Social Worker III - CPS

Position Information Salary Range: $35.25 per hour, $6,110 per month, $73,320 per year Responsibilities Carries a caseload of difficult social services cases requiring high technical competence. Receives and responds to reports of suspected abuse; investigates and assesses situations to protect vulnerable adults and children, recommends placements, and may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys; may be required to work on‑call and testify in court. Performs case studies, evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults, and determines appropriate treatment types and methods. Develops and carries out social treatment plans for an assigned caseload, ensuring services are delivered in a respectful, culturally sensitive, and appropriate manner. Counsels or provides guidance and support to individuals and families with complex or specialized needs. Refers clients to other staff members and other agencies. Diagnoses client problems and follows through with social treatment plans with a high degree of independence. Interprets policies, rules, and regulations for clients and others. Acts as a lead worker to a small group of social service workers or service employees when required. Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources for individual needs. Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments. Develops and prepares court reports, case plans, case narratives, and safety plans in automated computer systems. Enters and retrieves data and narratives from automated computer systems. Prepares and maintains case records. Participates in in‑service training and other staff development activities to enhance knowledge of social work processes and achieve technical competence. Receives casework consultation from professionally trained staff members. May be required to testify in court. Works with community organizations and makes referrals to outside resources. Provides self‑help information, education, and services; works with clients and caregivers to develop and improve caregiving and independent living skills. Obtains and evaluates police, medical, and psychological reports. Maintains client confidentiality; performs duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Performs related duties as assigned. Knowledge & Skills Principles and practices of workload and time management. Note taking, report writing, and English composition, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Phone etiquette and interview techniques. Socio‑economic conditions and trends. Basic principles of individual and group behavior. Current issues in the field of social welfare. Principles of analysis and problem‑solving methodology. Basic public welfare programs on the Federal, State, and local level. General principles of public assistance policies and programs. Interviewing and recording of social casework. Laws, rules, and regulations governing public welfare agencies and the role of a social worker. Community organization and the social problems calling for the use of public and private community resources. Current problems and methodology in the field of public social services. 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 including voice modulation and suicide assessment. Psychopathology and mental illness diagnoses, and mental health services and treatments. Signs, stages, and dynamics of abuse, and the effects 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 clients safely in home; options for placement; effects of removing clients from unsafe situations. Ability To Communicate effectively with others in writing, in person, and over the telephone. Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures, and regulations, and develop appropriate responses. Perform job duties under stressful conditions. Respond appropriately to situations. Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and county regulations. Understand and apply agency programs, policies, and procedures. Obtain facts and recognize relevance and significance. Organize and maintain work detail. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, clients, and outside organizations. Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action. Apply the principles of psychology and family relationships to engage individuals and families in social services. Recognize signs of abuse for children, the elderly, and dependent adults; assess risk factors and potential dangers to clients. Apply existing laws, rules, and regulations to welfare department operations. Interpret and explain public social service programs, policies, rules, and regulations to applicants and recipients. Develop interviewing, case recording, and interpretation skills. Work within a community setting and effectively use appropriate resources and services. Operate personal computers and related office equipment and software. Act appropriately in emergency and stressful situations. Interact professionally and respectfully with clients, including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients. Respect cultural differences. Work with difficult or complex cases/clients, including dual diagnoses or legally complex cases. Analyze data from multiple sources, interpret and apply complex directives, and develop appropriate responses. Minimum Qualifications Pattern 1: One (1) year of full‑time experience performing journey‑level social work case management in the Social Worker II classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county. Pattern 2: Two (2) years of full‑time social work case management experience in a public or private agency; AND Thirty (30) semester units or Forty‑five (45) quarter units from an accredited college or university, including Fifteen (15) semester units or Twenty‑two and a half (22.5) quarter units in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science. Pattern 3: Bachelor’s degree and successful completion of Twenty‑four (24) semester or Thirty‑six (36) quarter units of a master’s degree program in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, Gerontology, or Clinical Psychology; AND Twelve (12) months of social work case management experience. Qualifying social work case management includes direct case work management such as assessment, evaluation, investigations of abuse and neglect, court report preparation, long‑term caseload responsibility, monitoring compliance through home calls and other personal contact, collaboration with other agencies, linking clients to resources and programs, development and modification of case plans, and authority to impose sanctions or implement actions that impact services. Acceptable courses: anthropology, criminal justice, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, law, human services, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health, social welfare, sociology, welfare, women’s studies. 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), 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 (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), or sexual orientation. All qualified candidates receive consideration for employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr City of Santa Fe Springs