Deputy Public Guardian

CURRENT VACANCY IS WITHIN THE

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH

OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

ORAL EXAM IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 2025

SKILLS OR EXPERIENCES LISTED UNDER THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

STATEMENT MAY ALSO BE USED TO SCREEN APPLICATIONS

SEE “SPECIAL REQUIREMENT” SECTION REGARDING 

POSSESSION OF A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE 

RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED

FINAL FILING DATE: FEBRUARY 24, 2025 AT 12:00 PM

SALARY INFORMATION

$4,369 - $5,576 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY* / $25.21 - $32.17 APPROXIMATE HOURLY*

*Please refer to the appropriate Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding for potential future salary increases* Please visit https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/labor-agreements-mous.

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere.  With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with communities to protect and improve the health and well-being of Shasta County residents. Established in 2006, the HHSA is organized into four branches: Children’s Services, Adult Services, Public Health and Economic Mobility, with a centralized administration. The HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill and those without resources look to the HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, and to protect their health and safety. This transformation improves efficiency, avoids unnecessary duplication of effort, encourages collaboration among programs and organizes the HHSA’s services to be more responsive to the needs of the public.

Adult Services focuses on issues that affect people eighteen and older. Adult mental health services include outpatient mental health care, 24-hour crisis stabilization services for people at risk of hospitalization, 24-hour crisis residential services, long-term placement services and referrals to local non-profit organizations that provide additional services. This branch also provides Adult Protective Services to follow-up on elder abuse reports. In-Home Supportive Services help those who need assistance with daily activities in order to remain safely in their own homes, and the Public Authority keeps a registry that helps In-Home Supportive Services recipients find a screened caregiver to provide those services. The Public Guardian helps citizens who are unable to manage their personal and financial affairs and may require guardianship or conservatorship. Mental Health Services Act administration is also housed in the Adult Services Branch.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general supervision, to investigate reports of persons who may be incompetent or gravely disabled and in need of guardianship or conservatorship protection; to plan and monitor the fiscal affairs of such persons; and to perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Incumbents in this class report to the Supervising Deputy Public Guardian and perform guardianship and conservatorship investigations.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Health & Human Services Agency of Shasta County is committed to providing fair and equal access to services. If you share this same commitment, desire a meaningful career serving the public, and want the opportunity to make a difference for your community, consider a career with us. We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and characteristics. This individual will be willing to travel out of town and overnight as needed. The ideal candidate will be able to make an immediate positive impact on external and internal customers. With a professional attitude and appearance, the ideal candidate will demonstrate a desire for serving those in need while promoting community health and well-being. This individual will be a positive contributor to the site culture and exemplify the agency values of Collaboration, Adaptability, Respect and Excellence. We welcome a candidate who is interested in a fast-paced, team-oriented, collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will be good with communication, multitasking, organizing and have the ability to maintain strong interpersonal skills. 

Shasta County is looking for a dynamic Deputy Public Guardian to join the Adult Services Staff. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of a two-year experience as a Social Service Program Aide, Assistant Social Worker or other relatable experience is desirable.  The ideal candidate will possess experience in the following areas:

• Outstanding analytical skills, with demonstrated ability, to think logically and arrive at sound conclusions
• Investigative skills, specifically in determining an individual’s ability to provide for their own food, clothing, and shelter
• Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and complete multiple time sensitive tasks
• Experience in estate management (including knowledge of stocks, bonds, trusts, personal and real property)
• Managing and making financial decisions for clients

Investigates and makes recommendations on conservatorship requests; plans, organizes and coordinates the investigative and clerical functions required in maintaining the person and estate of conservatees; interviews conservatees and/or relatives, friends and others to assess need for conservatorship and to determine assets and financial capabilities of conservatees; gathers input from doctors, social workers and others assigned to the case; prepares written reports to be presented in court; may testify in court to verity information/data collected, prepares inventory of client’s real and personal property; arranges for sale, rent, repair or lease of client’s property, plans budget and monitors household expenditures of clients; searches legal records; arranges for physical support of clients, such as housing and transportation; inspects living facilities and assists clients in solving day to day problems and in dealing with salespersons, insurance agents and other service vendors; applies provisions of applicable laws, code and regulations.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Knowledge of: Lanterman-Petris-Short Conservatorship laws and other Welfare and Institution Codes as well as Probate Codes as they apply to conservatorships; principles of interviewing and problem solving; principles of personal finance and budgeting; common community health, social and legal support services; basic social and psychological problems common to emotionally disturbed, mentally ill or physically handicapped persons.
 
Ability to: Conduct estate and financial investigation and interviews; prepare and present clear and concise reports; establish and maintain effective personal relationships with incompetent persons; interpret and apply laws to negotiations concerning conservatorship cases; transact complicated financial and business affairs for conservatees; deal tactfully with persons with a variety of cultural, educational, and occupational backgrounds; analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a bachelor’s degree, including thirty (30) semester college units in social welfare, social/human services; sociology, or other behavioral sciences;

AND

Either two (2) years of experience as an Assistant Social Workerin Shasta County OR Two (2) years of experience performing social casework services in child or adult protective services comparable to an Assistant Social Worker in Shasta County; OR Possession of a master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university, or a master’s degree from a two year counseling program from an accredited college or university.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Possession of an appropriate California driver’s license.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

1. Do you possess a bachelor’s degree, including thirty (30) semester college units in social welfare, social/human services; sociology, or other behavioral sciences? If “Yes,” list the courses and number of college units per class. If “No,” type N/A.
2. Do you have two (2) years of experience as an Assistant Social Worker in Shasta County? Yes/No
3. Do you have two (2) years of experience performing social casework services in child or adult protective services comparable to an Assistant Social Worker in Shasta County? If “Yes,” provide details including, but not limited to, employers, dates of employment, job titles, and job duties. If “No,” type N/A.
4. Do you possess a master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university, or a master’s degree from a two year counseling program from an accredited college or university. If “Yes,” please indicate the type of degree you received and the college or university you received it from. If “No,” type N/A.
5. I acknowledge this position requires an appropriate driver’s license. Yes/No

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold, and extreme heat. Exposure to unsanitary conditions, e.g., spoiled foods, feces, urine, and disease. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account.
• Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position.
• As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. 
• Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. 

• In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
• Positions in this classification are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the United Public Employees of California – General Unit.  

Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 12:00 p.m., on February 24, 2025. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,” or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter” the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. 

Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof. 

Veterans' Credit:Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran MUST provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at www.ShastaCountyCareers.com or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.

Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Shasta County Personnel

1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) 225-5515

Salary : $52,428 - $66,912