County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under direction, to supervise, review, and evaluate the work of a group of Child Welfare Workers or Child Welfare Interns; to participate in community programs for child welfare services; to maintain acceptable standards of casework practice; to represent in Court the interest of persons subject to petitions to declare them dependent children of the Court; to represent the Director of the Social Services Agency in Court hearings in conformity with the requirements of the Juvenile Court law; to consult with professional and supervisory staff concerning the content and disposition of cases scheduled for adjudication; to act as the Administrative Director and coordinator of the Alameda County Child Abuse Council and to coordinate and facilitate a county-wide program for the prevention of child abuse and the coordination of child abuse services; and to perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is the first-level of supervision in the Child Welfare series. Incumbents may be assigned a variety of roles including, but not limited to, supervision of first line staff or interns, Court Officer, Child Abuse Services Coordinator, Teaming Facilitator, Field Advisor/Coach These positions require the incumbent to exercise considerable independent judgment, initiative, and knowledge of the Child Welfare System and current practices.

This position reports to the next higher classification, Social Services Program Manager.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

When assigned supervisory responsibilities:

1. Plans, assigns, and reviews the work of a group of Child Welfare Workers or Graduate Level MSW Interns.

2. Holds regularly-scheduled supervision conferences with workers to discuss casework problems, to assist in professional development, and to interpret and implement departmental policies and practices.

3. Reviews cases to ascertain conformity with State and County Welfare regulations and acceptable casework practices.

4. Consults with Social Services Program Manager concerning personnel and policy matters and unusual case problems; submits periodic evaluations of subordinates' performance. Collaborates with other supervisors in coordinating case management activities.

5. Confers with other departmental personnel and with the representatives of various agencies in the field of child welfare to exchange information on common problems; participates in meetings and conferences concerning child welfare services; interprets the scope and limitations of departmental programs to interested individuals and community groups.

6. Use of an automated/computerized case management system for case management and document preparation.

7. May perform staff training or special projects requiring knowledge and expertise in casework methods and techniques with particular reference to the problems in child neglect, abandonment, and abuse.

 

When assigned Court Officer Responsibilities:

1. Receives and reviews completed Court reports and cases from the Child Welfare Worker; resolves any questions on the case with the Child Welfare Worker or Child Welfare Supervisor prior to the hearing.

2. Ascertains whether parents have been legally served Notice of Hearing, or the orders to produce parents who are incarcerated in Court facilities have been instituted, whether arrangements have been made to have the minor present in Court when appropriate and clarifies if proper counsel has been directed to appear and whether sufficient copies of reports have been prepared.

3. Takes part in any pre-Court discussions of the case and, upon consultation with the minor's attorney, Social Worker, or appropriate supervisor, is responsible to make appropriate recommendations.

4. Presents the case to the Court representing the agency. May modify recommendations if indicated by information presented in Court.

5. Presents summary of minor's social background in Court as appropriate.

6. Does post court write ups showing finding and disposition and forwards to appropriate staff. Communicates any special order of the Court, concerns of the Court, etc.

 

When assigned Child Abuse Services Coordinator responsibilities:

1. Participates on and acts as Administrative Director and Coordinator to the Alameda County Child Abuse Council.

2. Provides day-to-day staff services and coordination of activities for the Council, such as scheduling meetings and speakers, preparing agendas for meetings, maintaining records, receiving and disseminating Council correspondence, preparing Council reports and minutes and responding to ongoing inquiries regarding the work of the Council.

3. Coordinates county-wide efforts to improve the quality and delivery of services to child abuse victims and their families; acts as a liaison between public organizations, such as Social Services, Law Enforcement, Probation, the School System and Health Care Services Agencies and private organizations engaged in activities to alleviate the effects of child abuse and neglect.

4. Prepares narrative reports for the Council and the Child Abuse Task Force incorporating the range of public and private child abuse service activities, and makes recommendations for the improvement of service delivery.

5. Provides consultation and makes presentations to community groups regarding child abuse issues; coordinates education and training efforts on a county-wide basis to professionals and those engaged in the delivery of child abuse services.

6. Serves on and/or chairs various committees and Task Forces and attends regular meetings of various groups who are engaged in activities to alleviate child abuse and neglect.

7. Use of an automated/computerized case management system for case management and document preparation.

When assigned Child Welfare Training Supervisor responsibilities:

1. Coordinates the MSW student Intern program.

2. Designs lesson plans, including organization and sequencing of content; develops audio-visual supports; develops and publishes handouts.

3. Coordinates the MSW Title IV-E Stipend Student Interns from local Schools of Social Work.

4. Recruits, interviews, and screens prospective Interns and assigns them to specific program area.

5. Collaborates and meets regularly with field liaisons from each university and provides regular updates on students’ progress. Provides “letters of support” for Title IV-E stipends for current Alameda County Employees seeking admission to MSW Programs.

6. Provides regular and consistent supervision. Provides bi-annual evaluations to students and copy to university liaisons.

7. Provides group supervision in the form of facilitating a support group for interns on a bi-weekly basis. The group includes formal case presentations, discussion of casework problems, in-service training and informal support to assist in professional development and to interpret departmental policies and practices.


When assigned as a Teaming Facilitator:

1. Conducts all Teaming meetings at various sites.

2. Ensures that placement, case plan decisions, permanency decisions, mental service planning, and casework reflect Agency policy to protect children and preserve families.

3. Ensures that circumstances and facts are thoroughly examined, problems identified, goals articulated, ideas brainstormed, and a safety plan is developed.

4. Prepares and presents written summaries of Teaming meetings.

5. Scribes meeting content, debriefs with staff, collects data and debriefs and inputs information to database as appropriate.

When assigned Field Advisor/Coach responsibilities:

1. Provides field support to the new social workers before, during, and, after identified field activities.

2. Promote a learning environment and utilize appropriate coaching strategies, tools, and techniques to promote desirable and sustainable growth for new and tenured social workers.

3. Promote knowledge and skill development that aligns with the desired practices; California Practice Model, Safety Organized Practice, SDM, and solution focused questions to name a few.

4. Track completion, document information needed for evaluation components of Common Core 3.0 and provide information to CDSS, the Regional Training Academy (RTA), or enter information into a learning management system.

5. In partnership with Unit Supervisors, utilize existing conference or meeting times with the new and tenured social workers to discuss learning objectives, field activities, and provide feedback regarding observations or practice.

6. Review of field activities with new Child Welfare Workers and provide transfer of learning document to Unit Supervisors for further ongoing coaching and development for new staff.

7. Must have strong knowledge of the California Practice Model, Safety Organized Practice Strategies and Tools, Structured Decisions Tools, and Solution Focused Questioning.

8. Provide ongoing coaching and support to Child Welfare Workers, Child Welfare Supervisors, Program Managers, and other identified employees in the application of SOP strategies/tools, SDM Tools, effective coaching techniques during supervision and case consultations, model solution focused and appreciative inquiry interactions, and help learners identify California Practice Model Behaviors.

9. Provide presentations to internal and external partners on the various strategies, tools and supports that exist within the Child Welfare System that contribute to enriched engagement with children and families, service delivery, and teaming.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

Education:
Possession of an MSW from an accredited school of social work, which included a supervised field placement providing social casework and counseling services to individuals and families; or possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling or Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, based on a two-year program (72 quarter or 56 semester units), which included a supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum, or possession of an MFCC license (3 years of experience as a Child Welfare Worker I in the Alameda County classified service can be substituted for the advanced degree or MFCC license),

And

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Child Welfare Worker II or higher level social worker classification in the Alameda County classified service.

(Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II

Education:

Possession of an MSW from an accredited school of social work, which included a supervised field placement providing social casework and counseling services to individuals and families; or possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling or Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, based on a two-year program (72 quarter or 56 semester units), which included a supervised field placement as part of the course curriculum, or possession of an MFCC license.

And

Experience:

The equivalent of two years’ full-time experience providing social casework services in a professional capacity in the field of child welfare or family services in a public or private human services agency after receipt of the degree or three years of such experience if obtained prior to the receipt of the master's degree.

License:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Casework methods and techniques with particular reference to the problems in child neglect, abandonment, and abuse.
• Current philosophy and practices in the field of Child Welfare Services, the Juvenile Court process and appropriate legal procedures.
• Familiarity with codes, decisions, philosophy, and policies of the Juvenile Court.
• Familiarity with Social Services Agency's programs and facilities and other resources available to the Agency and Juvenile Court.
• Principles and practices of public administration, program planning and program development.
• Computer applications and personal computers.

Ability to:

• Communicate in writing.
• Communicate orally.
• Make decisions.
• Provide leadership.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Problem solves.
• Analyze data.
• Supervise.
• Plan and Organize.
• Navigate a computer in a Windows environment.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TT:Lm-h Revised: 9/84
TT:pb Revised: 8/20/86
TB:pb Revised: 4/9/87
JH:pb Revised: 4/88
Formerly: 0664h
RE:cla/lm Revised : 9/97
Old doc: 6750h.doc
New doc: 6750.doc
ys/8/01
CSC Date: 9/17/97
NE:cs Revised 10/27/09
CSC Date: 11/04/09
IB:ah Revised 5/24/17
CSC Date: 9/27/17

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 & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• 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
• 1^st 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.