Child Welfare Worker II

County of Alameda•Oakland, CA

45d

About The Position

Child Welfare Worker IIs in Alameda County provide intensive assessment, case management and/or casework services toward providing the most stable home environment for children who have been or are in danger of being abused, neglected or abandoned. They perform social casework of an advanced nature for children and families while dealing with complex problems under the time limitation and responsibility imposed by court action; and perform related duties as required. Child Welfare Worker II positions are located in the Social Services Agency, in the Department of Children and Family Services. The ideal candidates for the position of Child Welfare Worker must possess knowledge of the laws and principles related to child welfare. They must possess a broad knowledge and understanding of normal child development and how trauma impacts the developmental process. The successful candidates will have the skill and ability to conduct client interviews, assessment and crisis intervention activities. They will understand normal family functioning and how this functioning is impacted by trauma and loss. Incumbents in the position will exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children and handle high-pressure, crisis situations professionally and be able to extract appropriate information during such situations. They must be able to work with a variety of individuals with varying degrees of mental health functioning, literacy, coping abilities and life skills. They must have the ability to understand the role of the Agency in the treatment plan and the Social Services Agency's policies, procedures, programs and services and be able to articulate this understanding to their clients. In addition, the ideal candidate must possess the following: knowledge of community resources, the ability to set limits to assist clients in taking steps toward greater self-sufficiency, the ability to write clear, concise and descriptive reports under time restraints, strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to work well under pressure and display sound time management techniques, an appreciation for diversity.

Requirements

EITHER I Experience : The equivalent of one (1) year of full-time experience as a Child Welfare Worker I in the Alameda County classified service.
AND Recommendation for promotion based on recent performance evaluations.
OR II Education : Possession of a master's degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work, which included a supervised field placement providing social casework and counseling services to individuals and families.
OR III Education : Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Sociology, Education or an equivalent field (Vocational Rehabilitation majors not acceptable).
AND Experience : Satisfactory completion of two (2) semesters of supervised field work in an agency involved in the provision of direct services to families or children in one of the following or closely related areas: child welfare, family counseling, juvenile probation, pediatric social work, alcohol and drug counseling, school social work, or school counseling.
OR Experience : The equivalent of six (6) months full-time post baccalaureate professional work experience which involved the provision of direct services to families or children in one of the areas previously described.
License : Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Nice To Haves

Qualified bilingual persons who speak English and are also fluent in: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Korean, Mien, Tagalog, Amharic, Farsi, Dari, Tigrigna, Russian, Romanian or Sign Languages are especially encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

provide intensive assessment
case management and/or casework services toward providing the most stable home environment for children who have been or are in danger of being abused, neglected or abandoned
perform social casework of an advanced nature for children and families while dealing with complex problems under the time limitation and responsibility imposed by court action
perform related duties as required

Benefits

Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
Vision or Vision Reimbursement
Share the Savings
Basic Life Insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
County Allowance Credit
Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
Short-Term Disability Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
Employee Assistance Program
Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
12 paid holidays
Floating Holidays
Vacation and sick leave accrual
Vacation purchase program
Catastrophic Sick Leave
Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits Program
Guaranteed Ride Home
Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
Child Care Resources
1 st United Services Credit Union