Social Worker II

The Position

Bargaining Unit: Local 1021 - Social Services Rank & File Unit Do you have a passion for helping others? Do you want to make a difference in people's lives? Come join a team committed to helping individuals and families live their best lives! Social Worker II vacancies are available on the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) and the Contra Costa County Public Defender's Office. ASSIGNMENTS IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT (EHSD) The Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) is recruiting to fill Social Worker II vacancies within Aging and Adult Services, Children and Family Services, and Whole Person Care Community Connect. This position will be assigned complex and specialized caseloads which require professional skills gained through graduate studies or extensive on-the-job training. In this position, you will be working directly with individuals or entire family systems with challenging dynamics that include abuse and/or neglect with the goal of preserving or restoring baseline functioning for the identified client system. If assigned to the Children and Family Services Bureau, you will work in the areas of Abuse/Neglect Investigations, Case Management, Juvenile Court, Out-of-Home Placements, Family Reunification/Maintenance, Independent Living Program, Foster Home Licensing and Adoptions. If assigned to the Adult Protective Services, you will be responsible for investigating and mitigating abuse and neglect of elderly and dependent adults. If assigned to Whole Person Care Community Connect, you will be responsible for providing case management and care coordination for enrolled clients served by the County Health Care System. A bilingual differential is available for positions and incumbents designated as bilingual and meet the qualifications. The Social Worker II position is a flexibly-staffed position that offers a promotional opportunity to the Social Worker III class when all the minimum qualifications are met. Applicants interested in the Social Worker III recruitment must complete and submit a separate application for Social Worker III. Contra Costa County offers a wide range of competitive benefit options to meet the needs of our diverse workforce and their families. For general county benefits information, visit our Benefits page at: CCC Employee Benefits. Are you curious about a day in the life of a Social Worker? Check out a couple of the Social Worker profile videos! Adult Protective Services We are looking for someone who has:

• Knowledge and ability to learn and apply complex laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to clients
• Strong analytical, organizational and time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills when working with diverse clients of various ages, socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, and mental and/or physical capabilities
• Strong ability to work collaboratively with other professionals in order to meet the needs of a shared client
• Great communication skills
• Tech-savvy skills and ability to learn and use specialized software programs

A few reasons you might love the job:

• Opportunity to compassionately support children, elders/dependent adults and families
• It's more than a desk job! Travel throughout the beautiful East Bay and neighboring counties to meet with clients and community partners
• Work and network with dedicated professionals who share the same passion for public service
• Career growth and upward mobility within the department
• Supportive and respectful working environment that values work-life balance

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Fast-paced environment
• Meeting mandated deadlines (such as court)
• Identifying ways to navigate limited resources and services while still meeting clients' identified goals and needs
• Keeping up with many changing State mandates and policies

Come join the Contra Costa Public Defenders (CCPD) Office and be part of an interdisciplinary team that utilizes a holistic approach to ensure justice and help achieve the best possible outcome for adults and juveniles charged with crimes. CCPD Social workers assist staff attorneys in their representation of our clients in a variety of ways, including:

• Writing biopsychosocial reports and assessments of clients
• Identifying available social services in the community and connecting clients with those services
• Identifying issues of concern that may have led the person to involvement in the criminal justice system
• Developing plans to help people reintegrate with their communities after incarceration
• Advocating for community-based solutions as alternatives to custody

• The ability to work well with persons from diverse backgrounds and socio-economic statuses
• An understanding of the role of the public defender in advocating for indigent persons accused of crimes
• Great communications skills, oral and written
• The ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments