Child Welfare Worker I/II

Description

The County of Yolo Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is recruiting to fill two (2) Limited Term positions in the classification of Child Welfare Worker I/II housed in the Child, Youth & Family branch. The positions will support the Ongoing Unit in response to the Family Finding & Engagement allocation from CDSS and the Emergency Response Unit in response to the ER Enhancement allocation from CDSS. The level of offer is at the discretion of the hiring manager.

The incumbent will be responsible for but not limited to the following duties:

• Performs moderate to complex casework services with children and families;
• Understands cultural diversity, and identifies and provides culturally competent services;
• Discusses and assesses supportive services available to client, maintains knowledge of community resources, and makes referrals to contract providers and/or supportive services;
• Consults regularly on cases with coworkers, service providers and supervisor;
• Observes and documents attitudes and behaviors, counsels client to identify consistencies and confront inconsistencies, identifies and addresses child and family functioning, and presents alternatives to client's problems;
• Adheres to court directives;
• Follows up with client on progress toward service plan; redirects and refocuses client on defined plan and goals when necessary;
• Maintains regular contact with client in accordance with state and federal mandates;
• Works with client to develop and implement comprehensive service plans;
• Provides outreach and training to schools, community-based organizations, service providers and other community agencies and individuals and may serve on related committees;
• Completes psychosocial assessments; identifies problems requiring intervention, possible causes, family strengths, family needs, family dynamics, etc.; and prepares written report of findings;
• Interviews child, family members and other collateral contacts utilizing forensic investigation techniques;
• Takes child into protective custody and performs associated case management duties;
• Petitions the court for appropriate findings and orders related to clients, writes and submits a variety of court and legal reports within strict court deadlines, serves appropriate notices of court hearings, attends court hearings, works closely with attorneys, and responds to questions and/or testifies under oath;
• Documents, compiles and maintains case records; and
• Utilizes all aspects of CWS/CMS system

• Performs moderate to complex casework services with children and families;
• Understands cultural diversity, and identifies and provides culturally competent services;
• Discusses and assesses supportive services available to client, maintains knowledge of community resources, and makes referrals to contract providers and/or supportive services;
• Consults regularly on cases with coworkers, service providers and supervisor;
• Observes and documents attitudes and behaviors, counsels client to identify consistencies and confront inconsistencies, identifies and addresses child and family functioning, and presents alternatives to client's problems;
• Adheres to court directives;
• Follows up with client on progress toward service plan; redirects and refocuses client on defined plan and goals when necessary;
• Maintains regular contact with client in accordance with state and federal mandates;
• Works with client to develop and implement comprehensive service plans;
• Provides outreach and training to schools, community-based organizations, service providers and other community agencies and individuals and may serve on related committees;
• Completes psychosocial assessments; identifies problems requiring intervention, possible causes, family strengths, family needs, family dynamics, etc.; and prepares written report of findings;
• Interviews child, family members and other collateral contacts utilizing forensic investigation techniques;
• Takes child into protective custody and performs associated case management duties;
• Petitions the court for appropriate findings and orders related to clients, writes and submits a variety of court and legal reports within strict court deadlines, serves appropriate notices of court hearings, attends court hearings, works closely with attorneys, and responds to questions and/or testifies under oath;
• Documents, compiles and maintains case records; and
• Utilizes all aspects of CWS/CMS system.

Distinguishing Characteristics
A Child Welfare Services Worker II is the first full journey-level classification responsible for performing the full range of child welfare casework services for less complex cases with direct supervision. Not all incumbents in the Child Welfare Services Worker II classification carry a caseload.

Promotion from one classification to the next within the Child Welfare Services classification series is not automatic. Promotion decisions depend upon the job duty assignment of the incumbent and the needs of the department. Where the incumbent's duties and the department's needs rise to a higher level, employees may request to promote. Promotion to the next higher classification in the job series will only be approved upon demonstration of work performance that exceeds standards and upon successful completion of the promotional testing process.

Essential Functions

The following duties are typical of those performed by incumbents in this classification; however other duties may also be required.

• Performs moderate to complex casework services with children and families;
• Maintains thorough and up-to-date knowledge of Federal, State and County rules, regulations, policies and procedures related to social services programs;
• Interprets rules, regulations, policies and programs to clients and the public;
• Interviews clients in a variety of settings to assess risk and need for services such as home, school, office, hospital, jail, etc.;
• Understands cultural diversity, and identifies and provides culturally competent services;
• Discusses and assesses supportive services available to client, maintains knowledge of community resources, and makes referrals to contract providers and/or supportive services;
• Consults regularly on cases with coworkers, service providers and supervisor;
• Observes and documents attitudes and behaviors, counsels client to identify consistencies and confront inconsistencies, identifies and addresses child and family functioning, and presents alternatives to client's problems;
• Works with client to develop and implement comprehensive service plans;
• Adheres to court directives;
• Follows up with client on progress toward service plan; redirects and refocuses client on defined plan and goals when necessary;
• Provides outreach and training to schools, community-based organizations, service providers and other community agencies and individuals and may serve on related committees;
• Maintains regular contact with client in accordance with state and federal mandates;
• Completes psychosocial assessments; identifies problems requiring intervention, possible causes, family strengths, family needs, family dynamics, etc.; and prepares written report of findings;
• Investigates referrals of child abuse or neglect by independently reviewing information, assessing risk to children, and determining an appropriate course of action;
• Interviews child, family members and other collateral contacts utilizing forensic investigation techniques;
• Takes child into protective custody and performs associated case management duties;
• Petitions the court for appropriate findings and orders related to clients, writes and submits a variety of court and legal reports within strict court deadlines, serves appropriate notices of court hearings, attends court hearings, works closely with attorneys, and responds to questions and/or testifies under oath;
• Documents, compiles and maintains case records; and
• Utilizes all aspects of CWS/CMS system.

Employment Standards

Child Welfare Worker I:

Child Welfare Worker II:

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work, sociology, social science, counseling, psychology or other human services field; AND

Experience: Two (2) years social work casework experience in a public or private social services agency.

Special Requirement: This position requires incumbents to work on call shifts on a rotational basis including evening and weekend work.

Background Requirements
Incumbents in this class may have access to Federal Tax Information and are subject to confidentiality and safeguarding requirements of Internal Revenue Code 6103(p)(4). As such, an individual selected for this position is subject to a thorough background investigation as stipulated in Section 5.1.1 of Internal Revenue Service Publication 1075, which includes the following:

• Review of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint results;
• Check of local law enforcement agencies where the subject has lived, worked and/or attended school within the last five (5) years and, if applicable, of the appropriate agency for any identified arrests; and
• Verification of an employee's eligibility to work in the United States.

Background investigations are conducted upon hire and every ten (10) years of employment thereafter.

License
Positions in this classification require incumbents to possess and maintain a valid California driver's license, Class C or higher, to carry out job related duties. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical or mental disability may request a reasonable. accommodation.

Application & Selection Process

Application Process
It is highly recommended that you print this job bulletin for future reference.
Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the closing date. Application information must be current, concise, and related to the requirements in this job announcement. A resume should be included with your application; however, it will not substitute for the information requested on the application. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.

Additional documents may be submitted to the Yolo County Human Resources Office in any one or more of the following ways:

• As an attachment to the online application
• By e-mail to carrie.matthews@yolocounty.gov.

• Screen for Minimum Qualifications
• Screen for Best Qualified
• Department Selection Interviews
• Reference Checks
• Conditional Job Offer, pending:
  • Pre-Employment Exams
    • Drug & Alcohol Screen
    • Department of Justice LiveScan
• Confirmed Job Offer
• Estimated Start Date: To be determined

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• CalPERS Retirement
• Deferred Compensation Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Vacation, Sick, and Administrative Leave
• Holidays & Floating Holidays
• Disability Plans
• Social Security & Medicare