Job Details

Social Service Worker

Help families and individuals thrive in your community. Join our team as a Social Service Worker.

We are accepting applications to fill current vacancies in the Department of Social Services and County Health. The Department of Social Services is currently trying to fill five vacancies in Child Welfare Service, Adult Protective Services, and In-Home Supported Services in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, or Lompoc, and County Health has one (2) vacancy at the Santa Barbara County Jail and two (2) vacancies in Santa Maria County Jail in the CalAIM Justice-Involved Initiative program.

We are also establishing a list for future vacancies in the Social Services Department, Sheriff's Office, County Health, and Public Defender's Office. Vacancies may be available in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Lompoc. This job classification is utilized by 4 departments within the County of Santa Barbara. Please select all departments and locations you would like to be considered for current and future vacancies. Candidates interested in the Sheriff's Office or Public Defender's Office must be available and willing to work at All Locations throughout the County. To be considered for future vacancies in the Sheriff's Office or Public Defender's Office, applicants must select "All Locations" in the location section of the application as well as in the supplemental questionnaire.

*NOTE: The Social Services Department and County Health may appoint candidates at the Social Service Worker Senior PS/L level if they meet the employment standards of a Social Service Worker plus two years of professional social work experience and at the department's need and discretion.

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or visit SEIU Local 721.

Applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

POSITION: Under direction, performs social work and other related duties as required.

Incumbents in the Department of Social Services will initially be working under close supervision in a training status and are expected to learn departmental organization, social service programs, case study methods, and casework services and perform without close supervision within one year. Trainees assigned to work in child/adult protective services may perform more difficult social service work. Upon completion of training, incumbents are expected to perform journey-level social service work. Incumbents carry a complex social service caseload in such areas as child protective services, adult protective services, and in-home supportive services, supplemental security income advocacy services, or in a locked facility.

Incumbents in the Public Defender's Office for this position work within the Community Defender Division. The Community Defender Division (CDD) continues to provide compassionate and tireless advocacy and services for our clients while simultaneously seeking long-term systemic changes to improve the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. CDD combines the knowledge and expertise of social workers, housing advocates, resource specialists and attorneys to address the entire person and all of the underlying causes for involvement with the criminal justice system.

Incumbents in the Sheriff's Office perform social work in an inmate discharge setting by assessing inmate criminogenic needs and creating release plans that will ensure proper community supports are in place to reduce reoffending, including residential treatment facilities, health care applications, housing, employment and other community resources; performs related duties as required. The ideal candidate will have experience working with justice-involved individuals.

Incumbents in County Health - Jail Health Reentry Services support individuals housed in the County Jail by conducting assessments, creating care and reentry plans, coordinating referrals to medical, behavioral health, and social-service programs, and assisting with Medi-Cal and benefit enrollment. They manage discharge planning, facilitate warm handoffs to community providers, collaborate with custody staff and partner agencies, maintain accurate documentation, and help ensure continuity of care as individuals transition back into the community.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This class is the entry-level to professional social service work. Incumbents initially work under close supervision in a training status and are expected to learn departmental organization, social service programs, case study methods, and case work services and to perform without close supervision within one year. Trainees assigned to work in child/adult protective services may perform more difficult social service work. Upon completion of training, incumbents are expected to perform journey-level social service work. Incumbents carry a complex social service caseload in such areas child protective services, adult protective services, as in-home supportive services, supplemental security income advocacy services, or in a locked facility.

Ideal Candidate will possess:

• Ability to adapt and be open to a changing work environment
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Strong written and verbal skills with ability to demonstrate clear communication
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize simultaneous responsibilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy
• Interest in and ability to learn complex material in various formats

Department of Social Services additional ideal candidate quality:

• Understanding of family dynamics

All Departments:

• Conducts in-home or on-site visitations to interview clients, family members and other interested parties to assess and identify needs for social services, medical, and/or behavioral health; gathers and evaluates information regarding employment history, housing situation, physical functioning, financial status, capacity for independent living and availability of domestic services; evaluates clients concerns and observes behavior; develops service plans and establishes case files.
• Counsels clients on available resources, barriers to employment, independent living skills and other areas involving defined problems or concerns; explains procedures, rights and responsibilities.
• Assists clients in identifying and obtaining basic services needed for independent living; identifies and makes referrals to a variety of public and community agencies providing food, shelter, clothing, medical, educational and other services; schedules client appointments; acts as client advocate in obtaining services.

Department of Social Services:

• As a protective service worker, investigates reports of child or vulnerable adult abuse, neglect and/or exploitation; assesses the degree of immediate risk to the child/adult and takes necessary action to minimize the risk; coordinates activity with other agencies and involved parties including relatives, school personnel and officers of the court.
• Develops service and treatment plans, evaluates client and/or family behavioral adjustment and monitors client progress toward delineated objectives; counsels clients using a variety of counseling modalities.
• Manages assigned caseload; prepares narrative and statistical reports, documents and correspondence regarding client status; documents case files; prepares and serves legal documents; testifies in court and State Hearings.
• Identifies and assesses suitability for out-of-home care placements and conducts on-site visits to assess living conditions.

Sheriff's Office:

• Performs social work in an inmate discharge setting by assessing inmate criminogenic needs and creating release plans that ensure proper community supports are in place to reduce reoffending, including residential treatment facilities, health care applications, housing, employment, and other community resources.

Public Defender's Office:

• Provides case management and advocacy services within the Community Defender Division (CDD), collaborating with attorneys, housing advocates, and resource specialists to address the underlying causes of clients' involvement with the criminal justice system.

County Health:

• Supports individuals housed in the County Jail by conducting assessments, creating care and reentry plans, and coordinating referrals to medical, behavioral health, and social-service programs, and assisting with Medi-Cal and benefit enrollment; manages discharge planning, facilitates warm handoffs to community providers, collaborates with custody staff and partner agencies, maintains accurate documentation, and helps ensure continuity of care as individuals transition back into the community.

Employment Standards:

• Possession of a bachelor's degree including 30 semester or 45 quarter units of course work in social work, psychology, counseling, sociology, child development, geriatrics, or other behavioral or health sciences; OR,
• Two years of experience equivalent to Eligibility Worker or Social Services Case Aide with Santa Barbara County, plus 30 semester or 45 quarter units of course work in social work, psychology, counseling, sociology, child development, geriatrics, or other behavioral or health sciences related to social work; OR,
• A combination of training and experience that is equivalent to the experience requirement listed in #2 above; however, candidates must also possess the 30 semester or 45 quarter units of course work in a related field of study.

• Note: Applicants who are currently in their final quarter or semester of study leading to the required degree are encouraged to apply. Such applicants may compete in the examination process but may not be considered for appointment