Adult Services Worker I/II

County of Yolo•Woodland, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) is recruiting to fill one (1) regular, full-time position in the classification of Adult Services Worker for the In-Home Supportive Services Program (IHSS). IHSS serves Medi-Cal eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing eligible recipients with authorized service hours to hire an IHSS provider to assist them the completion of activities of daily living and help them remain in their homes safely. The Yolo County IHSS Program serves over 4,000 recipients and 4,000 providers. IHSS is funded by federal, state, and county funds. A primary responsibility of the Adult Services Worker (ASW) is evaluating eligibility for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and determining the level and type of assistance an individual requires with activities of daily living. This work requires a comprehensive understanding of the individual's functional abilities & limitations, medical and psychosocial circumstances, living environment, and ability to safely perform essential activities independently. The ASW position requires case authorizations and reassessments to be completed in the recipient’s home. A significant part of the work is completed in the field, in the recipient’s home, to assess the level of support an IHSS recipient needs to remain safe in their home. The main IHSS office is in Woodland, CA and the caseload can include cases countywide based on program needs. ASWs currently carry caseloads that may fluctuate between approximately 200 and 230 cases. However, the older adult population continues to grow. Statewide, an average caseload can be around 325-360. We anticipate our program will continue to grow and foresee caseloads reaching the statewide level. The ideal candidate has In-Home Supportive Services knowledge and experience working with older adults and individuals with disabilities. They must be able to learn and follow the IHSS policies & procedures to effectively implement them when delivering services. They must be able to meet deadlines and complete IHSS recipient assessments and annual reassessments timely. Case management experience is highly desirable and will be crucial for candidate success. To meet the demand of our IHSS recipients and their families the incumbent MUST be Russian bilingual.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work, sociology, social science, counseling, psychology or other related field.
None required (for Adult Services Worker I).
Two (2) years of social services casework experience, including a minimum of one (1) year of experience performing IHSS eligibility determinations in a local government agency comparable to the Yolo County class of Adult Services Worker I (for Adult Services Worker II).
Valid California driver's license, Class C or higher.
Must be Russian bilingual.
Principles and techniques of interviewing, ongoing assessing of risk, and managing a social services case load
Local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations governing adult services, program eligibility, and professional rules of conduct
Community organizations and the use of public and private community resources
Professional social work methods, practices and procedures
Current trends and methodology in the field of public social services
Bio-psycho-social, economic and cultural factors affecting individual and human growth and development
Crisis counseling, conflict resolution and mediation techniques
General record keeping and case management techniques
Ability to work cooperatively with co-workers, other agencies and the public
Establish relationships and work professionally with clients, including those in crisis, and hostile and abusive persons
Engage clients in the problem solving process
Utilize mental health assessments to guide referrals and assess risk
Interpret, explain, apply, and adhere to complex laws, rules, and regulations
Provide culturally competent services
Recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness and drug/alcohol use
Prepare and present clear and concise reports
Communicate effectively in verbal and written form
Seek, receive and utilize consultation and supervision

Nice To Haves

Case management experience is highly desirable and will be crucial for candidate success.

Responsibilities

Interviews clients in a variety of settings such as home, hospital, nursing home, etc. to assess need for services.
Discusses and assesses supportive services needed by client, determines client's level of functionality through observation and advanced interviewing skills, and determines client's functional index.
Determines eligibility for supportive services, ensures proper Notices of Action are generated by automated computer system, authorizes advance payments for supportive services providers, and reconciles advance payments.
Makes referrals for medical evaluation, contract providers and/or supportive services.
Advocates for and assists client in obtaining supportive services including services to meet basic needs such as safety, food, shelter, clothing, medical care, etc.
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 for clients and the public.
Provides culturally competent services by identifying and understanding cultural diversity.
Provides outreach and training to community-based organizations, service providers and other community agencies and individuals and may serve on related committees.
Maintains regular contact with clients in accordance with state and federal mandates.
Completes psychosocial assessments; and prepares written reports of findings.
Works with the Yolo County District Attorney's Office and local law enforcement agencies; attends court hearings and testifies under oath as necessary.
Documents, compiles and maintains case records using manual and automated case management systems such as CMIPS.
Performs related duties as assigned.