Senior Social Worker

Salary : $27.84 - $29.22 Hourly

Location : Quincy

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : MSS04968

Department : Plumas County Department of Social Services

Opening Date : 01 / 02 / 2025

Closing Date : 1 / 16 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Pacific

Position Information

Under general direction carries a caseload that includes the most difficult cases involving the determination of need for social services by applicants or clients; performs social studies and assignments involving individualized treatment and specialized application of advanced case work methods and skills; provides comprehensive case work services requiring complex treatment plans and involving abused or neglected children or adults; and to do related work as required.

This is the highest level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents are normally assigned the most difficult cases, receive little supervision on a day-to-day basis and have considerable latitude for independent judgment. Incumbents may be assigned a specialized function requiring the highest degree of knowledge and specialized skill. Casework requires the application of high level and sophisticated social services expertise and techniques. The Senior Social Worker class is distinguished from Social Worker III and below by performing the most difficult assignments requiring the most advanced skills and depth of job knowledge in assessing problems and situations and formulating complex treatment plans. Incumbents may serve as lead worker or provide training or orientation to other employees.

Examples of Duties

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES :

Carries a caseload of the most difficult social services cases requiring the highest degree of professional skill and competence; conducts case studies to determine social service needs of clients; develops and carries out treatment plans for an assigned case load or referred clients; refers clients to other staff members or agencies as appropriate; diagnoses client problems involving highly complex family and individual issues and follows through with social treatment plans utilizing the highest professional skills with considerable latitude for independent judgment; assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources for individual needs; interprets rules, policies, and regulations of the department and the State of California for applicants, clients and others within the incumbent's assigned scope of responsibilities; makes home visits in connection with case work assignments; may be assigned on-call evenings and weekends; prepares and maintains case records; may be assigned specialized functions; participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge for the social work process and maintain technical and professional competence; consults with other staff members regarding their cases; provides community outreach for the various agency programs; may be required to perform investigations, prepare reports and testify in court; acts as an advocate on the clients behalf; works with community organizations; makes referrals to outside resources; may act as a lead worker for a small group of social workers or other department employees; may act for the Social Worker Supervisor in their absence; may participate as representative from Social Services at various community agency meetings.

Knowledge of :

• Socio-economic conditions and trends.
• Principles of individual and group behavior.
• Current issues in the field of social welfare.
• Problem-solving methodologies.
• Public welfare programs and the Federal, State and local levels.
• The general principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Principles and techniques of interviewing and recording of social casework.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of a public welfare agency.
• Community organizations and social problems requiring the use of public and private community resources.
• Basic principles involved in the development and implementation of personality and in-group processes.
• Current problems and methodology in the field of public social services.

Ability to :

Minimum Qualifications

Would be any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be :

Two (2) years of experience (comparable to a Merit Systems Social Worker III with Plumas County) working in child welfare services programs.

Equivalent to graduation from college including successful completion of 30 college semester units in Social, Welfare, Sociology, Social / Human Services or other behavioral science. OR Possession of a Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university or a Master's degree from two year Counseling program from an accredited college or university.

Supplemental Information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION - WEIGHTED 100%

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate's knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.

If conditions warrant, an Experience and Education Examination may be conducted in lieu of the Training and Experience Examination. Please review the Education and Experience examination information below :

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION

A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Plumas. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.

RETEST PERIOD

Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.

SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS

Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at or 916-909-3701 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

GENERAL INFORMATION

MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.

General Qualifications : Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for 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.

ABOUT PLUMAS COUNTY

Plumas County, with a population of 23,090, is located near the northeast corner of California where the Sierra and the Cascade mountains meet and includes rugged canyons, 110 crystal clear lakes, grassy meadows, 1,000 miles of streams. The County seat of Quincy, with a population of approximately 5,300 is about 85 miles from Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. Plumas County offers U.S. National Forests covering over 70% of its area and family recreational opportunities including : golfing, swimming, fishing, bicycling, jet-skiing, parasailing, picnicking, birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.

Merit System Services does not negotiate or determine the benefits or salaries for positions offered by its partners. For more information about benefits or salaries, please visit the listed county or child support office's website or contact their human resources department.

Salary : $28 - $29