Looking for a great place to work where you can make a difference in the lives of foster children, youth and families? Are you interested in joining a team of friendly people who are creative, enthusiastic, and experts in their field?

The Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is an autonomous entity within the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), authorized to receive, investigate and resolve complaints and enhance the well-being of children in foster care. The OFCO values diversity at all levels of the organization and is committed to fostering an environment in which employees from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. The OFCO believes the diversity of our team and their unique ideas inspire innovative solutions to further our mission of resolving complaints related to Foster Youth Rights, and the care, services, and placement of children in foster care.

This position is Bilingual-Spanish Speaking.

The Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson seeks a diverse pool of applicants including those from historically marginalized groups or those who have lived experience in the foster care system.

The state offers comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, long-term care and disability insurance, as well as paid leave. Please see the Benefits section below for more details.

Click here to view all the attractive benefits available to state employees!

Need help understanding the examination and hiring process? Do you have a question about CDSS? We'd love to hear from you! Please contact us at Recruiter@dss.ca.gov. Please include the job classification and job control number in the subject line.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Working Conditions

This work location is very convenient! The CDSS is located two blocks from the light rail and public transportation: within walking distance to the State Capitol, parks, restaurants, farmer's markets and the Golden 1 Arena. Our building has easy access to I-5, Highway 50, and Highway 80.

This position may be eligible for hybrid telework under California Government Code Section 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. All telework schedules are subject to change and may be reevaluated at any time. Specific telework arrangements may be discussed in more detail with the respective hiring manager. Telework does not change the terms and conditions of employment, the essential functions of job duties, or required compliance with the Department of Social Services policies. Headquarter location will be designated based on the selected candidate's primary residence location, and/or the closest CDSS location.

Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ASSOCIATE GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM ANALYST
• STAFF SERVICES ANALYST

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-432562

Position #(s):
800-011-5393-910

Working Title:
Associate Governmental Program Analyst/Staff Services Analyst

Classification:
ASSOCIATE GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM ANALYST $5,684.00 - $7,114.00 A

Shall Consider:
STAFF SERVICES ANALYST
$3,640.00 - $4,561.00 A
$3,941.00 - $4,933.00 B
$4,726.00 - $5,916.00 C

# of Positions:
1

Work Location:
Sacramento County

Telework:
Hybrid

Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information
Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of fellow Californians while achieving your career goals? Do you set high standards for yourself and enjoy a collaborative and challenging work environment? The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) serves, aids and protects needy and vulnerable children and adults in ways that strengthen and preserve families, encourage personal responsibility and foster independence. CDSS employees are our most important resource in serving California's needy and vulnerable children and families.

The office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO) is an autonomous entity within the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), established to receive, investigate, and informally resolve complaints about care, placement, services, and rights of youth in foster care. The OFCO receives and responds to inquiries and complaints received from foster youth, caregivers, the public, advocacy groups, federal departments, the Legislature, and Congress concerning child welfare and foster care policies, practices, and processes.

The OFCO produces and distributes an annual report, written and multimedia educational materials, and provides trainings to diverse audiences about the OFCO;s duties, responsibilities, and the rights of children in foster care.

CDSS Culture

CDSS' goal is to foster a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion within our Department, that actively invites the contribution and participation of all people, and is representative of the varied identities and different perspectives in California. In our role as public administrators, our charge is to ensure that our programs and our workplaces provide all Californians the opportunity to thrive .

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) fluency in the Spanish language. If the State of California does not have a current record documenting your fluency in this language, you will be required to successfully pass an approved language fluency test prior to being hired.

Please Note: A Statement of Qualifications or Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted along with your application in order to be considered for this position.

1. Based on the duty statement and your own experience please describe what excites you about this position, and how your education, experience, and skills make you the best candidate for this role. What diversity and inclusion training or experience do you possess and how will you apply it within this position?
2. This position has direct phone contact with people who have experienced trauma and individuals who are in distress, please describe your experience interacting with people experiencing these types of challenges. Please give an example of how you have de-escalated someone, or describe how you would do so if called upon to do so.
3. Much of the work of the office is performed individually. However, the OFCO fosters a collaborative, supportive, learning environment. Please describe what good teaming means to you and provide examples of how you demonstrate it.

This position is subject to fingerprinting clearance by the Department of Justice.

You are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD 678). You may be disqualified from the hiring and selection process if the employment history is not complete. Resumes will not take the place of employment history.

If you are meeting minimum qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts for verification. If selected, you may be required to provide official transcripts at the time of hire.

Training and Development assignments may be considered based on the availability of eligible candidates and are subject to approval by the Hiring Authority prior to appointment. Training and Development assignments are temporary in nature and shall not exceed twenty-four (24) months.

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview, but they must provide proof of residence in California prior to being eligible for appointment.

Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 5/30/2024
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Social Services
Attn: Classification & Pay Unit
P.O.Box 944243

Sacramento , CA 94244-2430

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Social Services
Classification & Pay Unit
744 P Street, MS 8-15-58

Sacramento , CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications -
  (SOQ) Please see the Special Requirements section of this job advertisement for detailed instructions for the SOQ submission.
  

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Bilingual- Spanish Speaking

Benefits
There are many benefits to joining our team! The State of California has a generous benefits package that includes medical coverage, CalPERS pension upon retirement, two weeks paid vacation per year, two weeks paid sick leave per year, two paid Professional Development Days, one paid Personal Holiday, pre-tax parking fee program.

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT

• Public transit (mass transit) passes.
  • 100 percent discount on public transit passes sold by state agencies, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
  • 100 percent reimbursement on public transit passes purchased by state employees, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS.
• Vanpool drivers and riders
  • 100 percent reimbursement on the monthly fee, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS.

Click here to view all the attractive benefits available to state employees!

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Hiring Unit Contact:
TiaNisha Griffin
(916) 653-7400
TiaNisha.Griffin@dss.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(916) 657-2326
EEOoffice@dss.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Examination Information

Those interested in obtaining employment with the California Department of Social Services must apply and compete through the State recruitment process. Applicants who successfully pass the examination will be placed on an eligibility list used to recruit for positions.

To apply for the examination for this position, click on the link below to search for the examination and follow the "How to Apply" instructions in the examination announcement:

CalCareers Exam/Assessment Search

If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination, except when your list eligibility expires. For questions regarding the examination process and/or career opportunities with the California Department of Social Services, please contact the Examination Unit at examinations@dss.ca.gov .

Applicant Survey

Please let us know how you learned about this career opportunity by taking the brief survey that follows: Recruitment Survey

Do not include any confidential information on any documents (i.e., application, resume, or transcripts) you submit for this job vacancy. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents include but is not limited to: Social Security Number (SSN), birthday and/or age, photos, student/other ID number, driver's license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, exam results, LEAP status, and marital status. Confidential information submitted via a CalCareer Account (electronic application) is automatically redacted upon submission.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.