Social Worker/Clinician - I(Client Services Practitioner - I)

Introduction

This continuous recruitment will remain open for the calendar year or until the final filing date, whichever occurs first. The eligible list established from this continuous recruitment will expire at the end of the calendar year. Applicants will be eligible to reapply and take an examination if a new recruitment opens the following calendar year.

Applications in this recruitment are screened on a bi-weekly basis. This recruitment may be used to fill both open and promotional vacancies in various County departments as they arise, subject to specific position requirements.

Temporary Extra Help assignments are limited to working 28 hours per week with a cap of 999 hours or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants in a fiscal year and are not eligible for benefits. Extra-help appointments made from this eligible list may transition to permanent status should vacancies arise.

Position Information

In order to qualify for this recruitment, the required degree must be obtained by date of appointment. If you are in your final semester, please apply.

Placer County Health and Human Services is currently recruiting for permanent and extra-help temporary Social Worker Clinicians and Child Welfare Workers. Assignments are in the following service areas within Adult System of Care and Childrens System of Care divisions:

• Child Welfare Services
• Emergency After-Hours
• Child Protective Services Response
• Perinatal
• Wraparound Children Services
• Adoption
• Permanency
• Older Adult Services
• Whole Person Care
• Physical and Behavioral Health and Social Services
• Mental Health
• Crisis Mental Health
• Co-Occurring Diagnosis
• Substance Use Disorders
• Homeless Services
• Employment

This is an entry-level position, and applicants are encouraged to include relevant education and a description of professional social work and/or child welfare experience when completing the application and attached supplemental questionnaire.

Benefits

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer Countys Human Resources website.

Definition

To provide responsible and professional social services and/or clinical treatment of an advanced nature to a variety of clients with identified needs, including clients with mental health concerns, diagnosed mentally ill clients, substance abusers, and/or clients who are homeless.

To provide counseling to individuals and groups, to perform crisis intervention as appropriate, to participate in the development and implementation of various treatment and outreach services, to investigate, supervise, and to place minors in need of protective services, to provide outreach engagement to develop, coordinate, and monitor community-based programs, and to function as an integral and supportive member of assigned departmental and multi-disciplinary teams.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the entry-level class in the Client Services Practitioner series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level class. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees work under general supervision while learning job tasks.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general supervision from a program supervisor or other designated management position. May receive technical and functional supervision from a Senior Client Services Practitioner.

Examples of Essential Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and administer long or short-term treatment plans requiring comprehensive professional knowledge with the goal of improving or restoring individual or family functioning, including clinical treatments and determining the appropriate method of treatment intervention, including program modification.
• Participate in and/or conduct comprehensive individual and family psychosocial assessments for problem identification and diagnosis, determining acuity of need, and recommending appropriate program placement.
• Provide crisis counseling, including authorization for 72-hour emergency in-patient admission as necessary.
• Prepare and present clinical and/or case management documentation for review by multi-disciplinary teams.
• Provide on-going consultation and systematic support for the team in its implementation of treatment programs and individual treatment plans and/or case management.
• Investigate, intervene, and provide a variety of professional services to children or other special needs clients in circumstances in which the clients physical or emotional welfare is involved, including cases of neglect, emotional/behavioral problems, physical/mental disabilities, child welfare court services, or other conditions that may adversely affect the client.
• Participate in and/or conduct group, family, and individual therapy, including marital and/or family counseling as appropriate to effect positive rehabilitation solutions and/or life improvements.
• Provide highly skilled professional services in counseling, adult and child protective services, family services, community organization, social research, and related areas.
• Perform case management duties, including treatment plan monitoring, advocacy, referral, and linkage to other needed services and crisis interventions.
• Establish and maintain casework records and documents in accordance with departmental and statutory regulations and procedures, and prepare relevant correspondence and reports, including court reports and/or testimony.
• Provide outreach education and professional consultation to the community, the general public, as well as public and private agencies, conduct training workshops and/or presentations to clients, care providers, community groups, referrals, and the general public.
• Provide operational oversight of residential facilities or community-based programs, including the administration of budgets as assigned, prepare grant proposals and reports, and monitor program activities and expenditures.
• Conduct home visits, transport clients, and assist with clients financial budget and daily living activities as appropriate.
• Develop, maintain, and participate in an inter-agency and community networking/referral system, evaluate client needs relative to appropriate program referrals, maintain close communication with contract providers and community service agencies to ensure treatment plan and client needs are being met in a successful manner.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, community resources, clients, and the general public, utilizing principles of effective customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Training

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Experience: One year of providing mental health services, social service casework, or counseling is desirable.
• Training: A Masters degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in social work, psychology, or counseling, which meets the eligibility requirements for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) by the State Board of Behavioral Science Examiners must be obtained by date of appointment.

Required License or Certificate

May need to possess a valid drivers license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Principles and practices of social work as related to providing mental health, substance abuse services, and treatment, child and adult protective services, and the multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.
• Principles and practices used in the development of community-based programs providing treatment and social services.
• Accepted criteria for clinical diagnosis of emotional and mental disturbances, as well as normal and abnormal emotional and mental development, including growth, development, and living relationships.
• Develop and implement community-based programs in treatment and social service, coordinate and monitor program activities to ensure compliance with program outcomes.
• Principles and practices of casework, including objectives, clinical diagnosis, and appropriate documentation.
• Psychosocial, family, individual, and group therapy and counseling treatments and prevention strategies.
• Physical, social, mental, and substance use disorders impact on individual personality and behaviors.
• Role of social service agencies, both public and private.
• Legal and regulatory issues related to the operation and delivery of a variety of client services to individuals and groups of all ages and special needs.
• Crisis intervention and conflict resolution practices, including management of assaultive behavior and principles of social work related to child protective services and adult services risk and safety assessments.
• Standard and accepted investigative and interviewing techniques and methods.
• Principles used in preparing grant proposals.
• Modern office procedures, practices, and methods, as well as designated computer hardware and software and its applications.
• Standard and accepted English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar in both oral and written forms.

Ability to:

• Understand and carry out a variety of complex oral and written instructions in an independent manner.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job and observe safety rules and practices intermittently review work papers, reports, and special projects, identify and problem solve client issues, identify and interpret technical and numerical information, observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures, explain applicable department policies and procedures to applicants and clients.
• On a continuous basis, sit for long periods of time or while driving intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, kneel, while retrieving or returning files, documents, and supplies, and making copies, walk, stand, bend, squat, kneel, climb, or twist while conducting home visits or transporting clients, and lift moderate weight.
• Identify and conceptualize multiple cause situations and possible consequences, evaluate potential treatments and solutions, determine and initiate the most effective course of action.
• Relate effectively and positively with assigned clients to establish trust and rapport, display empathy.
• Coordinate and prioritize work and timelines effectively for self and others.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain relevant information through interviews, observations, and the application of standard research methodologies.
• Perform mathematical calculations accurately, including routine statistical analysis.
• Use a personal computer and office equipment necessary for successful job performance.
• Work weekend and evening shifts as needed for the program and/or clients.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

Selection