Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Social Worker II

Recruitment #14-6715-01

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION: 

The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended. Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  Postmarks are not accepted.  Applications will only be accepted on-line.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE: 

A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted.  Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

DESCRIPTION

While this classification is typically housed in both the Social Services Agency and the Health Care Services Agency, we are currently recruiting for positions in the Social Services Agency. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used by any County department or agency needing to fill a vacancy.

THE AGENCY

MISSION of the Social Services Agency

To promote the economic social well-being of individuals, families, neighborhoods and communities.

The Alameda County Social Services Agency is comprised of 2,200 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups and policy makers to serve the needs of the community.

The Agency assists approximately 11.3 percent of Alameda County's residents. Benefits programs contribute over $278 million to the local economy through cash assistance and CalFresh. Every month more than 52,000 people receive CalWORKs (assistance for families with children), CalFresh and General Assistance. Every month health insurance is made available to more than 78,000 people through the Medi-Cal program. Every month more than 11,000 frail, elderly and disabled individuals receive in home care, adult protection and support managing their affairs, and throughout the year 16,000 seniors will receive services through the Area Agency on Aging. 3,700 children are in foster care. More than 1,600 reports of child abuse or neglect are filed with SSA each month. Emergency shelter is made available to 415 people nightly.

To read more about the department, please visit their website at: http://www.alamedasocialservices.org/

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, to assess referrals for service program assistance and provide guidance, counseling and the most appropriate supportive social services to clients; to collect and evaluate client socio-economic information and data; to manage the on-going responsibility for a caseload of applicants or clients of services, and performs other related duties as required.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE  

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will be a highly trainable self-starter and will have a proven track record of demonstrating the following:

  • Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral; articulating information and ideas to various individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand.
  • Providing outstanding customer service at all levels and displaying strong professional integrity when handling confidential and sensitive information and/or situations.
  • Exhibiting strong critical thinking & analytical abilities through skillfully applying and evaluating information gathered or generated by various elements to determine the best possible course of action applicable to clients' needs.
  • Expertise as a self-directed problem-solver with high standards for quality and a strong commitment to public and community service.
  • Remarkable organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and accomplish multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Moderate case management experience providing substantial services and having knowledge of best practices such as: motivational interviewing, harm reduction, trauma informed care and cultural competency.
  • Prudent decision making ability, with a history of choosing the appropriate courses of action by considering all implications and consequences, committing to action and ensuring successful implementation.
  • Objectively assess psychosocial needs of clients and a track record of developing and maintaining collaborative rapport with internal and external resources for effective client referrals.
  • Success in managing clients with severe behavioral issues, depression and other mental health issues, drug/alcohol dependencies, effects of physical/sexual abuse, extensive exposure to violence, homelessness and/or other trauma as well as a lack of basic needs.
  • Proficient technical skills in the use of computer applications with the ability to successfully navigate client tracking systems to increase efficiency and productivity throughout the work day.
  • Remaining flexible and open to new ideas when assessing the needs of clients.  

Individuals bi-lingual in Farsi, Cantonese/Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Tagalog are encouraged to apply.

 

 

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Social Worker II Level

Either I
Experience:

The equivalent of six months full time experience in the class of Social Worker I in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.).

Or II
Education:

Equivalent to graduation from a two-year accredited college (90 quarter units or 60 semester units) which includes 15 semester or 22 quarter units in social welfare, social/human services, public health, sociology, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling, or other behavioral science,

AND
Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full time experience as an Employment Counselor or experience comparable to Employment Counselor. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or III
Education:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university (180 quarter units or 120 semester units), which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter units in social welfare, social/human services, or, public health, sociology, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling or other behavioral science.

AND
Experience:

The equivalent of one year full time social casework experience in a public or non-profit human services agency. (Completion of one year of graduate study in a recognized school of social work may be substituted for the experience required.)

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques of social work.
• Provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, the Social Security Act, and other pertinent legislation in the field of public welfare, including changes and developments in such legislation.
• Aims and functions of community organization and resources, including available services in the employment field County and State Health and Human Services Agency and health care.
• Basic psychological theory and practices as related to human behavior.
• Public and private social agencies and other community resources.

Ability to:

• Analyze and evaluate individual situations, to reach sound conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Interpret complex Federal and State laws, rules and regulations and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other professional personnel and the public.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Prioritize work.
• Analyze basic statistics and calculate mathematic computations.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps:

1)  A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2)  A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants.  Those candidates deemed best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process.

3)  An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises. 

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.  We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via e-mail with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:

Deadline for Filing:

January 13, 2015

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

January 28, 2015

Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:

February 20, 2015

Oral Interviews:

          Week of March 16, 2015

 

*WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing.  Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statues.

 

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
  • Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
  • Vision
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
  • County Allowance
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Short-term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Group Auto/Home
  • 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
  • 1st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 

Shelisa Jackson, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
shelisa.jackson@acgov.org
510-208-3954
www.acgov.org/hrs