What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Service Practitioner - CPS position at Kings County?
The County of Kings Human Services Agency is seeking dedicated and compassionate professionals to join our team as Social Service Practitioners – CPS. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families while advancing their careers in social services.
We offer competitive wages, excellent benefits, and a robust retirement plan. Multiple vacancies are available, and a six-month eligibility list will be established to fill future openings.
CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A MASTER'S OF SOCIAL WORK (MSW) PROGRAM?
Students currently enrolled in a Master's of Social Work Program from an accredited college and who are expected to graduate on or around Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 may submit an application. However, education requirements must be met by August 31, 2025. (Applicants will not be able to start employment with the County until the applicant can provide documents to the Human Services Agency that they have successfully completed the degree.)
Join our team and help strengthen families, protect children, and build a healthier community in Kings County!
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Social Service Practitioner-CPS is the highest non-supervisory level in the Social Service Worker-CPS classification series. Incumbents perform professional case work of an advanced nature, usually involving the most difficult social services cases. Incumbents facilitate the improvement or restoration of individual or family functioning where intensive diagnosis, treatment, manipulative skills, insight and professional competency are necessary. Incumbents also provide consultation to lower level staff in all phases of social work and may personally perform such functions as community organization and intensive intake work. Incumbents report to a Social Service Supervisor-CPS.
Duties include but are not limited to those described below. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.
Undertakes complex case evaluation for the purpose of assessing problems and determining appropriate types and methods of treatment; undertakes intensive long- or short-term treatment plans which require comprehensive fundamentals of professional knowledge; acts as case work consultant or program consultant to staff members with or without professional training; functions at a highly skilled level in such areas as counseling, medical social work, protective services, family services, community organization, and research.
In the general area of counseling, incumbents may perform the following specific types of counseling: marital or that which deals with other family interrelationships; functions in the area of protective services for children where their physical or emotional welfare is involved (examples of services to children include cases of neglect; emotional or behavioral problems of children; physical or mental disabilities; or health conditions involving a child's personality; conflict in parent-child relationships; inadequate child care arrangements by working parents; or the absence of one parent from the home which may affect the stability of the child's home); interprets rules, regulations and policies to clients and applicants; maintains case work records and handles correspondence; writes court reports and makes presentations to the court; prepares and maintains necessary case work records, including inputting and updating computerized case management information; may act as a lead worker.
Undertakes complex case evaluation for the purpose of assessing problems and determining appropriate types and methods of treatment; undertakes intensive long- or short-term treatment plans which require comprehensive fundamentals of professional knowledge; acts as case work consultant or program consultant to staff members with or without professional training; functions at a highly skilled level in such areas as counseling, medical social work, protective services, family services, community organization, and research.
In the general area of counseling, incumbents may perform the following specific types of counseling: marital or that which deals with other family interrelationships; functions in the area of protective services for children where their physical or emotional welfare is involved (examples of services to children include cases of neglect; emotional or behavioral problems of children; physical or mental disabilities; or health conditions involving a child's personality; conflict in parent-child relationships; inadequate child care arrangements by working parents; or the absence of one parent from the home which may affect the stability of the child's home); interprets rules, regulations and policies to clients and applicants; maintains case work records and handles correspondence; writes court reports and makes presentations to the court; prepares and maintains necessary case work records, including inputting and updating computerized case management information; may act as a lead worker.
Please note: Work experience for the last 15 years must be included in the work history portion of your application. It is also important that your application show all the relevant education and experience that you possess, even if it extends beyond the required past 15 years. When completing the work history portion of your application please include each position title and level as a separate entry when applicable. For example, if you were a Social Service Worker I, Social Service Worker II, and then a Social Service Worker III, each level should be entered separately to reflect the time held at each level. A resume must be attached, but is not a substitute for completing the application and supplemental questions. Failure to submit a completed application may eliminate you from the recruitment.
Any combination of education and relevant experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge, skills and abilities would be:
Option 1:
Education: Completion of a Master's degree from an accredited graduate school of social work,
AND,
Experience: One (1) year of social case work experience in a public or private agency performing duties comparable to Social Services Worker III-CPS OR One (1) year internship experience with child welfare services.
Option 2:
Education: Completion of a Master's degree in counseling, psychology, sociology, other behavioral science, or a related field,
AND,
Experience: Two years of social case work experience in a public or private agency performing duties comparable to a Social Services Worker III-CPS with Kings County.
License: Possession of a valid California driver's license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.
Special Requirements: Ability to qualify for security clearance through a background investigation which includes fingerprinting; ability to work 24-hour stand-by and on-call assignments, including nights, weekends and holidays, as required; requires frequent travel in-county and out-of-county; certain positions in this classification may be designated as bilingual requiring fluency in a foreign language.
Desirable Qualification: Basic computer operation and keyboarding experience or training preferred.
Option 1:
Education: Completion of a Master's degree from an accredited graduate school of social work,
AND,
Experience: One (1) year of social case work experience in a public or private agency performing duties comparable to Social Services Worker III-CPS OR One (1) year internship experience with child welfare services.
Option 2:
Education: Completion of a Master's degree in counseling, psychology, sociology, other behavioral science, or a related field,
AND,
Experience: Two years of social case work experience in a public or private agency performing duties comparable to a Social Services Worker III-CPS with Kings County.
License: Possession of a valid California driver's license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.
Special Requirements: Ability to qualify for security clearance through a background investigation which includes fingerprinting; ability to work 24-hour stand-by and on-call assignments, including nights, weekends and holidays, as required; requires frequent travel in-county and out-of-county; certain positions in this classification may be designated as bilingual requiring fluency in a foreign language.
Desirable Qualification: Basic computer operation and keyboarding experience or training preferred.
For a detailed job description, click here.
All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed. Depending upon the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, the examination process may include a screening committee (pass/fail) and/or an oral examination (100%) which may include a written practical component to determine placement on the eligible list.
VETERAN'S PREFERENCE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Veteran's Preference Application
You must submit a certified DD-214 and a new request form for each application submission prior to the closing date.
Veteran's Preference Application
You must submit a certified DD-214 and a new request form for each application submission prior to the closing date.
Updated Closing date: Monday, March 24, 2025
Updated Human Resources oral board interviews (tentative): Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Salary : $70,782 - $86,403
