Social Worker I

CalHR•Susanville, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Performs basic social services casework; identifies client needs for more intensive casework services and provides referrals; carries a caseload of moderately difficult cases; manages a caseload of increasingly difficult cases; and performs other related work as assigned. Working under close supervision, Social Worker I is the entry/trainee class in the professional Social Worker series. Employees in this class are learning casework methods, procedures, policies and carry a limited non-complex social services caseload under close supervision and receive in-service training; are given close and constant supervision while learning social work principles, social service programs, basic case work methods and techniques, and departmental rules, regulations and procedures. Typical assignments are within child welfare and adult services programs; however, at the agency's discretion positions may be assigned to employment services to perform social services case work for employment services clients as required by department needs. As requisite skill and knowledge is developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility is exercised. Unless a position is permanently allocated to the Social Worker I level due to the nature of the work, employees are expected to advance to the Social Worker II after one year of satisfactory performance at the trainee level. SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED Incumbents in the Social Worker I/II classification receive direct supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor, or other higher-level supervisor or manager. Examples of Duties Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: (Note: For Social Worker I, duties are performed at the entry/trainee level.) Conducts interviews with clients, family members, and others in their home, in the office, or via telephone to assess the basic social, physical, and mental needs of clients and obtain health information in order to identify and provide social services Performs case studies and evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determines appropriate types and methods of treatment Assesses reports of suspected abuse; may be required to work on-call; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys Develops and carries out culturally sensitive non-complex to moderate treatment plans for an assigned caseload in conformance with agency, state and federal requirements; assists clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish case plan goals Refers clients to other staff members, or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling as necessary; advocates on the clients' behalf for most appropriate services including enabling services Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources Interprets policies, rules, and regulations of the agency to applicants, clients and others within the scope of their responsibility Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments Prepares and maintains case records and databases; communicates decisions, timelines, recommendations and case plans to clients, families and service providers May testify in court May be assigned to specialized functions Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work processes and achieve technical competence Receives casework consultation from professionally trained staff members Provides community outreach for various agency programs Maintains client confidentiality; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics Performs related duties as assigned

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university; OR
Successful completion of thirty (30) college semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units from an accredited college or university, including fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and a half (22.5) quarter units in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science; AND
One (1) year of full-time experience in the Social Service Aide, Eligibility Specialist II, Employment and Training Worker II or comparable classification; OR
Three (3) years of full-time experience providing direct client services to disadvantaged adults or children in a private or public agency.
Understand and learn the agency programs, policies, and procedures
Obtain facts and recognize the relevance and significance
Organize and maintain work detail
Establish and effective client rapport and professional working relationships with agency staff, clients, and others
Communicate effectively, both orally (phone and in person) and in writing
Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action
Interpret and explain to the applicant, recipient, or others public social service programs, policies, rules, and regulations
Develop skill in interviewing case recording and interpretation
Work within a community setting and effectively use appropriate resources and services
Maintain confidentiality in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations
Work effectively in emotionally charged or stressful settings/emergencies
Operate a personal computer and other office equipment and software
Analyze data, interpret and apply directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses
Accept and use constructive feedback
Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients
Respect cultural differences
Work with cases varying in difficulty /clients including clients with dual diagnoses, potentially dangerous clients or legally complex cases
Analyze data from multiple sources, interpret and apply complex directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses
Integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

Nice To Haves

A valid driver's license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance.
Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Position may require pre-employment drug testing, physical and fingerprinting for a background investigation.
Background check may be required if the position requires access to federal tax information. Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks.

Responsibilities

Performs basic social services casework
Identifies client needs for more intensive casework services and provides referrals
Carries a caseload of moderately difficult cases
Manages a caseload of increasingly difficult cases
Conducts interviews with clients, family members, and others in their home, in the office, or via telephone to assess the basic social, physical, and mental needs of clients and obtain health information in order to identify and provide social services
Performs case studies and evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determines appropriate types and methods of treatment
Assesses reports of suspected abuse; may be required to work on-call; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys
Develops and carries out culturally sensitive non-complex to moderate treatment plans for an assigned caseload in conformance with agency, state and federal requirements; assists clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish case plan goals
Refers clients to other staff members, or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling as necessary; advocates on the clients' behalf for most appropriate services including enabling services
Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources
Interprets policies, rules, and regulations of the agency to applicants, clients and others within the scope of their responsibility
Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments
Prepares and maintains case records and databases; communicates decisions, timelines, recommendations and case plans to clients, families and service providers
May testify in court
May be assigned to specialized functions
Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work processes and achieve technical competence
Receives casework consultation from professionally trained staff members
Provides community outreach for various agency programs
Maintains client confidentiality; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics
Performs related duties as assigned