicants will be notified.
• The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

Examination Process: All complete applications will be reviewed; incomplete applications will not be considered. Based on the number of qualified candidates, applicants meeting the job requirements and qualifications will be invited to participate in an oral examination (weight 100) or an unassembled exam, consisting of an evaluation of education and experience as stated on the application form. The examination process will test the knowledge and abilities described above. A minimum score of 70 must be attained for placement on the employment list.
Special Testing: The County of Mendocino is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), if special accommodations for a disability or religious conviction are necessary at any stage of the application and/or testing process, please notify the Human Resources Department in advance at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Reasonable notice is required to allow adequate time for review and evaluation of your request.
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.
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
• Right to Work

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:
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:
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For the most current information regarding Employee Assistance please go to:
EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM
For the most current information regarding Employee Wellness please go to:
LABOR CONTRACTS
For the complete list of most current labor agreements please go to:
01


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.

• I have attached the required proof of education, licensure and/or certification
• I have not attached the required proof of education, licensure and/or certification and understand my application will not move forward in the recruitment process.

Required Question