Job Details

Overview

Under general direction, the Social Worker III carries a difficult caseload involving the determination of need for basic social services functions for applicants or clients; performs social studies and assignments involving individualized treatment and specialized application of casework methods and skills; provides comprehensive casework services of a tangible nature; and performs other related work as assigned.

Social Worker III is the advanced journey level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents are normally assigned a selected caseload of the more difficult cases and when needed are given supervisory consultation in development of treatment plans. They may also be assigned to a specialized function requiring a high degree of perception such as a special problem caseload or a specific geographic or functional area such as Court Investigations, Family Maintenance/Reunification, Emergency Response, Child/Adult Protection, or Foster Care. A Social Worker III may act as a lead worker to other social service workers. Incumbents are expected to work independently.

Social Worker III differs from Social Worker II in that the former receives the more difficult assignments requiring greater skill and depth of job knowledge in assessing problem situations and formulating plans for services. Incumbents normally work with a high degree of independence of action in administering services and in making use of agency or community resources. Social Worker III differs from Social Worker IV-A/B in that the latter is the most experienced worker and requires both advanced education and social work experience.

Duties

• Carries a caseload of more difficult types of social services cases requiring a high degree of technical competence, such as situations where environmental forces affect family life
• Receives and responds to reports of suspected abuse; obtains information from reporters; personally investigates and assesses situations to protect vulnerable adults and children and recommends alternate placement; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys; may be required to work on-call; may testify in court
• Performs case studies evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determines appropriate types and methods of treatment
• Develops and carries out social treatment plans for an assigned caseload; ensures all services are delivered in a respectful, culturally sensitive and appropriate manner
• Counsels or provides guidance and support to individuals and/or families with more complex or specialized needs including Adult Protective Services, crisis intervention, special medical or legal needs, and other social services
• Refers clients to other staff members
• Makes a diagnosis of client problems and follows through with the social treatment plans with a high degree of independence
• Interprets policies, rules, and regulations to client, applicants, and others
• May act as a lead worker to a small group of social service workers or service employees
• Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources for individual needs
• Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments
• Develops and prepares court report, 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
• Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work processes
• 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 all duties in conformance with the NASW Code of Ethics
• Performs related duties as assigned

Employment Standards

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
• 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
• Principles and techniques of interviewing and recording of social casework
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of the public welfare agency
• 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
• Strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques
• Psychopathology and how mental illness affects behavior and services
• Signs, stages and dynamics of abuse
• Signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use/abuse in adults and children
• 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
• Understand and apply the agency program, policy and procedures
• Obtain facts and recognize the relevance and significance
• Organize and maintain work detail
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with agency staff, clients, and outside organizations
• Analyze situation 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, elderly and dependent adults; assess risk factors
• Apply existing laws, rules, and regulations to welfare department operations
• Interpret and explain 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
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment
• Act appropriately in emergency and stressful situations
• Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult clients
• Respect cultural differences
• Work with difficult or complex cases/clients
• Analyze data from multiple sources and apply complex directions

Qualifications Pattern 1/2/3

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;

OR

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;

OR

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, or a Counseling program from an accredited college or university, emphasizing Marriage, Family and Child Counseling or Marriage and Family therapy, 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; conducting investigations of abuse and neglect; preparing court reports; responsibility for a long term caseload, monitoring compliance through home calls and other personal contact; collaboration with other agencies and linking clients to resources and programs; development of a case plan, modification of case plans as needed/required; and authority to impose sanctions or implement actions that impact services.

Examples of acceptable social or behavioral science courses include: anthropology, criminal justice, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, law, human services, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health, social welfare, sociology, welfare, women's studies.

Additional Information

• A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Position may require pre-employment drug testing, physical and fingerprinting for a background investigation.
• Background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information; includes fingerprinting, citizenship verification, and local law enforcement checks with reinvestigation every 10 years.

Veterans Preference

If you would like to request Veteran's preference points as part of the application packet, please attach a copy of your DD-214 form to your application.

Examination Information

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION WEIGHTED 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit information regarding each candidate's knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses will be scored against predetermined criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination. A minimum of 70% is required to be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List Information

A departmental open eligible list will be established for Mariposa County. The list will be used for 12 months unless needs require otherwise.

Retest Period

Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the eligibility date.

Special Testing Arrangements

Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. Contact CalHR for arrangements.

Application Documents

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, attach transcripts. Foreign transcripts require evaluation. Redact birthdates and social security numbers.

General Information

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee success or placement.

General Qualifications: Applicants must have integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, and the ability to work with others. A medical examination or background investigation may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all.

About Mariposa County

Mariposa County location information is provided for context in the original posting but is not part of the job requirements. The final description should focus on the role and qualifications above.