Social Worker Practitioner - Adult Protective Services

The County of Yolo Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is recruiting to fill two (2) positions in the classification of Social Worker Practitioner. The incumbents will be working on the Adult Protective Services (APS) team.

Adult Protective Services (APS) is a state-mandated program that investigates reports of abuse or neglect and provides intervention in the form of information and referral, assessment, and case management services to elderly (60 and older) and dependent adults (18-59) who are suffering or at risk of abuse, exploitation, or neglect, including self-neglect and abandonment. APS provides services to prevent and remedy the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elders and dependent adults who are unable to protect their own interests or care for themselves, and, whenever possible, seeks to keep the individual safely in their normal environment by strengthening their capacity for self-maintenance. This may be accomplished through direct provision of APS supports or by linking the individual with appropriate community resources.

An APS Social Worker Practitioner is responsible for duties including taking reports of abuse and/or neglect of elders and dependent adults and triaging reports to determine the appropriate APS response; investigating allegations of abuse and/or neglect; conducting risk-assessments; consulting and working collaboratively with public and private agencies including but not limited to community programs, hospitals, and law enforcement; interviewing, observing, and assessing elder and dependent adult clients to ascertain medical history and current physical, psychological, emotional conditions, and social factors and making appropriate referrals to community resources; assessing problems and barriers, and developing, documenting and initiating short- and long-term service plans; timely and thorough documentation of all correspondence and contacts with alleged victims, alleged abusers, collateral contacts, reporting parties, and service providers; preparing case records, documents, and correspondence in a timely manner; interpreting rules, regulations, policies, and laws to clients and the public, and managing a caseload accountably. A Social Worker Practitioner may also assist in the development of community resources and serve on related committees and may periodically testify in Court regarding APS cases.

The ideal candidate for a Social Worker Practitioner position will have experience working with elderly and dependent adult populations and the ability to engage clients in the problem-solving process, as well as compassion and a desire to help clients restore and improve their functioning and circumstances. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic work environment with close teamwork, enjoys collaborative processes, and manages timelines and workload with accuracy and accountability.

Applicants must attached education verification at the time of filing their applications. The official or unofficial transcripts must that list the student's name, institution name, field of study and date the degree was awarded.

For important and detailed information regarding the application, selection process and timeline for this recruitment, please see the APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS section of this job announcement below.

Definition

Under minimal supervision, to perform professional casework services for individuals and families with complex social problems; to develop service plans and perform social work services requiring an advanced level of casework skill; to petition the court for appropriate orders related to clients; to act as a consultant to staff and provide leadership in the utilization of social work concepts and methodologies; to perform other related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the advanced journey level in the Social Worker Series. Incumbents are professionally trained practitioners whose assignments require advanced social work skills and techniques designed to restore or improve individual or family functioning. Cases will frequently require court intervention. Incumbents may provide consultation to staff and community organizations, may provide lead direction to staff and are expected to function with minimal supervision. This classification is distinguished from the next lower classification of Senior Social Worker in that the higher classification requires incumbents to possess advanced education and/or experience. Incumbents in the classification of Senior Social Worker may promote to Social Worker Practitioner upon meeting the employment standards for the higher classification, upon demonstration of the higher level of knowledge, skills and abilities, and upon recommendation of the appointing authority or his/her designee.

• Performs intensive casework services with clients or patients and their families;
• Evaluates individual and family case information;
• Assesses problems and initiates long and short-term treatment plans;
• Investigates and provides services to children who are alleged victims of abuse or neglect;
• Consults, refers cases, and works actively with agencies and with community groups;
• Manages a caseload accountably;
• Prepares case records, documents, records and correspondence in a timely manner;
• Refers clients and patients to appropriate community resources;
• Interprets social and emotional factors pertaining to illness, child abuse and child neglect to families and other involved persons;
• Prepares information and reports and presents such information to the Juvenile Court;
• Interprets rules, regulations, policies and laws to applicants, clients and the public.

Other Duties:

• Assists in the development of community resources and serves on related committees;
• Serves as a lead worker; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Some positions may require the performance of different essential or other duties depending upon work location, assignment, or shift.

Education: Masters degree in Social Work (MSW); OR a masters degree in marriage, family and child counseling, gerontology, or vocational rehabilitation; or a masters degree in another subject area which meets the following criteria: is from a two year program in an accredited school; requires a minimum of 45 units; has a two-semester field placement dealing with marriage, family and child issues and supervised by an LCSW or higher; and required social work caseload management and on-going counseling; OR

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major of social work, social or behavioral sciences, social or human services, counseling or a closely related field; AND

Experience: Two years of program experience in a State or County child welfare services program conducting assessments, case planning, and/or case management activities; OR

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; AND

Experience: Three years of program experience in a State or County child welfare services program conducting assessments, case planning, and/or case management.

Background Requirements

Incumbents in this class may have access to Federal Tax Information and are subject to confidentiality and safeguarding requirements of Internal Revenue Code 6103(p)(4). As such, an individual selected for this position is subject to a thorough background investigation as stipulated in Section 5.1.1 of Internal Revenue Service Publication 1075, which includes the following:

• Review of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint results;
• Check of local law enforcement agencies where the subject has lived, worked and/or attended school within the last five (5) years and, if applicable, of the appropriate agency for any identified arrests; and
• Verification of an employee's eligibility to work in the United States.

Knowledge of: Differential casework treatment techniques; various personality and behavioral theories; family systems; principles, objectives, methods and techniques of social work; principles of human growth and development; community organizations and resources; laws, rules, and regulations related to public social services; growth and development patterns of children; physical and mental illness and their impact on personality; juvenile court processes and procedures; social service research methods.

Ability to: Engage clients in the problem solving process; demonstrate skill in planning and analysis; apply a high skill level in all professional relationships; establish and maintain an effective casework relationship with clients and their families in working towards a solution to their problems; utilize a wide range of social work techniques and community resources; work cooperatively with coworkers, other agencies and the public; receive and provide consultation; interpret complex laws and regulations to clients and the public; manage a caseload in a timely and effective manner; prepare and present written and oral reports; work cooperatively with fellow employees and the general public; utilize supervision and direction to meet the agency's program goal; use a computer terminal sufficiently to perform the duties of this position; drive a car; direct the work of others.

Background investigations are conducted upon hire and every ten (10) years of employment thereafter.

License

Positions in this classification require incumbents to possess and maintain a valid California driver's license, Class C or higher, to carry out job related duties. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical or mental disability may request a