Social Worker III (Merit Services)

Under general direction, the Social Worker Ill 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 Ill 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 they are assigned to a specific geographic or functional area such as Court Investigations, Family

Maintenance/Reunification, Emergency Response, Child/Adult Protection, or Foster Care. A Social Worker Ill may act as a

lead worker to other social service workers. Incumbents are expected to work independently.

Social Worker Ill 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 Ill differs from Social Worker IV-A/8 in that the latter is the most experienced worker and requires

both advanced education and social work experience.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED

Incumbents in the Social Worker Ill classification receive general direction from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level

manager or deputy director, and may act as lead worker to lower classification working in the same program area.

DESIERABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in Adult Protective Services (APS) and/or Child Protective Services (CPS) Candidates with professional

experience in APS and/or CPS, particularly those involving investigation, case management, and direct client services, are

highly desirable. This includes familiarity with state and federal regulations, experience with California Child Welfare

Services (CWS), Case Management System (CMS), and/or LEAPS, and best practices in safeguarding vulnerable

populations.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 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 and

• 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 and achieve technical competence

• 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 National Association of Social Workers

(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 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
• 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 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, and the effects of abuse on child/adult development and behavior
• Signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use/abuse 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

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 and/or county regulations
• 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 and potential dangers to

clients

• Apply existing laws, rules, and regulations to welfare department operations
• Interpret and explain to applicants, recipients, 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
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment and related software
• Act appropriately in emergency and stressful situations
• Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients
• Respect cultural differences
• Work with difficult or complex cases/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 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.

DESIERABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in Adult Protective Services (APS) and/or Child Protective Services (CPS) Candidates with professional

experience in APS and/or CPS, particularly those involving investigation, case management, and direct client services, are

highly desirable. This includes familiarity with state and federal regulations, experience with California Child Welfare

Services (CWS), Case Management System (CMS), and/or LEAPS, and best practices in safeguarding vulnerable

populations.

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.

• The position may require pre-employment drug testing, physical examination, and fingerprinting for a background

investigation.

• Government agencies accessing US government information, which includes federal tax information must ensure that

background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax

information are consistent with the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A

background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records. Background

requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification, and local law

enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct an investigation during the time of hire and ensure a

reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that

has access to federal tax information.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION - WEIGHTED 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate's

knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the

questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination

to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the

examination.

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.

If conditions warrant, an Education and Experience examination may be conducted in lieu of the Training and Experience

examination. Please review the Education and Experience examination information below:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION - WEIGHTED 100%

The Education & Experience examination is based solely upon information provided from the application and supplemental

information (e.g., resumes, transcripts). Information provided from the application and supplemental information will be

assessed compared to a standard developed in relation to the elements of the job. Special care should be taken in

submitting a complete description of your education and experience relevant to the typical tasks, scope, and minimum

qualifications stated on this bulletin. Supplemental information will be accepted, but competitors should read this bulletin

carefully to determine what kind of information will be useful to those individuals completing the evaluation. To obtain a

position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.

Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION

A departmental promotional eligible list will be established for the county of Alpine. The list will be utilized for 12 months

after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

RETEST PERIOD

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

SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS

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

require such arrangements, please contact Cal HR at mssprogram@calhr.ca.gov or 916-909-3701 upon notification that your

application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the

accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.

EDUCATION DOCUMENTS

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application.

Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the

foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon

appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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.

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances

under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and

all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination

will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the

entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability,

good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the

assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background

investigation may be required.

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 (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual

orientation.

ABOUT ALPINE COUNTY

Nestled along the majestic crest of the Central Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Alpine County is California's best-kept

secret, boasting the smallest population of all the state's counties. With only about 1,200 residents, this hidden gem is a

tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Alpine County is perfectly situated south of the iconic Lake Tahoe and north of the breathtaking Yosemite National Park.

The county's population is charmingly concentrated in a few picturesque mountain communities. Woodfords offers a

glimpse into rustic living, while Bear Valley and Kirkwood attract outdoor enthusiasts with their stunning landscapes and

recreational opportunities. The county seat, Markleeville, serves as the heart of this serene region, embodying the spirit of

small-town America with its close-knit community and historic charm. Alpine County is not just a place; it's a serene

sanctuary where nature's beauty and a slower pace of life take precedence.

Agency: CalHR

Phone: 916-909-3251

Department: Alpine County Health and Human Services

Address: Cal HR, Attn: Merit System Services

1515 S Street, North Building, Suite 500

Sacramento, California, 95811

Website: httgs://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mss

Social Worker Ill: Location - Alpine County, Supplemental Questionnaire

• QUESTION 1

By selecting "yes" below, I certify my understanding of the requirement to provide substantiating educational documents

(i.e., transcripts, foreign degree evaluation) if I am using education to meet the minimum qualifications. I understand that

failure to provide substantiating educational documents may result in disqualification of my application.

0 Yes

0 No

• QUESTION 2

By selecting "yes" below, I certify my understanding of the location of this position. This position is in Markleeville, CA.

0 Yes

0 No

• QUESTION 3

Please describe your experience in Adult Protective Services (APS) and/or Child Protective Services (CPS). In your

response, include the specific roles you held, types of cases you managed, specific training or certifications you have

related to APS and/or CPS and how your experience prepares you to succeed in this position.

• Required Question

Interested candidates must apply via Merit Services - CLICK HERE

At Alpine County, we seek employees with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to better serve our community. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.