Social Worker II

Position Overview Social Worker II performs basic social services casework and identifies client needs for more intensive services. They maintain a full caseload of moderately difficult cases, conduct assessments, formulate service plans, and provide referrals. Cases may include child welfare, adult services, and employment services. The role requires independent administration of services and use of agency or community resources. Salary Range: $28.23 per hour, $4,893.20 per month, $58,718.40 per year. Responsibilities Conducts interviews with clients, family members, and others in their home, 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 Assesses reports of suspected abuse; may be required to work on-call; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys Develops and carries out culturally sensitive non-complex to moderate treatment plans for an assigned caseload in conformance with agency, state and federal requirements; assists clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish case plan goals Refers clients to other staff members, or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling as necessary; advocates on the clients' behalf for most appropriate services including enabling services Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources Interprets policies, rules, and regulations of the agency to applicants, clients and others within the scope of their responsibility Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments Prepares and maintains case records and databases; communicates decisions, timelines, recommendations and case plans to clients, families and service providers May testify in court May be assigned to specialized functions Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work processes and achieve technical competence Receives casework consultation from professionally trained staff members Provides community outreach for various agency programs Maintains client confidentiality; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics Performs related duties as assigned Carrying a caseload that includes cases with issues of moderate difficulty Counseling or supporting clients with complex or specialized needs; provides crisis intervention Providing self-help information, education, and services; works with client and caregivers to develop and improve caregiving and independent living skills Obtaining and evaluating policy, medical, and psychological reports May serve as mentor to staff, orient staff, provide training and guidance on cases Employment Standards Note: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as distinguished between the two levels in the Definition Section. Knowledge Principles and practices of organization, workload management and time management Principles and practices of note taking, report writing, 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 Role and responsibilities of social workers Principles of interviewing and problem-solving methodology Basic public welfare programs on the federal, state and local level General principles of public assistance policies and programs Developing and preparing court report, case plans, case narratives and safety plans in automated computer systems Entering and retrieving data and narratives from automated computer systems 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 of a social worker Community organization and the social problems calling for the use of public and private community resources Basic principles involved in the nature, growth, and development of personality and in-group processes The 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 The strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques such as voice modulation and assessing the potential for suicide Basic psychopathology, the different types of mental illness diagnoses, how mental illness affects human behavior and mental health services and treatments utilized by clients Ability Understand and learn the agency programs, policies, and procedures Obtain facts and recognize the relevance and significance Organize and maintain work detail Establish and maintain effective client rapport and professional working relationships with agency staff, clients, and others Communicate effectively, both orally (phone and in person) and in writing Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action Interpret and explain to the applicant, recipient, or others public social service programs, policies, rules, and regulations Develop skill in interviewing case recording and interpretation Work within a community setting and effectively use appropriate resources and services Maintain confidentiality in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations Work effectively in emotionally charged or stressful settings/emergencies Operate a personal computer and other office equipment and software Analyze data, interpret and apply directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses Accept and use constructive feedback Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients Respect cultural differences Work with cases varying in difficulty / clients including clients with dual diagnoses, potentially dangerous clients, or legally complex cases Analyze data from multiple sources, interpret and apply complex directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses Minimum Qualifications Pattern 1: One (1) year of full-time experience performing entry level social work case management in the Social Worker I classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county. OR Pattern 2: One (1) year of full-time social work case management experience AND thirty (30) college 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. Examples of acceptable courses include: anthropology, criminal justice, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, human services, law, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health, social welfare, sociology, welfare, women's studies. Examples of qualifying social work case management: assessment, evaluation, conducting investigations of abuse and neglect, preparing court reports, responsible for a long-term caseload, monitoring compliance through home calls and other personal contact, collaborating with other agencies, linking clients to resources and programs, developing a case plan, modifying case plans as needed, and authorizing sanctions or actions that impact services. Supplemental Information A valid driver's license is required at the time of interview. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis. Positions require pre‑employment screening, including background checks and fingerprinting. Background investigation includes fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. Reinvestigation is required five years after the previous investigation for federal tax information access. Lake County verifies employment and education if a conditional offer is made. Flexible office hours are available for most positions; Monday‑Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Work remotely from home is available for some positions upon Department approval. Examination Information Training & Experience Examination (Weighted 100%) evaluates knowledge, skill, and ability relevant to the duties. Applicants must complete the full examination and receive at least a 70% rating to be placed on the eligible list. Examination administration and processing time is approximately one week after the closing date. An eligible list will be established for 12 months unless conditions change. Retests are not allowed for six months after the eligibility date. Special testing arrangements may be made for disability, military or religious reasons. Documentation must be received at least five business days before the exam. 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 (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. Visa Sponsorship 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr