Social Worker IV-A

This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to work as a Social Worker IV-A with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. As a key member of our team, you will be responsible for carrying a complex caseload of the most complex cases, determining the services required by County applicants or clients for social services, and performing difficult studies and developing comprehensive client service plans.

• 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.
• Carries a caseload of more difficult types of social services cases requiring a high degree of technical competence.
• 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.
• Assess and evaluate client problems and determine service plans with a high degree of independence.
• 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 in 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 case plan goals.
• Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of 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 provides guidance and support to individuals and/or families with more complex or specialized needs including protective services, crisis intervention, special medical or legal needs, and other social services.
• Provides self-help information, education, and services; works with client 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.
• May counsel client/family regarding marital, family inter-relationship, abuse/neglect and life skill issues.
• May be assigned to specialized functions within the agency.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• A Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, or a Master's Degree from an accredited two-year counseling program.
• Valid Driver's License
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• 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.
• Local socio-economic conditions and trends.
• Principles of individual and group behavior.
• Current issues in the field of social welfare.
• Public welfare programs on the federal, state, and local level.
• General principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Principles and techniques of interviewing and recording social casework.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of the public welfare agency and the role and responsibilities of a social worker.
• Community organizations and the social problems calling for the use of public and private community resources.
• 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 such as voice modulation and assessing the potential for suicide.
• Psychopathology, the different types of mental illness diagnoses, how mental illness affects human behavior and mental health services and treatments utilized by clients.
• Signs, stages and dynamics of abuse/neglect, and the effects of abuse/neglect on child/adult development and behavior.
• Signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use abuse/neglect 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.

All complete applications will be reviewed; incomplete applications will not be considered. Based on the number of qualified candidates, applicants meeting the job requirements and qualifications will be invited to participate in an oral examination (weight 100) or an unassembled exam, consisting of an evaluation of education and experience as stated on the application form.

The examination process will test the knowledge and abilities described above. A minimum score of 70 must be attained for placement on the employment list.

If you require special testing arrangements to accommodate a disability or religious conviction you must contact Human Resources prior to the test date to make your requirements known. You must provide enough advance notice to allow Human Resources to properly review and evaluate your request.

Employment in some County departments or positions may require the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background, which may include fingerprinting, and/or a medical examination, which may include drug screening.

This announcement is a synopsis of duties and requirements of this job. To review the complete classification specification and benefits, please see the HR website.

Applications must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by the final filing date.

The County of Mendocino is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This information is a summary of general benefits. Benefits listed in Mendocino County Resolutions or Memorandums of Understanding prevail over this listing. This information is not legally binding, nor does it constitute a Contract.

Compensation is based on a five-step salary range, with annual merit-based increases within the salary range.

Covered under Social Security and the 1937 act; both employees and the County pay into the retirement fund.

Mendocino County observes 11 paid holidays per year. Employees are granted 24 – 48 hours of personal leave annually, depending upon Bargaining Unit.

Accrues at the rate of two weeks per year for three years. Three weeks per year after three years, four weeks after eight years and five weeks after 15 years.

Paid sick leave accrues at the rate of 1.25 days per month, or 15 days per year. Accruals are pro-rated for part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week. Part-time employees working less than 20 hours per week, and extra-help employees receive up to 24 hours (or 3 days) of paid sick leave annually.

The County and the employee share the cost of an employee selected health care plan; enrollment in the plan includes $20,000 Life Insurance.

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