Social Worker Trainee - Emergency Appointment

County of Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The LA County Department of Human Resources (DHR) is hiring under an emergency order to address high vacancy rates and recruitment efforts, supporting a Countywide strategy to fill persistent staffing shortages that impact essential public services. The Los Angeles County Department of Aging and Disabilities, specifically its Adult Protective Services (APS) Division, is seeking qualified candidates for emergency Social Worker Trainee vacancies. APS investigates reports of suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of older and dependent adults, connecting clients with services for safety and well-being. These positions aim to stabilize critical services and accelerate hiring in high-need areas. Under the emergency order, eligible applicants may be hired for an initial 90-day period with the possibility of permanent County employment, contingent upon a performance assessment weighted at 100%.

Requirements

A Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university.
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
Must meet the educational requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.
Submit a copy of your official diploma, official transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution within seven (7) calendar days of the end of the filing period to [email protected], indicating name, exam name, and exam number. Documents must show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if in a foreign language, must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards.
Documents must be unlocked before attaching to an application or sending to the exam analyst.

Nice To Haves

A Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Gerontology, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, Counseling, Behavioral Science, or Public Health.
Experience working in adult services, mental health, public health, homelessness outreach, or emergency response programs.
Experience conducting field-based investigations.
Ability to speak fluently in any of the following languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian (Khmer), Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin), Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese or other.
Willingness to drive and work in the Lancaster/Antelope Valley area.
Willingness to work in an after hours or overnight shift unit.
Willingness to work in a unit which provides services during weekend hours.

Responsibilities

Receives information, instruction, and practical experience in investigating situations involving older and dependent adults reported to be endangered by abuse, neglect, exploitation or unsafe or hazardous living conditions.
Takes appropriate action and/or reports to the appropriate agency to eliminate or reduce the possibility of endangerment.
Identifies and analyzes clients' needs for service; sets priorities, explores alternatives with clients to develop plans for resolving problems.
Assists clients in carrying out problem-solving activities directed toward resolving housing, money management, health care, citizenship, residence, employment and other tangible problems, through partnerships with community agencies.
Provides information to clients about resources within the department and in the community; assists clients in selecting appropriate resources, contacting agencies, and in utilizing these resources.
Initiates requests for assistance from the appropriate legal authority to gain access to the client or obtain protection for clients in violent situations.
Acts as an advocate on behalf of the clients in situations where the clients are unable to act on their own, and when appropriate, refers clients for conservatorship.
Assists clients and their relatives in locating alternative living arrangements such as nursing homes, intermediate care facilities or board and care homes when in-home supportive services are not appropriate.
Takes appropriate action on referrals from public and private agencies and other jurisdictions.
Makes routine visits to homes, hospitals, and facilities throughout Los Angeles County to assess client's needs.