Social Worker I

The Position

The salary listed reflects the salary increase effective August 2, 2026. 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 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. The current vacancy is within Adult & Aging Services - IHSS in Ukiah. Under close supervision in a learning capacity, performs basic social services casework; identifies client needs for more intensive casework services and provides referrals; manages a caseload of increasingly difficult cases; and performs other related work as assigned. Typical assignments are within child welfare and adult services programs. The Social Worker series provides an excellent career path for those interested in pursuing a career with the County of Mendocino. 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.
• 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.
• 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 service plan goals.
• Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the 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 supports clients with complex or specialized needs; provides crisis intervention.
• 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.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

EITHER Pattern 1: Bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university with a major in social welfare/social work, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science. Pattern 2: Bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university with a major in a field other than listed in the above; AND one (1) year of full-time experience in the Social Worker Assistant II, Employment and Training Worker II, or comparable classification, OR two (2) years of full-time experience providing direct services to children or adults in a private or public agency setting, as defined below. Pattern 3: Successful completion of 30 college semester units (45 quarter) from an accredited college or university, including 15 semester units (22 quarter) in social welfare/social work, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science; AND three (3) years of full-time experience in the Social Worker Assistant II, Employment and Training Worker II, or comparable classification, OR three (3) years of full-time experience providing direct services to children or adults in a private or public agency setting, as defined below. Direct services is defined as: providing professional services in a private or public agency setting to help clients work through life difficulties and overcome challenges. This may include assisting clients who are dealing with a wide range of issues from unemployment, homelessness, and poverty, to terminal illness, domestic violence, and substance abuse. 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.
• Basic principles of individual and group behavior.
• Current issues in the field of social welfare.
• Basic public welfare programs on the Federal, State, and local level.
• General principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Basic 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.
• Basic signs of abuse/neglect of children, the elderly and dependent adults.

• 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 the clients, recipient, or other public social service programs, policies, rules, and regulations.
• Write clear and concise narrative reports, correspondence and other materials.
• Develop skill in 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, interpret and apply directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.

• Basic analysis and problem solving.
• 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 moderate direction.
• Recognize the relevance and significance of obtained facts.
• Work with increasingly difficult cases/clients including clients with dual diagnosis, potentially dangerous clients or legally complex cases.
• Work effectively in emotionally charged or stressful settings/emergencies.
• Accept and use constative supervision and constructive feedback.
• Learn, understand and apply the agency programs, policies, and procedures.
• Use a computer to accurately and rapidly enter and retrieve data and information.
• Assess, evaluate and determine situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• 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