Social Services Assistant

Salary: $3,433.00 - $4,178.00 Monthly
Location : Imperial County
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: MSS06013
Department: Imperial County Department of Social Services
Opening Date: 06/19/2026
Closing Date: 7/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Position Information
ATTENTION JOB APPLICANTS: Please indicate in the supplemental question section if you are interested in a bilingual position. Job applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in the job bulletin and be successful in the interview process. If selected for a bilingual position, as a condition of employment, candidates who are selected for hire must receive a qualifying proficiency score on the Social Service Aide bilingual certification examination(s) administered by MSS.
Applicants: If you are using education to qualify, please remember to include copies of your transcripts, degree(s), and/or certifications. Foreign degrees must have a U.S. Equivalency Report. Failure to submit, may result in your application being disqualified.
Under general supervision, the Social Service Aide assists Social Workers by performing specifically designated tasks related to the improvement of family functioning and child and adult services; and performs related work as required.

Social Service Aide is a paraprofessional class. Incumbents assist Social Workers by relieving them of routine tasks such as performing assessments of clients in the In-Home Support Services program, instructing parents in the development of parenting and household management skills, and/or performing various tasks for the child and adult service programs.

The Social Service Aide differs from the Social Worker in that the former requires a lower level of skill and training than the level required of a professional Social Worker.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED

Incumbents in the Social Service Aide classification receive supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level supervisor or manager.

Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Maintains a routine caseload of elderly adults who are infirm or incapacitated and receiving household services.
• Conducts ongoing client needs assessments and verifies needs by contacting medical and health services providers.
• Presents client assessments to professional staff for approval.
• Completes narrative reports regarding a client's condition and services provided and/or recommended. Enters data regarding case and client information and contacts into automated system.
• Makes client referrals to medical personnel or social workers as needed.
• Provides direct training and counseling to mentally ill and developmentally disabled parents on parenting and household management skills, and teaches families about nutritional meal preparation, budgeting and household care.
• Monitors the medical and psychological care of abused children.
• Supervises visits between parents and children and reports observations to social worker.
• Provides emergency child care.
• Transports or accompanies clients to appointments for service or interviews.
• May testify in juvenile court hearings.
• Assists Social Workers in providing a variety of child and adult social services.
• Acts as liaison between clients and professional staff, individuals and groups in the community serviced.
• Directly assists families in using and learning about the resources of society, particularly medical, legal and employment services.
• Maintains records of work performed, and performs other related work as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of:

• Basic rules and regulations regarding In-Home Support Services, child abuse reporting, and Welfare and Institution Codes.
• Basic community resources useful to clients served, acceptable housekeeping and homemaking standards, including the methods, materials and equipment used in general housekeeping work.
• Basic methods and attitudes involved in the in-home care of physically ill, handicapped or disabled persons and adequate food preparation with limited kitchen equipment.

Ability to:

• Interview persons to obtain a variety of information applicable to the provision of social services.
• Understand and accept differences in human behavior resulting from cultural, economic or other forms of deprivation.
• Effectively instruct physically and mentally disabled adults in parenting and household skills.
• Deal with physically and sexually abused children.
• Prepare basic written reports.
• Recognize and report specific indications of need for social services.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers, outside organizations, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications
Sixty (60) semester units or ninety (90) quarter units of college, including fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and one-half (22.5) quarter units in social welfare, social/human service, sociology, or other social or behavioral science;

OR

Two (2) years of full-time experience providing social services in a public or private setting to disadvantaged adults or children;

OR

A combination of education and comparable experience equivalent to two years of full-time experience which includes a minimum of fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and one-half (22.5) quarter units in social or behavioral science. When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and one-half (22.5) quarter units equal six months of experience.

Examples of social or behavioral science courses include: anthropology, criminal justice, economics, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, law, nursing, nutrition, philosophy, political science, psychology, public health, religion, social welfare, sociology, welfare, women's studies.

Supplemental Information
EXAMINATION INFORMATION

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION - WEIGHTED 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate's knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.


Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.
BILINGUAL TESTING

This job posting is for a bilingual position. Job applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in the job bulletin and be successful in the interview process. As a condition of employment, candidates who are selected for hire must receive a qualifying proficiency score on the Spanish bilingual certification examination(s) administered by MSS.
For Social Services Assistant, the required proficiency level is:
ILR Level 3 - Professional Working Proficiency:At this rating, bilingual persons are able to speak and write the required language effectively with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary. Persons can participate effectively in most conversations on practical, social, and professional topics. They can discuss special fields of competence with reasonable ease. Their vocabulary is broad enough that they seldom search for words. Persons at this level may have an obvious foreign accent but have good control of grammar and their errors virtually do not interfere with understanding or disturb native speakers.

Please review the bilingual examination information below:
SPANISH ORAL EXAMINATION
The oral examination is designed to elicit the full range of the target language to identify how well candidates use and control the language. The oral examination is administered over the phone and consists of a series of prompts (such as providing a description, discussing a hypothetical event, providing an opinion, etc.) requiring an oral response. Candidates will be evaluated on comprehension, communication, grammar, and vocabulary.


SPANISH WRITTEN EXAMINATION
The written examination is designed to evaluate the reading and writing proficiency of the candidate. The written examination is administered online and consists of several prompts presented in the target language. Candidates are required to provide a written response and will be evaluated on comprehension, expression, and mechanics.

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION
A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Imperial. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

RETEST PERIOD

Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.


SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.
EDUCATION DOCUMENTS

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• A valid driver's license is required at the time of appointment. Employees may also be required to drive their own car and provide proof of car insurance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• This position requires pre-employment drug testing, a physical examination, and fingerprinting for a background investigation.
• Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information.
• Employees in this position will be required to drive in and out of the county to conduct business. Travel may include an airplane commute.
• Employees may be required to work with clients of various age groups and clients with mental health issues, physical health issues, substance abuse issues, victims of abuse and/or domestic violence, at risk of abuse, and financial instability.
• Employees may encounter hostile and emotionally troubled clients, including children, parents and adults under the influence of controlled substances and alcohol.
• Employees will be required to represent the County in administrative appeals and fair hearings.
• The ability to speak, read, and write Spanish in addition to English would be an asset in this position. Applicants for English/Spanish bilingual designated positions must take and pass the bilingual proficiency examination administered by the California Department of Human Resources, Merit System Services.

• Employees in this position will be required to participate in "Shift Work", which include overnight hours (graveyard shift), early morning hours or a rotating schedule that changes over a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.
• Employees in this position may be required to work overtime.
• Employees may be required to change diapers, carry infants/toddlers, and secure children in car seats.
• All Imperial County employees are considered Disaster Service Workers and might be required to take the associated FEMA training. As a State of Calif. disaster service worker, employees may be required to work during a declared emergency or disaster.

ABOUT IMPERIAL COUNTY
Imperial County is located in the Imperial Valley in the southeast of California, bordering Arizona and Mexico, with the Colorado River forming the County's eastern boundary. Imperial County is a major agricultural center, producing half of the nation's winter vegetables, as well as extensive renewable resources, such as geothermal, wind, and solar. Off-road enthusiasts are drawn to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation area, and the Colorado River is a popular destination for watersports, including fishing, boating, and water skiing. Fans of the popular movie, The Return of the Jedi, will recognize the Algo Dones Sand Dunes, where the movie was filmed.
Merit System Services does not negotiate or determine the benefits or salaries for positions offered by its partners. For more information about benefits or salaries, please visit the listed county or child support office's website or contact their human resources department.
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By selecting "yes" below, I certify my understanding of the requirement to provide substantiating educational documents (i.e., transcripts, foreign degree evaluation) if I am using education to meet the minimum qualifications. I understand that failure to provide substantiating educational documents may result in disqualification of my application.

• Yes
• No

Required Question