Stanislaus County, CA
Modesto, California, United States
About the Opportunity ABOUT THE POSITION Mental Health Clinicians can be assigned, based on departmental needs, to the Adult and Older Adult System of Care (ASOC), Children's System of Care (CSOC), CARE Program, Substance Use Disorders System of Care (SUD), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Collaborative Court, Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU), Medi-Cal Assessment Team (MAT), Quality Services, Utilization Management (UM), Workforce Development and Training Department or the Prevention & Early Intervention Team (PEI). Under direction, Mental Health Clinicians provide clinical assessments, care planning, counseling, clinical case management and other rehabilitative / psychotherapeutic services in a community mental health setting. Mental Health Clinicians are expected to work independently but also function effectively as part of a service team. The incumbents may supervise professional and technical personnel, and provide education and consultation services to other staff, community agencies and the public. In addition, Mental Health Clinicians may administer and coordinate mental health programs, and perform other related work as required. Bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Upon successful completion of our bilingual proficiency assessment, you'll receive an additional $1 per hour in compensation. Adult System of Care (ASOC) Service Teams are utilized to provide comprehensive outpatient services to adults with a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder of Stanislaus County. The focus of treatment efforts is to enable clients to function at their highest level in community. Emphasis is placed on assisting clients in identifying and achieving goals, which are meaningful to them. Treatment Teams are comprised of multi-disciplinary staff and are currently utilizing the psycho-social rehabilitation and recovery models of service delivery. Children’s System of Care (CSOC) Services for children and youth are provided in various programs that work with children, youth and young adults age 0 to 21 years. The Mental Health Clinician will provide intensive services to children and adolescents identified with Serious Emotionally Disturbed (SED), as well as provide services and support to their family/caregivers. This may include children and youth who are involved with the Child Welfare or Probation systems. The Mental Health Clinician will also work with transitional age young adults and/or non-minor dependents who have opted into the foster care system as an adult. Services are provided in the field (in home, school, and community settings). Mental Health Clinicians in this subsystem work collaboratively with outside partners through a Child and Family Team process to ensure coordination of care. The CARE Program CARE is a multidisciplinary team of mental health, criminal justice, and other service providers who facilitate, provide, and share responsibilities of assessment coordination and treatment services to appropriately meet the complex mental, physical, and social needs of the targeted population. The target population includes individuals that may have severe and persistent mental illness, exhibit high-risk health and safety behaviors, engage in vagrancy-related criminal behavior, and experience severe SUDs; and for a variety of reasons, they are not accessing or accepting services. BHRS mental health services providers are embedded on the team to support clients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and facilitate direct access to treatment services. The CARE team includes Modesto Police, Probation, Community Services Agency, Telecare, and Public Health. The overarching goal is to see an increase in the target population transition from saying “no” to help to saying “yes” to help. Substance Use Disorders (SUD) The Mental Health Clinician will be assigned to treatment programs and Residential Unit, which is designed to serve adults and older adults who suffer from a Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders. The incumbents are expected to provide clinical 1:1's, group counseling to program participants, and consultation services to program staff. This position may include intake assessments, group facilitation, and individual client sessions. Mental Health Clinicians provide 1:1 counseling and assessments while following regulatory compliances. They are mandated reporters for CPS, APS, and 51/50's. Mental Health Clinicians also provide revenue with Medi-Cal billing. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a 24-hour, seven day a week program. CERT provides emergency mental health assessment and referral services for emergent and pre-emergent behavioral health situations in collaboration with families, consumers, law enforcement and emergency room personnel. Some services are provided in the community through a mobile task force. Non-crisis services include a consumer and family member-staffed Crisis Support Line and on-site peer support available to consumers and families who need support and referrals. Individuals are able to call to access services or request a psychiatric evaluation. CERT personnel should possess sophisticated diagnostic and assessment skills and be available for shift work. Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) The Crisis Emergency Response Team (CERT) program will embed trained crisis mental health staff from Stanislaus County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services to ride along with Modesto Police Department (MPD) patrol officers and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office (SO) patrol deputies from 1400 to 2200 hours Monday through Friday. CCMU Clinicians will respond with law enforcement to provide mobile crisis services, Triage screening, de-escalation/resolution for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. CCMU Clinicians will work with BHS and CST staff to provide peer support, and coordination with medical and behavioral health services, and follow-up. Medi-Cal Assessment Team (MAT) The Medi-Cal Assessment teams provides mental health assessments to children and adult beneficiaries. The MAT Mental Health Clinician will perform initial assessments to individuals referred for or seeking mental health services. The MAT Mental Health Clinician will assist in linkage for those assessed to programs within BHRS, Contractors, and or alternate level of care such as mild-moderate and or community services. MAT personnel should posses sophisticated diagnostic and assessment skills. Quality Services The Quality Services/Compliance team ensures the following: 1. Quality of care issues are identified, monitored and appropriate corrective actions are taken 2. Pursue continuous quality improvement, through department audits 3. Behavioral health services provided to beneficiaries meet established quality of care standards (Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) protocol; Information Notices (IN); All State Plan Letters (APLs)), 4. Quality is evaluated in the areas of access, satisfaction, continuity of care and quality of care, 5. Provide on-going Electronic Health Record (EHR) Navigation training 6. Program certification and re-certification activities, including program National Provider Identifier (NPI)s and modes of service, and 6. Changes are made and monitored related to DHCS protocol updates. In addition, the compliance component of the Quality Services program ensures the following: 1. Establishment and implementation of procedures and a system with dedicated staff for routine internal monitoring and auditing of compliance risks, prompt response to compliance issues as they are raised, investigation of potential compliance problems as identified in the course of self-evaluation and audits, correction of such problems promptly and thoroughly (or coordination of suspected criminal acts with law enforcement agencies) to reduce the potential for recurrence, and ongoing compliance with the requirements under the contract (Corrective Action Plan (CAP) follow up from all peer reviews; review/discussion of limited mental health contact; review and provide information related to compliance for fact finding data), 2. Implement a compliance program that includes: Written policies, procedures, and standards of conduct that articulate the organization’s commitment to comply with all applicable requirements and standards under the contract, and all applicable laws (provide training opportunities for BHRS compliance program plan; 3. Implement and maintain procedures designed to detect fraud, waste and abuse that include provisions to verify services reimbursed by Medicaid were received by the beneficiary, 4. Monitor access line compliance and procedures in addition to other compliance related requirements in protocol, Mental Health Plan (MHP) contract, and DMC-ODS Internal Government Agreement (IGA)), and 5. Assist with managing and monitoring privacy issues. Utilization Management (UM) The Utilization Management team evaluates medical necessity, appropriateness and efficiency of services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries (outpatient treatment plan review; assessment updates), ensures consistent application of review criteria for authorization decisions (outpatient treatment plan; Service Authorization Requests (SARs); SUD Residential) , conducts concurrent review and authorization for all psychiatric inpatient hospital services and psychiatric health facility services (DBHC; Telecare PHF; Out of County (OOC) hospitals) , reviews and completes provider appeals, provides training materials and training related to concurrent review, documentation standards for medical necessity (based on DHCS training and Title 9 regulation) ; and reasons for denials, EHR and database entry (diagnosis review; approved/denied days) , Medi-Cal eligibility check for all inpatient admissions, establish and implement written policies and procedures for all UM activities and delegated activities, and provide on-going trainings related to authorization (delegated activity); Notice of Action Beneficiary Determination (NOABDs). Collaborative Court The Collaborative Court Team is a program with Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services was created to ensure improved coordinated entry into Behavioral Health care for Stanislaus County residents who are involved in the legal system. Workforce Development and Training Department Training Department supports all BHRS staff in connecting to state mandated trainings as well as trainings that support specific job-related tasks. Mental Health Clinician will provide support in coordinating, facilitating and tracking trainings as well as connecting staff to needed training support. Mental Health Clinician will work with various departments in assessing additional training needs and bringing outside partners in for additional support. Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI) Under the direction of the Manager and Staff Services Coordinator of Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI), the Mental Health Clinician will act within the division in a variety of local community settings, requiring partnerships with other organizations or community groups. The Mental Health Clinician may provide training and support to staff and community agencies at different sites within the county. The Mental Health Clinician will act in conjunction with the PEI division’s accordance to state regulations in an effort to engage and impact community in ways that will result in deeper awareness of mental health and access to services, as well as engage in awareness and prevention efforts around suicide. The Mental Health Clinician will engage community in efforts to reduce stigma related to mental health and will help the community to build capacity in independent, self-defined views of wellbeing, wellness, and overall mental health. The Mental Health Clinician may provide guidance and support to a growing collaborative of designated community leaders and agencies from PEI and BHRS-funded programs as well as other community-based mental health and wellness programs. Doing so will ensure access to this prevention strategy in outlying areas where transportation and other factors are barriers to services in traditional centralized locations. Along with these tasks related to the division’s implementation and services delivery, the Mental Health Clinician will act in conjunction with the PEI division within BHRS to fully implement the building of community capacity to provide emotional support to individuals where they live, worship, go to school, and play. The primary function promotes positive community development as a viable broad community effort to improve behavioral health outcomes. To learn more about the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department, click here . The eligible list generated from this recruitment will be used to fill future full-time, part-time, extra help and on-call vacancies for the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department. Click here for details . Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Community & Health Services bargaining unit for labor relations purposes. Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months, for a total of eighteen months. Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). Part-time extra-help is a provisional classification where permanent status may not be obtained. This position is subject to overtime, standby, shift, and callback assignments and will perform related duties as assigned. This position is non-benefited except for participation in a 401a program with Nationwide.” The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab. Typical Tasks Advise clients of available community resources and act as a liaison and/or advocate for clients/families to be able to access community resources effectively; Conduct onsite and field based comprehensive clinical assessments to establish medical necessity criteria and provide clinical interventions without supervision, utilizing different clinical treatment modalities and approaches based on clinical needs; Determine functional impairments of clients and prioritize their needs; In the appropriate therapeutic and/or clinical setting, work with primary care physicians when necessary on treatment plans or provide individual and group services which could include clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. For children and families, assist in assessing challenges and barriers to social and emotional health, and in partnership with them, develop a strength based realistic service plan; Perform appropriate clinical social work and develop treatment plans to address clients functional impairments; Prepare and maintain complex treatment and progress reports and document in client charts as needed; which include, diagnostic and treatment recommendations, discharge planning and follow-up services; Prepare and present cases for review with the clinical service team; Provide client-centered and wellness/recovery/resiliency informed services; Provide crisis intervention and 5150 evaluation on-site, in the field or at neighboring hospital emergency rooms when working with BHRS clients; Provide ongoing clinical assessment, client care planning and effective treatment implementation to children, adults and families; Support and utilize Electronic Medical/Health Record System software; Utilize the 12 Step and social model principles of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment resiliency and crisis intervention within the community; Work collaboratively with a wide range of clinical and non-clinical disciplines to access client and family needs, design effective care planning, service goals or special medical treatment plans regarding utilization of additional resources, such as, home health and hospice; Work collaboratively with consumers and family members using a wellness, recovery or resilient based approach and engage clients in treatment pathways to provide behavioral health needs when appropriated or as needed; Work in tandem with the Child Welfare Department, Education partners, or Regional Center partners if applicable; Work in tandem with the Probation Department, Sheriff's Office, criminal justice partner agencies, and other community partners across the County if applicable; and Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience) KNOWLEDGE Principles, techniques and trends in counseling, psychotherapy, clinical case management, and various treatment modalities; Biological, behavioral and environmental aspects of emotional disturbances, mental disability, and substance abuse; Culturally proficient practices with diverse case load; Scope and activities of the public and private health and welfare agencies and other available resources; and Principles and techniques of mental health education, prevention, and crisis intervention within the community. SKILLS/ABILITIES Perform psychiatric social work and psychotherapy of a complex nature with clients and groups; Prepare clear, concise case work records and make recommendations on the basis of such information; organize and manage a caseload; and work with a bureaucratic system; Retain personal objectivity while dealing with the problems of others; Perform the therapist's role in a manner consistent with professional standards and ethics; Determine functional impairments of clients and prioritize their needs; Decide appropriate treatment focus and methods without clinical supervision; Work with a team to integrate various clinical approaches into a treatment program; and Anticipate a potential crisis, manage and be able to apply appropriate clinical intervention when necessary. We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I PATTERN I Graduation from an accredited two (2) year Graduate School of Social Work with the receipt of a Master's Degree of Social Work which can lead to licensure as a Clinical Social Worker. PATTERN II Graduation from an accredited graduate program with receipt of a Master's Degree which can lead to a License as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT); AND Meet qualifications to participate in a Short-Doyle program; AND Eligible to be licensed as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. The Mental Health Clinician I classification is a Veterans' Preference Program eligible job classification. For more information, please click here (Download PDF reader) . MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN II PATTERN I Graduation from an accredited two (2) year Graduate School of Social Work with receipt of a Master's Degree and acquisition of the State recognized license. PATTERN II Graduation from an accredited graduate program with receipt of a Master's Degree and acquisition of a LCSW or MFT License which meets qualifications to participate in a Short-Doyle program. PATTERN III Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology may be substituted for the above educational requirement; AND Two (2) years of experience in a Mental Health setting under clinical supervision as required to qualify for the State recognized license. LICENSE Licensed as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California; OR A license as a Psychologist in the State of California may be substituted for the above licensure requirement. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicant screening may focus on the following desirable qualifications. Please list any of these qualifications you may have within the "duties" section of the online application. Licensed as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the State of California; OR Current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Science or must be registered with the California Board of Behavioral Science within 60 days of the commencement of employment; AND Enrollment through Department of Health Care Services Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) portal. Application and Selection Procedures APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. EXAMINATION PROCESS Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County. Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on. Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position. Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts. Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months. TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis. This recruitment may close at any time with no notice. Apply By: Oral Examination: January 5, 2024 Week of January 15th January 19, 2024 Week of January 29th February 2, 2024 Week of February 12th February 16, 2024 Week of February 26th March 1, 2024 Week of March 11th March 15, 2024 Week of March 25th GENERAL INFORMATION Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment medical screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation. Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver’s license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions. Stanislaus County supports the good health of its workforce. More information is available at http://myclubwellness.org Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627. Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary . Closing Date/Time: Continuous
Mar 08, 2024
Full Time
About the Opportunity ABOUT THE POSITION Mental Health Clinicians can be assigned, based on departmental needs, to the Adult and Older Adult System of Care (ASOC), Children's System of Care (CSOC), CARE Program, Substance Use Disorders System of Care (SUD), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Collaborative Court, Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU), Medi-Cal Assessment Team (MAT), Quality Services, Utilization Management (UM), Workforce Development and Training Department or the Prevention & Early Intervention Team (PEI). Under direction, Mental Health Clinicians provide clinical assessments, care planning, counseling, clinical case management and other rehabilitative / psychotherapeutic services in a community mental health setting. Mental Health Clinicians are expected to work independently but also function effectively as part of a service team. The incumbents may supervise professional and technical personnel, and provide education and consultation services to other staff, community agencies and the public. In addition, Mental Health Clinicians may administer and coordinate mental health programs, and perform other related work as required. Bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Upon successful completion of our bilingual proficiency assessment, you'll receive an additional $1 per hour in compensation. Adult System of Care (ASOC) Service Teams are utilized to provide comprehensive outpatient services to adults with a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder of Stanislaus County. The focus of treatment efforts is to enable clients to function at their highest level in community. Emphasis is placed on assisting clients in identifying and achieving goals, which are meaningful to them. Treatment Teams are comprised of multi-disciplinary staff and are currently utilizing the psycho-social rehabilitation and recovery models of service delivery. Children’s System of Care (CSOC) Services for children and youth are provided in various programs that work with children, youth and young adults age 0 to 21 years. The Mental Health Clinician will provide intensive services to children and adolescents identified with Serious Emotionally Disturbed (SED), as well as provide services and support to their family/caregivers. This may include children and youth who are involved with the Child Welfare or Probation systems. The Mental Health Clinician will also work with transitional age young adults and/or non-minor dependents who have opted into the foster care system as an adult. Services are provided in the field (in home, school, and community settings). Mental Health Clinicians in this subsystem work collaboratively with outside partners through a Child and Family Team process to ensure coordination of care. The CARE Program CARE is a multidisciplinary team of mental health, criminal justice, and other service providers who facilitate, provide, and share responsibilities of assessment coordination and treatment services to appropriately meet the complex mental, physical, and social needs of the targeted population. The target population includes individuals that may have severe and persistent mental illness, exhibit high-risk health and safety behaviors, engage in vagrancy-related criminal behavior, and experience severe SUDs; and for a variety of reasons, they are not accessing or accepting services. BHRS mental health services providers are embedded on the team to support clients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and facilitate direct access to treatment services. The CARE team includes Modesto Police, Probation, Community Services Agency, Telecare, and Public Health. The overarching goal is to see an increase in the target population transition from saying “no” to help to saying “yes” to help. Substance Use Disorders (SUD) The Mental Health Clinician will be assigned to treatment programs and Residential Unit, which is designed to serve adults and older adults who suffer from a Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders. The incumbents are expected to provide clinical 1:1's, group counseling to program participants, and consultation services to program staff. This position may include intake assessments, group facilitation, and individual client sessions. Mental Health Clinicians provide 1:1 counseling and assessments while following regulatory compliances. They are mandated reporters for CPS, APS, and 51/50's. Mental Health Clinicians also provide revenue with Medi-Cal billing. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a 24-hour, seven day a week program. CERT provides emergency mental health assessment and referral services for emergent and pre-emergent behavioral health situations in collaboration with families, consumers, law enforcement and emergency room personnel. Some services are provided in the community through a mobile task force. Non-crisis services include a consumer and family member-staffed Crisis Support Line and on-site peer support available to consumers and families who need support and referrals. Individuals are able to call to access services or request a psychiatric evaluation. CERT personnel should possess sophisticated diagnostic and assessment skills and be available for shift work. Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) The Crisis Emergency Response Team (CERT) program will embed trained crisis mental health staff from Stanislaus County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services to ride along with Modesto Police Department (MPD) patrol officers and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office (SO) patrol deputies from 1400 to 2200 hours Monday through Friday. CCMU Clinicians will respond with law enforcement to provide mobile crisis services, Triage screening, de-escalation/resolution for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. CCMU Clinicians will work with BHS and CST staff to provide peer support, and coordination with medical and behavioral health services, and follow-up. Medi-Cal Assessment Team (MAT) The Medi-Cal Assessment teams provides mental health assessments to children and adult beneficiaries. The MAT Mental Health Clinician will perform initial assessments to individuals referred for or seeking mental health services. The MAT Mental Health Clinician will assist in linkage for those assessed to programs within BHRS, Contractors, and or alternate level of care such as mild-moderate and or community services. MAT personnel should posses sophisticated diagnostic and assessment skills. Quality Services The Quality Services/Compliance team ensures the following: 1. Quality of care issues are identified, monitored and appropriate corrective actions are taken 2. Pursue continuous quality improvement, through department audits 3. Behavioral health services provided to beneficiaries meet established quality of care standards (Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) protocol; Information Notices (IN); All State Plan Letters (APLs)), 4. Quality is evaluated in the areas of access, satisfaction, continuity of care and quality of care, 5. Provide on-going Electronic Health Record (EHR) Navigation training 6. Program certification and re-certification activities, including program National Provider Identifier (NPI)s and modes of service, and 6. Changes are made and monitored related to DHCS protocol updates. In addition, the compliance component of the Quality Services program ensures the following: 1. Establishment and implementation of procedures and a system with dedicated staff for routine internal monitoring and auditing of compliance risks, prompt response to compliance issues as they are raised, investigation of potential compliance problems as identified in the course of self-evaluation and audits, correction of such problems promptly and thoroughly (or coordination of suspected criminal acts with law enforcement agencies) to reduce the potential for recurrence, and ongoing compliance with the requirements under the contract (Corrective Action Plan (CAP) follow up from all peer reviews; review/discussion of limited mental health contact; review and provide information related to compliance for fact finding data), 2. Implement a compliance program that includes: Written policies, procedures, and standards of conduct that articulate the organization’s commitment to comply with all applicable requirements and standards under the contract, and all applicable laws (provide training opportunities for BHRS compliance program plan; 3. Implement and maintain procedures designed to detect fraud, waste and abuse that include provisions to verify services reimbursed by Medicaid were received by the beneficiary, 4. Monitor access line compliance and procedures in addition to other compliance related requirements in protocol, Mental Health Plan (MHP) contract, and DMC-ODS Internal Government Agreement (IGA)), and 5. Assist with managing and monitoring privacy issues. Utilization Management (UM) The Utilization Management team evaluates medical necessity, appropriateness and efficiency of services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries (outpatient treatment plan review; assessment updates), ensures consistent application of review criteria for authorization decisions (outpatient treatment plan; Service Authorization Requests (SARs); SUD Residential) , conducts concurrent review and authorization for all psychiatric inpatient hospital services and psychiatric health facility services (DBHC; Telecare PHF; Out of County (OOC) hospitals) , reviews and completes provider appeals, provides training materials and training related to concurrent review, documentation standards for medical necessity (based on DHCS training and Title 9 regulation) ; and reasons for denials, EHR and database entry (diagnosis review; approved/denied days) , Medi-Cal eligibility check for all inpatient admissions, establish and implement written policies and procedures for all UM activities and delegated activities, and provide on-going trainings related to authorization (delegated activity); Notice of Action Beneficiary Determination (NOABDs). Collaborative Court The Collaborative Court Team is a program with Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services was created to ensure improved coordinated entry into Behavioral Health care for Stanislaus County residents who are involved in the legal system. Workforce Development and Training Department Training Department supports all BHRS staff in connecting to state mandated trainings as well as trainings that support specific job-related tasks. Mental Health Clinician will provide support in coordinating, facilitating and tracking trainings as well as connecting staff to needed training support. Mental Health Clinician will work with various departments in assessing additional training needs and bringing outside partners in for additional support. Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI) Under the direction of the Manager and Staff Services Coordinator of Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI), the Mental Health Clinician will act within the division in a variety of local community settings, requiring partnerships with other organizations or community groups. The Mental Health Clinician may provide training and support to staff and community agencies at different sites within the county. The Mental Health Clinician will act in conjunction with the PEI division’s accordance to state regulations in an effort to engage and impact community in ways that will result in deeper awareness of mental health and access to services, as well as engage in awareness and prevention efforts around suicide. The Mental Health Clinician will engage community in efforts to reduce stigma related to mental health and will help the community to build capacity in independent, self-defined views of wellbeing, wellness, and overall mental health. The Mental Health Clinician may provide guidance and support to a growing collaborative of designated community leaders and agencies from PEI and BHRS-funded programs as well as other community-based mental health and wellness programs. Doing so will ensure access to this prevention strategy in outlying areas where transportation and other factors are barriers to services in traditional centralized locations. Along with these tasks related to the division’s implementation and services delivery, the Mental Health Clinician will act in conjunction with the PEI division within BHRS to fully implement the building of community capacity to provide emotional support to individuals where they live, worship, go to school, and play. The primary function promotes positive community development as a viable broad community effort to improve behavioral health outcomes. To learn more about the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department, click here . The eligible list generated from this recruitment will be used to fill future full-time, part-time, extra help and on-call vacancies for the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department. Click here for details . Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Community & Health Services bargaining unit for labor relations purposes. Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months, for a total of eighteen months. Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). Part-time extra-help is a provisional classification where permanent status may not be obtained. This position is subject to overtime, standby, shift, and callback assignments and will perform related duties as assigned. This position is non-benefited except for participation in a 401a program with Nationwide.” The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab. Typical Tasks Advise clients of available community resources and act as a liaison and/or advocate for clients/families to be able to access community resources effectively; Conduct onsite and field based comprehensive clinical assessments to establish medical necessity criteria and provide clinical interventions without supervision, utilizing different clinical treatment modalities and approaches based on clinical needs; Determine functional impairments of clients and prioritize their needs; In the appropriate therapeutic and/or clinical setting, work with primary care physicians when necessary on treatment plans or provide individual and group services which could include clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. For children and families, assist in assessing challenges and barriers to social and emotional health, and in partnership with them, develop a strength based realistic service plan; Perform appropriate clinical social work and develop treatment plans to address clients functional impairments; Prepare and maintain complex treatment and progress reports and document in client charts as needed; which include, diagnostic and treatment recommendations, discharge planning and follow-up services; Prepare and present cases for review with the clinical service team; Provide client-centered and wellness/recovery/resiliency informed services; Provide crisis intervention and 5150 evaluation on-site, in the field or at neighboring hospital emergency rooms when working with BHRS clients; Provide ongoing clinical assessment, client care planning and effective treatment implementation to children, adults and families; Support and utilize Electronic Medical/Health Record System software; Utilize the 12 Step and social model principles of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment resiliency and crisis intervention within the community; Work collaboratively with a wide range of clinical and non-clinical disciplines to access client and family needs, design effective care planning, service goals or special medical treatment plans regarding utilization of additional resources, such as, home health and hospice; Work collaboratively with consumers and family members using a wellness, recovery or resilient based approach and engage clients in treatment pathways to provide behavioral health needs when appropriated or as needed; Work in tandem with the Child Welfare Department, Education partners, or Regional Center partners if applicable; Work in tandem with the Probation Department, Sheriff's Office, criminal justice partner agencies, and other community partners across the County if applicable; and Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience) KNOWLEDGE Principles, techniques and trends in counseling, psychotherapy, clinical case management, and various treatment modalities; Biological, behavioral and environmental aspects of emotional disturbances, mental disability, and substance abuse; Culturally proficient practices with diverse case load; Scope and activities of the public and private health and welfare agencies and other available resources; and Principles and techniques of mental health education, prevention, and crisis intervention within the community. SKILLS/ABILITIES Perform psychiatric social work and psychotherapy of a complex nature with clients and groups; Prepare clear, concise case work records and make recommendations on the basis of such information; organize and manage a caseload; and work with a bureaucratic system; Retain personal objectivity while dealing with the problems of others; Perform the therapist's role in a manner consistent with professional standards and ethics; Determine functional impairments of clients and prioritize their needs; Decide appropriate treatment focus and methods without clinical supervision; Work with a team to integrate various clinical approaches into a treatment program; and Anticipate a potential crisis, manage and be able to apply appropriate clinical intervention when necessary. We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I PATTERN I Graduation from an accredited two (2) year Graduate School of Social Work with the receipt of a Master's Degree of Social Work which can lead to licensure as a Clinical Social Worker. PATTERN II Graduation from an accredited graduate program with receipt of a Master's Degree which can lead to a License as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT); AND Meet qualifications to participate in a Short-Doyle program; AND Eligible to be licensed as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. The Mental Health Clinician I classification is a Veterans' Preference Program eligible job classification. For more information, please click here (Download PDF reader) . MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN II PATTERN I Graduation from an accredited two (2) year Graduate School of Social Work with receipt of a Master's Degree and acquisition of the State recognized license. PATTERN II Graduation from an accredited graduate program with receipt of a Master's Degree and acquisition of a LCSW or MFT License which meets qualifications to participate in a Short-Doyle program. PATTERN III Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology may be substituted for the above educational requirement; AND Two (2) years of experience in a Mental Health setting under clinical supervision as required to qualify for the State recognized license. LICENSE Licensed as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California; OR A license as a Psychologist in the State of California may be substituted for the above licensure requirement. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicant screening may focus on the following desirable qualifications. Please list any of these qualifications you may have within the "duties" section of the online application. Licensed as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the State of California; OR Current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Science or must be registered with the California Board of Behavioral Science within 60 days of the commencement of employment; AND Enrollment through Department of Health Care Services Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) portal. Application and Selection Procedures APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. EXAMINATION PROCESS Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County. Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on. Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position. Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts. Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months. TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis. This recruitment may close at any time with no notice. Apply By: Oral Examination: January 5, 2024 Week of January 15th January 19, 2024 Week of January 29th February 2, 2024 Week of February 12th February 16, 2024 Week of February 26th March 1, 2024 Week of March 11th March 15, 2024 Week of March 25th GENERAL INFORMATION Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment medical screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation. Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver’s license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions. Stanislaus County supports the good health of its workforce. More information is available at http://myclubwellness.org Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627. Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary . Closing Date/Time: Continuous
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Los Angeles, California, United States
Position/Program Information FIRST DAY OF FILING: 12/15/2023 AT 8:00 A.M. - ONLINE FILING ONLY THIS EXAMINATION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE ARE MET AND IS SUBJECT TO CLOSURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. EXAM NUMBER: T9072M REPOSTING INFORMATION: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING REPOSTED TO REOPEN THE FILING DATE SPECIAL SALARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to County Code Section 6.10.050, a Critical Shortage Recruitment Rate is authorized for Children's Social Worker II permanently assigned to and working in the Antelope Valley, which consists of Palmdale and Lancaster offices. In addition, pursuant to County Code Section 6.10.060, a Critical Shortage Range of 10% has been approved for Children's Social Worker II permanently assigned to and working in the Antelope Valley, which consists of Palmdale and Lancaster offices. TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY DEFINITION: Performs a variety of social casework or related services in connection with child protective, program or adoption services. CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: Positions allocable to this class report to a Supervising Children's Social Worker and are responsible for the supervision and placement of minors in need of protective services due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation, or perform social work services involved in adoption in planning with a child, the natural parents, and adoptive parents. All positions prepare detailed social studies on minors and their families, which include recommendations to the court, and are assigned the more difficult cases. Incumbents must possess a basic knowledge of the Welfare and Institutions Code regarding dependency cases, knowledge of appropriate resources and casework techniques needed to resolve child welfare problems, as well as knowledge of departmental policies and procedures. Essential Job Functions 1. Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitationby observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients* privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases (e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, LiveScan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. 2. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. 3. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. 4. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. 5. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making (SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. 6. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smart phone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. 7. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues (e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high-stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality . 8. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. 9. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. 10. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare & Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and-out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. 11. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in Federal and State laws. 12. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. 13. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. *Clients include any individual who receives, uses, or is eligible for the services or offerings produced by the work unit, including a child, custodial and non-custodial parent(s), relative(s), significant other(s), legal guardian(s), caregiver(s), and prospective adoptive parent(s). Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: A Master's* degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work, Marriage and Family Counseling, Psychological Counseling, Psychology, or Clinical Psychology . PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. LICENSE REQUIRED: A California Class C Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: *To qualify, applicants MUST possess a Master's degree and include a legible copy of the official diploma or official transcripts or official letter from the accredited institution's registrar's office , which shows the area of specialization with your online application or within 15 calendar days from the date of filing. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: This examination will consist of TWO (2) parts: PART I - An unproctored multiple choice test weighted 40% that will assess Deductive Reasoning, Deciding and Initiating Action, Working with People, Persuading and Influencing, Planning and Organizing, and Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations. IN ACCORDANCE WITH CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19, THE WRITTEN TEST MATERIALS ARE STANDARDIZED AND COPYRIGHTED; AND THEREFORE, NOT SUBJECT TO REVIEW. ONLY APPLICANTS WHO ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON PART I WILL BE INVITED TO THE STRUCTURED ORAL INTERVIEW (PART II). PART II : A structured interview weighted 60% that will assess Professional/Technical Knowledge in Child Welfare Practices, Case Management, provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, Federal Laws and regulations; Client Focus; Handling Conflict; Oral Communication; Integrity and Ethics; Stress Tolerance; Adaptability; and Cultural Sensitivity. Applicants must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each weighted part of the examination in order to be placed on the Eligible Register. TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS: - Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination. - This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred. TEST PREPARATION: Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help you preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary. - An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section. - Additional online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practicetests/ ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing score on this examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. Scores cannot be given over the telephone. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS. SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION: If there is a need to make appointments for special bilingual skills, to serve the County population, a selective certification list may be instituted in accordance with Civil Service 11.03. Applicants who know any language other than English may indicate on the application. Their bilingual skills will be tested before they are added to the list. SPECIAL INFORMATION: FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background checks. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigations, medical examination and psychological evaluation. Appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: ANY APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper applications and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online applications. We must receive your application and additional documents, if any, by 5:00 p.m. (PT) on or before the last day of filing. Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements . Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided, so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected. Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may e-mail them to dcfsexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov within 15 calendar days from the date of filing. You may also fax the documents to (213) 738-6470. Please make sure to reference your full name (Last, First name), examination title and number on the subject line of your e-mail or in your fax. Apply online by clicking on the " APPLY " tab for this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website. All information is subject to verification. We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. COVID-19 VACCINATION: County workforce members working in health care facilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Impacted workforce members include County Social Workers and Supervising County Social Workers who are assigned to work in health care facilities. Successful candidates for these positions must submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the Internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator: Department of Human Resources (DHR) ADA Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: ( 800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Bryant Espinoza Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: dcfsexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here
Mar 05, 2024
Full Time
Position/Program Information FIRST DAY OF FILING: 12/15/2023 AT 8:00 A.M. - ONLINE FILING ONLY THIS EXAMINATION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE ARE MET AND IS SUBJECT TO CLOSURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. EXAM NUMBER: T9072M REPOSTING INFORMATION: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING REPOSTED TO REOPEN THE FILING DATE SPECIAL SALARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to County Code Section 6.10.050, a Critical Shortage Recruitment Rate is authorized for Children's Social Worker II permanently assigned to and working in the Antelope Valley, which consists of Palmdale and Lancaster offices. In addition, pursuant to County Code Section 6.10.060, a Critical Shortage Range of 10% has been approved for Children's Social Worker II permanently assigned to and working in the Antelope Valley, which consists of Palmdale and Lancaster offices. TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY DEFINITION: Performs a variety of social casework or related services in connection with child protective, program or adoption services. CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: Positions allocable to this class report to a Supervising Children's Social Worker and are responsible for the supervision and placement of minors in need of protective services due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation, or perform social work services involved in adoption in planning with a child, the natural parents, and adoptive parents. All positions prepare detailed social studies on minors and their families, which include recommendations to the court, and are assigned the more difficult cases. Incumbents must possess a basic knowledge of the Welfare and Institutions Code regarding dependency cases, knowledge of appropriate resources and casework techniques needed to resolve child welfare problems, as well as knowledge of departmental policies and procedures. Essential Job Functions 1. Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitationby observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients* privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases (e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, LiveScan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. 2. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. 3. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. 4. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. 5. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making (SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. 6. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smart phone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. 7. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues (e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high-stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality . 8. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. 9. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. 10. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare & Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and-out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. 11. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in Federal and State laws. 12. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. 13. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. *Clients include any individual who receives, uses, or is eligible for the services or offerings produced by the work unit, including a child, custodial and non-custodial parent(s), relative(s), significant other(s), legal guardian(s), caregiver(s), and prospective adoptive parent(s). Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: A Master's* degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work, Marriage and Family Counseling, Psychological Counseling, Psychology, or Clinical Psychology . PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. LICENSE REQUIRED: A California Class C Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: *To qualify, applicants MUST possess a Master's degree and include a legible copy of the official diploma or official transcripts or official letter from the accredited institution's registrar's office , which shows the area of specialization with your online application or within 15 calendar days from the date of filing. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: This examination will consist of TWO (2) parts: PART I - An unproctored multiple choice test weighted 40% that will assess Deductive Reasoning, Deciding and Initiating Action, Working with People, Persuading and Influencing, Planning and Organizing, and Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations. IN ACCORDANCE WITH CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19, THE WRITTEN TEST MATERIALS ARE STANDARDIZED AND COPYRIGHTED; AND THEREFORE, NOT SUBJECT TO REVIEW. ONLY APPLICANTS WHO ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON PART I WILL BE INVITED TO THE STRUCTURED ORAL INTERVIEW (PART II). PART II : A structured interview weighted 60% that will assess Professional/Technical Knowledge in Child Welfare Practices, Case Management, provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, Federal Laws and regulations; Client Focus; Handling Conflict; Oral Communication; Integrity and Ethics; Stress Tolerance; Adaptability; and Cultural Sensitivity. Applicants must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each weighted part of the examination in order to be placed on the Eligible Register. TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS: - Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination. - This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred. TEST PREPARATION: Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help you preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary. - An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section. - Additional online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practicetests/ ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing score on this examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. Scores cannot be given over the telephone. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS. SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION: If there is a need to make appointments for special bilingual skills, to serve the County population, a selective certification list may be instituted in accordance with Civil Service 11.03. Applicants who know any language other than English may indicate on the application. Their bilingual skills will be tested before they are added to the list. SPECIAL INFORMATION: FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background checks. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigations, medical examination and psychological evaluation. Appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: ANY APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper applications and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online applications. We must receive your application and additional documents, if any, by 5:00 p.m. (PT) on or before the last day of filing. Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements . Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided, so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected. Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may e-mail them to dcfsexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov within 15 calendar days from the date of filing. You may also fax the documents to (213) 738-6470. Please make sure to reference your full name (Last, First name), examination title and number on the subject line of your e-mail or in your fax. Apply online by clicking on the " APPLY " tab for this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website. All information is subject to verification. We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. COVID-19 VACCINATION: County workforce members working in health care facilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Impacted workforce members include County Social Workers and Supervising County Social Workers who are assigned to work in health care facilities. Successful candidates for these positions must submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the Internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator: Department of Human Resources (DHR) ADA Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: ( 800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Bryant Espinoza Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: dcfsexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Los Angeles, California, United States
Position/Program Information FILING PERIOD: MAY 1, 2024 8:00 A.M. (PT)- MAY 31, 2024 5:00 P.M. (PT). EXAM NUMBER: T9072Q TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY DEFINITION: Performs a variety of social casework or related services in connection with child protective, program or adoption services. POSITION DESCRIPTION: Positions allocable to this class report to a Supervising Children's Social Worker and are responsible for the supervision and placement of minors in need of protective services due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation or performs social work services involved in adoption in planning with a child, the natural parents, and adoptive parents. All positions prepare detailed social studies on minors, and their families which include recommendations to the court and are assigned the more difficult cases. Incumbents must possess comprehensive knowledge of the Department’s policies, procedures, mission, objectives and interrelationships of various program areas; thorough knowledge of child welfare program issues, service delivery practices and techniques, social casework theory and practice; thorough knowledge of Welfare and Institutions Code regarding dependency cases; and the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing; and be able to exercise sound professional judgment in evaluating children’s welfare situations. Essential Job Functions Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients* privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases (e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, Live Scan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making (SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smart phone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues (e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare & Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in Federal and State laws. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. *Clients include any individual who receives, uses, or is eligible for the services or offerings produced by the work unit, including a child, custodial and non-custodial parent(s), relative(s), significant other(s), legal guardian(s), caregiver(s), and prospective adoptive parent(s). Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: A Master's ** degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work -AND- the successful completion of internship with Department of Children and Family Services, DCFS’ Title IV-E MSW Stipend Internship Program, *** or The California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) with the Department of Children and Family Services during the 2023-2024 academic year . SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: ** To qualify for a Master's Degree with a major in Social Work , the applicant must include a legible copy of a diploma or a copy of official transcripts which states degree conferred or an original copy of an official letter from the Registrar's office which shows the area of specialization and date of degree conferred, by 09/15/2024 . *** Verification of applicant's participation in the 2023-2024 Title IV-E MSW Stipend Internship Program or The California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) MSW field placement with the Department of Children and Family Services during the 2023 - 2024 academic year. AND completion of a required internship with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, will be acquired from the school's Registrar's Office or from the Office of Education and Licensure Program in the Department of Children and Family Services immediately after the online application filing. EDUCATION WITHHOLD: Applicants who anticipate completing their Master's Degree by 8/31/2024 , may apply for this examination but will be withheld from the placement on the certification list until all required documentation is submitted to the Exams Section. PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. LICENSE REQUIRED: A California Class C Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential job functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: This examination will consist of an Evaluation of Training and Experience weighted 100% covering professional and technical training, and experience as it relates to the job. Candidates must receive a passing score of 70% or higher on the Evaluation of Training and Experience in order to be placed on the Eligible Register. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on this examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. SPECIAL INFORMATION: FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: All Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background check. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigation, medical examination and psychological evaluation. Appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: ANY APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper applications and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online applications. We must receive your application by May 31, 2024 before 5:00 p.m. (PT) and additional documents, if any, by 09/15/2024. All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. All required documents must be submitted at the time of filing or by 09/15/2024. Any missing required documents not submitted by the deadline will result in your application being rejected as incomplete. Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may e-mail them to DCFSExams@dcfs.lacounty.gov . Please make sure to reference your full name along with the examination title and number on the subject line of your e-mail. Apply online by clicking on the green " APPLY " button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website: http://hr.lacounty.gov . Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements andcomplete the Supplemental Questionnaire . Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided, so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected. Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the May 31, 2024, before 5:00 p.m. (PT ) deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address. IMPORTANT NOTES: ALL information included in the application is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION . Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, laptop computers and portable WIFI are available for loan from various public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator: Department of Human Resources (DHR) ADA Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Yeran Badoyan Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: DCFSExams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here Closing Date/Time: 5/31/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
Mar 08, 2024
Full Time
Position/Program Information FILING PERIOD: MAY 1, 2024 8:00 A.M. (PT)- MAY 31, 2024 5:00 P.M. (PT). EXAM NUMBER: T9072Q TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY DEFINITION: Performs a variety of social casework or related services in connection with child protective, program or adoption services. POSITION DESCRIPTION: Positions allocable to this class report to a Supervising Children's Social Worker and are responsible for the supervision and placement of minors in need of protective services due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation or performs social work services involved in adoption in planning with a child, the natural parents, and adoptive parents. All positions prepare detailed social studies on minors, and their families which include recommendations to the court and are assigned the more difficult cases. Incumbents must possess comprehensive knowledge of the Department’s policies, procedures, mission, objectives and interrelationships of various program areas; thorough knowledge of child welfare program issues, service delivery practices and techniques, social casework theory and practice; thorough knowledge of Welfare and Institutions Code regarding dependency cases; and the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing; and be able to exercise sound professional judgment in evaluating children’s welfare situations. Essential Job Functions Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients* privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases (e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, Live Scan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making (SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smart phone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues (e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare & Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in Federal and State laws. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. *Clients include any individual who receives, uses, or is eligible for the services or offerings produced by the work unit, including a child, custodial and non-custodial parent(s), relative(s), significant other(s), legal guardian(s), caregiver(s), and prospective adoptive parent(s). Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: A Master's ** degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work -AND- the successful completion of internship with Department of Children and Family Services, DCFS’ Title IV-E MSW Stipend Internship Program, *** or The California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) with the Department of Children and Family Services during the 2023-2024 academic year . SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: ** To qualify for a Master's Degree with a major in Social Work , the applicant must include a legible copy of a diploma or a copy of official transcripts which states degree conferred or an original copy of an official letter from the Registrar's office which shows the area of specialization and date of degree conferred, by 09/15/2024 . *** Verification of applicant's participation in the 2023-2024 Title IV-E MSW Stipend Internship Program or The California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) MSW field placement with the Department of Children and Family Services during the 2023 - 2024 academic year. AND completion of a required internship with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, will be acquired from the school's Registrar's Office or from the Office of Education and Licensure Program in the Department of Children and Family Services immediately after the online application filing. EDUCATION WITHHOLD: Applicants who anticipate completing their Master's Degree by 8/31/2024 , may apply for this examination but will be withheld from the placement on the certification list until all required documentation is submitted to the Exams Section. PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. LICENSE REQUIRED: A California Class C Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential job functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: This examination will consist of an Evaluation of Training and Experience weighted 100% covering professional and technical training, and experience as it relates to the job. Candidates must receive a passing score of 70% or higher on the Evaluation of Training and Experience in order to be placed on the Eligible Register. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on this examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. SPECIAL INFORMATION: FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: All Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background check. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigation, medical examination and psychological evaluation. Appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: ANY APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper applications and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online applications. We must receive your application by May 31, 2024 before 5:00 p.m. (PT) and additional documents, if any, by 09/15/2024. All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. All required documents must be submitted at the time of filing or by 09/15/2024. Any missing required documents not submitted by the deadline will result in your application being rejected as incomplete. Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may e-mail them to DCFSExams@dcfs.lacounty.gov . Please make sure to reference your full name along with the examination title and number on the subject line of your e-mail. Apply online by clicking on the green " APPLY " button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website: http://hr.lacounty.gov . Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements andcomplete the Supplemental Questionnaire . Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided, so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected. Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the May 31, 2024, before 5:00 p.m. (PT ) deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address. IMPORTANT NOTES: ALL information included in the application is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION . Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, laptop computers and portable WIFI are available for loan from various public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator: Department of Human Resources (DHR) ADA Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Yeran Badoyan Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: DCFSExams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here Closing Date/Time: 5/31/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Los Angeles, California, United States
Position/Program Information FILING PERIOD March 20, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - April 19, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (PT) All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday , April 19, 2024. EXAM NUMBER T9070N TYPE OF RECRUITEMENT Open Competitive Job Opportunity DEFINITION: Under close supervision, performs social casework functions including the investigation, supervision, placement and care of dependent children, children in foster homes or other child welfare cases through routine or emergency referrals. CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: Positions allocable to this entry level class receive close supervision and training from higher-level Department of Children and Family Services staff in the performance of less difficult tasks. As trainees, the incumbents are assigned a reduced number of cases and are expected to develop progressively increasing skill in preparation for higher-level positions requiring the handling of more complex and sensitive cases. Essential Job Functions Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases(e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, Live Scan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making(SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smartphone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues(e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare &Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in Federal and State laws. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: OPTION I: A Bachelor's degree* from an accredited** college or university with a major in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Child Development, or a related Human Services field.*** AND Current enrollment, with anticipated graduation by May/June 2024 , of the Master of Social Work Internship Program with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or DCFS Internship Program or DCFS Internship Stipend Program under Federal Title IV-E or the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) Stipend/Program under Federal Title IV-E****. - OR - OPTION II: A Bachelor's degree***** from an accredited** college or university with a major in Social Work. AND Current enrollment in the Department of Children and Family Services Internship Program or successful completion of the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) Internship Stipend/Program with DCFS under Federal Title IV-E in the 2023-2024 academic year. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: * In order to receive credit for a college degree, applicants must include a legible copy of the official diploma or copy of official transcripts or official letter from the accredited institution's registrar's office which states the major and degree conferred date, at the time of filing or within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of filing your online application. Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may e-mail them to DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov within fifteen (15) calendar days of filing. Please make sure to reference your full name (Last, First name), examination title and number on the subject line of your e-mail. ** Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. *** Human Services related fields are Child Development, Behavioral Science, Human Development, Human Services, Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood Development, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Family and Child Development, Family Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. **** Verification of applicant's enrollment in the 2023-2024 Bachelor of Social Work Internship or Masters of Social Work Internship or DCFS CalSWEC/Title IV-E Internship Stipend/Program AND current enrollment/completion of the internship with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, will be acquired either from the school's Registrar's Office or from the Office of Education and Licensure Program in the Department of Children and Family Services immediately after the online application filing. EDUCATION WITHHOLD: *****Applicants who anticipate completing their Bachelor's Degree by June 15, 2024, may apply for this examination but will be withheld from placement on the eligible register until they have met the education requirements. In order to receive credit for a college degree, applicants m us t include a legible copy of the official diploma or copy of official transcripts or an officia l lette r from the accredited institution's registrar's office which states the major and degree conferred date to the Examinations Section by July 15, 2024 . LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential job functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO (2) YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: This examination will consist of an Evaluation of Training and Experience, weighted 100%, assessing Professional/Technical Training and Experience as it relates to the job. Applicants must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be placed on the eligible register. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing score of 70% or higher in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. SPECIAL INFORMATION: VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in various locations throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: Any appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigation, medical examination and psychological evaluation. FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: All Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background checks. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications will not be accepted by mail, fax, or in person. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper application and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online application. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m. (PT), on the last day of filing . Apply online by clicking on the green "APPLY" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website: https://hr.lacounty.gov/ . Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00pm 4/19/2024 deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address. Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire . Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided, so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected. IMPORTANT NOTES: Please note that ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in D ISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT . Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED . SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, laptop computers and portable WIFI are available for loan from various public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Applications can also be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or a friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator Email: DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Bryant Espinoza Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here Closing Date/Time: 4/19/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
Mar 08, 2024
Full Time
Position/Program Information FILING PERIOD March 20, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - April 19, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (PT) All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday , April 19, 2024. EXAM NUMBER T9070N TYPE OF RECRUITEMENT Open Competitive Job Opportunity DEFINITION: Under close supervision, performs social casework functions including the investigation, supervision, placement and care of dependent children, children in foster homes or other child welfare cases through routine or emergency referrals. CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: Positions allocable to this entry level class receive close supervision and training from higher-level Department of Children and Family Services staff in the performance of less difficult tasks. As trainees, the incumbents are assigned a reduced number of cases and are expected to develop progressively increasing skill in preparation for higher-level positions requiring the handling of more complex and sensitive cases. Essential Job Functions Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases(e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, Live Scan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making(SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smartphone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues(e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare &Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in Federal and State laws. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: OPTION I: A Bachelor's degree* from an accredited** college or university with a major in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Child Development, or a related Human Services field.*** AND Current enrollment, with anticipated graduation by May/June 2024 , of the Master of Social Work Internship Program with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or DCFS Internship Program or DCFS Internship Stipend Program under Federal Title IV-E or the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) Stipend/Program under Federal Title IV-E****. - OR - OPTION II: A Bachelor's degree***** from an accredited** college or university with a major in Social Work. AND Current enrollment in the Department of Children and Family Services Internship Program or successful completion of the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) Internship Stipend/Program with DCFS under Federal Title IV-E in the 2023-2024 academic year. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: * In order to receive credit for a college degree, applicants must include a legible copy of the official diploma or copy of official transcripts or official letter from the accredited institution's registrar's office which states the major and degree conferred date, at the time of filing or within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of filing your online application. Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may e-mail them to DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov within fifteen (15) calendar days of filing. Please make sure to reference your full name (Last, First name), examination title and number on the subject line of your e-mail. ** Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. *** Human Services related fields are Child Development, Behavioral Science, Human Development, Human Services, Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood Development, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Family and Child Development, Family Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. **** Verification of applicant's enrollment in the 2023-2024 Bachelor of Social Work Internship or Masters of Social Work Internship or DCFS CalSWEC/Title IV-E Internship Stipend/Program AND current enrollment/completion of the internship with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, will be acquired either from the school's Registrar's Office or from the Office of Education and Licensure Program in the Department of Children and Family Services immediately after the online application filing. EDUCATION WITHHOLD: *****Applicants who anticipate completing their Bachelor's Degree by June 15, 2024, may apply for this examination but will be withheld from placement on the eligible register until they have met the education requirements. In order to receive credit for a college degree, applicants m us t include a legible copy of the official diploma or copy of official transcripts or an officia l lette r from the accredited institution's registrar's office which states the major and degree conferred date to the Examinations Section by July 15, 2024 . LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential job functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO (2) YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: This examination will consist of an Evaluation of Training and Experience, weighted 100%, assessing Professional/Technical Training and Experience as it relates to the job. Applicants must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be placed on the eligible register. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing score of 70% or higher in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. SPECIAL INFORMATION: VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in various locations throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: Any appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigation, medical examination and psychological evaluation. FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: All Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background checks. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications will not be accepted by mail, fax, or in person. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper application and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online application. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m. (PT), on the last day of filing . Apply online by clicking on the green "APPLY" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website: https://hr.lacounty.gov/ . Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00pm 4/19/2024 deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address. Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire . Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided, so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected. IMPORTANT NOTES: Please note that ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in D ISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT . Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED . SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, laptop computers and portable WIFI are available for loan from various public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Applications can also be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or a friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator Email: DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Bryant Espinoza Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here Closing Date/Time: 4/19/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Los Angeles, California, United States
Position/Program Information FIRST DAY OF FILING: 12/15/2023 AT 8:00 A.M. (PT) -ONLINE FILING ONLY REPOSTING INFORMATION: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REPOSTING TO REOPEN THIS EXAMINATION. THIS EXAMINATION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE ARE MET AND IS SUBJECT TO CLOSURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. EXAM NUMBER: T9070L TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY WITHHOLD: All applicants must meet requirements upon application submission, no withhold will be allowed. Out-of-class experience will not be accepted. DEFINITION: Under close supervision, performs social casework functions including the investigation, supervision, placement and care of dependent children, children in foster homes or other child welfare cases through routine or emergency referrals. CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: Positions allocable to this entry level class receive close supervision and training from higher level Children's Services staff in the performance of less difficult tasks. As trainees, the incumbents are assigned a reduced number of cases and are expected to develop progressively increasing skill in preparation for higher level positions requiring the handling of more complex and sensitive cases. Essential Job Functions Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients* privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases (e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, Livescan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making (SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smart phone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues (e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare & Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in federal and state laws. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. *Clients include any individual who receives, uses, or is eligible for the services or offerings produced by the work unit, including a child, custodial and non-custodial parent(s), relative(s), significant other(s), legal guardian(s), caregiver(s), and prospective adoptive parent(s). Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: OPTION I : Bachelor's degree * from an accredited college with a major in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Child Development, or a related Human Services Field **. OPTION II: Bachelor's degree * from an accredited college, and one year of experience in a social service agency providing protective/placement casework *** services to children or families with children. PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. LICENSE: A valid California Class "C" Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential job functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO (2) YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION: * In order to receive credit for a bachelor's degree, you MUST submit a legible copy of the official transcripts or diploma from an accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization, at the time of filing or within 15 calendar days from the date of filing. ** Human Services Related fields are Psychology, Sociology, Child Development, Social Work, Behavioral Science, Human Development, Human Services, Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood Development, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Family and Child Development, Family Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, Marriage, and Family and Child Counseling. *** Protective casework is defined as social work services to children who are abused or neglected (as determined by the court system); or services to families (as required by the court) due to the neglect or abuse of the child, OR prior to court intervention, it is the social worker who makes the decision to remove a child from the home for the child's protection. Placement Casework Servic es are adoptive type services. Custodial services (group supervision types) are not qualifying experience. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: The examination will consist of Two (2) parts: PART I : Multiple-choice and/or simulation assessments weighted 40% that will assess Deductive Reasoning, Deciding and Initiating Action, Working with People, Persuading and Influencing, Planning and Organizing, and Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations. MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19 ONLY APPLICANTS WHO ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON PART I WILL BE INVITED TO THE STRUCTURED ORAL INTERVIEW (PART II). PART II : A Structured Interview weighted 60% that will assess Professional/Technical Knowledge in Child Welfare Practices, Case Management; Client Focus; Handling Conflict; Oral Communication; Integrity and Ethics; Stress Tolerance; Adaptability; and Cultural Sensitivity. Applicants must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each weighted part of the examination in order to be placed on the Eligible Register. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS. TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS: Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination. This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred. TEST PREPARATION: Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help you preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary. An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section. Additional online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practicetests/ ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of (12) months following the date of promulgation. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. All notifications (e.g. Notices of Non-Acceptance, Notice of Results, etc.) will be emailed. Scores cannot be given over the telephone. SPECIAL INFORMATION: COVID-19 VACCINATION: County workforce members working in health care facilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Impacted workforce members include County Social Workers and Supervising County Social Workers who are assigned to work in health care facilities. Successful candidates for these positions must submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department. FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: All Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background checks. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigation, medical examination and psychological evaluation. Appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: ANY APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper applications and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online application. All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications by mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted . Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may email them to DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov within 15 calendar days of filing. Make sure to reference your full name (Last name, First name), examination title and number on the subject line of your email or in your fax. Apply online by clicking on the green " APPLY " button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website: hr.lacounty.gov . Plan to submit your online application well in advance as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address. IMPORTANT NOTES: ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION. We may reject your application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION . Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES : For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, laptop computers and portable WIFI are available for loan from various public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or a friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator: Department of Human Resources (DHR) ADA Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Veronik Geragoosian Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here
Mar 05, 2024
Full Time
Position/Program Information FIRST DAY OF FILING: 12/15/2023 AT 8:00 A.M. (PT) -ONLINE FILING ONLY REPOSTING INFORMATION: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REPOSTING TO REOPEN THIS EXAMINATION. THIS EXAMINATION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE ARE MET AND IS SUBJECT TO CLOSURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. EXAM NUMBER: T9070L TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY WITHHOLD: All applicants must meet requirements upon application submission, no withhold will be allowed. Out-of-class experience will not be accepted. DEFINITION: Under close supervision, performs social casework functions including the investigation, supervision, placement and care of dependent children, children in foster homes or other child welfare cases through routine or emergency referrals. CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: Positions allocable to this entry level class receive close supervision and training from higher level Children's Services staff in the performance of less difficult tasks. As trainees, the incumbents are assigned a reduced number of cases and are expected to develop progressively increasing skill in preparation for higher level positions requiring the handling of more complex and sensitive cases. Essential Job Functions Investigates referrals alleging child abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by observing the child's well-being and living environment (e.g., body appearance and hygiene, which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients* privately in-person; interviewing various individuals (e.g., reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals, such as teachers, doctors, counselors, neighbors, and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g., peers, supervisors, service providers, medical/mental health professionals, law enforcement personnel, school officials, attorneys including County Counsel, court officials, liaisons involved in specialized programs, etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g., case history files; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases (e.g., CWS/CMS, LRS, SDM, JAI, DOJ, Livescan, CLETS, etc.); transporting clients, which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g., initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home, developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation, removing a child from the home, if necessary, etc.) and assess a family's strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model (CPM), and department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism, attendance history, reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g., observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files, plans, and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records, such as birth certificates; computer-generated reports, including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g., clients, peers, supervisors, law enforcement, care givers, medical/mental health professionals, Regional Center representatives, etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case, assess a child's and/or family's strengths and needs, and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g., making an emergency placement decision, placing a child into a suitable placement, transporting a child out-of-state or out-of-country with a vehicle, requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation, obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure, if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the child's and/or family's best interest, consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to client's location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child, family, and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others, as appropriate (e.g., clients, supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement personnel, medical/mental health professionals, court officials, school officials, community resources etc.), and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the child's and family's best interest, and within established response times or time intervals. Enters client-related data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g., CWS/CMS), reviewing client documents (e.g., personal identifications, medical/dental/psychological information, school information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, photographs, etc.) and/or computer-generated documents and forms, and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate, current and entered within established response times or time intervals. Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g., standardized forms and templates, legal notices and court reports, written reports, numerical log reports, memoranda, correspondence, referrals, mental health screening tool (MHST), cross reports to law enforcement, warrants, etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g., word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, Referral Portal, and Structured Decision Making (SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms, consisting of narrative, fill-in blanks, and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g., document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents, relatives, lawyers, etc.; initiate a process or course of action, such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers, Medical Hubs, etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures, and within established response times or time intervals. Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g., completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations, referrals, and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g., CWS/CMS, the SITE, tablets and smart phone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures. Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g., the client(s), law enforcement personnel, attorneys, representatives from County and outside agencies, and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues (e.g., reasons for placement, availability of relinquishment, trans-racial adoptions, legal rights and responsibilities, court processes, non-case related general information, etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner, both over the phone and in-person (i.e., driving to client's location); providing written information (e.g., instructions and pamphlets in their primary language, as necessary); defusing a hostile or high stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional well-being of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests, processes, or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood, complete, accurate, and in accordance with California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality. Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g., Upfront Assessment, CSAT, Independent Living Program, Adoption Assistance Program, Family Preservation Program, Alternative Response Services (ARS), Prevention and aftercare services, AB12, drug testing and rehabilitation programs, Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals, etc.) by identifying the client's need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g., scheduling appointments for the client, directing the client for drug testing, transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session, etc.) in order to address the client's or the family's immediate or long-term basic needs (e.g., in physical/mental health, emancipation, substance abuse, housing, food, employment, child care, transportation, and education); monitor compliance with DCFS's case plan and/or court-ordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse. Resolves day-to-day issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement, scheduling visitation, monitors for visitation, tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans, crisis management, etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g., clients, the courts, co-workers, supervisors, administrators, etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g., placement search results, drug test results, criminal background checks, progress letters from service providers, minute orders, incident reports, medical needs and diagnosis, police reports, new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children, which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies, social services programs, and community agencies (including law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation, group and resource family homes, medical personnel, school personnel, public health nurses, the courts, other emergency services, etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating, consulting, and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations, the Core Practice Model, and Department policies and procedures. Performs various court-related activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare & Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients, including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate court-related paperwork (e.g., family law orders, medical reports, toxicology reports, pictures, historical documents, progress letters and certificates of completions of court-ordered programs, etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court, etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g., termination of parental rights, protective custody warrants, dependency hearings, in-and out/removal of incarcerated parents, delinquency hearings, legal guardianships, etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals. Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g., Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences, training sessions, workshops, and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, policy updates, staff meetings, the Internet, magazines, journals, newspapers, professional publications, etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in federal and state laws. Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g., CFTs, staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings, meetings with specific groups, such as IEP, MCPC, Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties, driving to various locations, facilitating Child Family Team meetings, and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs. Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above. *Clients include any individual who receives, uses, or is eligible for the services or offerings produced by the work unit, including a child, custodial and non-custodial parent(s), relative(s), significant other(s), legal guardian(s), caregiver(s), and prospective adoptive parent(s). Requirements SELECTION REQUIREMENTS: OPTION I : Bachelor's degree * from an accredited college with a major in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Child Development, or a related Human Services Field **. OPTION II: Bachelor's degree * from an accredited college, and one year of experience in a social service agency providing protective/placement casework *** services to children or families with children. PHYSICAL CLASS III - MODERATE: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. LICENSE: A valid California Class "C" Driver License is required. Candidates must show proof of a driver's license before appointment and will be required to obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of the driving record must be presented at the time of appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Also, a personal vehicle will be required at the time of appointment in order to perform the essential job functions. AN APPLICANT WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS FOUR (4) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO (2) YEARS WILL NOT BE APPOINTED. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION: * In order to receive credit for a bachelor's degree, you MUST submit a legible copy of the official transcripts or diploma from an accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization, at the time of filing or within 15 calendar days from the date of filing. ** Human Services Related fields are Psychology, Sociology, Child Development, Social Work, Behavioral Science, Human Development, Human Services, Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood Development, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Family and Child Development, Family Studies, Marriage and Family Therapy, Marriage, and Family and Child Counseling. *** Protective casework is defined as social work services to children who are abused or neglected (as determined by the court system); or services to families (as required by the court) due to the neglect or abuse of the child, OR prior to court intervention, it is the social worker who makes the decision to remove a child from the home for the child's protection. Placement Casework Servic es are adoptive type services. Custodial services (group supervision types) are not qualifying experience. Additional Information EXAMINATION CONTENT: The examination will consist of Two (2) parts: PART I : Multiple-choice and/or simulation assessments weighted 40% that will assess Deductive Reasoning, Deciding and Initiating Action, Working with People, Persuading and Influencing, Planning and Organizing, and Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations. MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19 ONLY APPLICANTS WHO ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON PART I WILL BE INVITED TO THE STRUCTURED ORAL INTERVIEW (PART II). PART II : A Structured Interview weighted 60% that will assess Professional/Technical Knowledge in Child Welfare Practices, Case Management; Client Focus; Handling Conflict; Oral Communication; Integrity and Ethics; Stress Tolerance; Adaptability; and Cultural Sensitivity. Applicants must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each weighted part of the examination in order to be placed on the Eligible Register. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS. TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS: Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination. This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred. TEST PREPARATION: Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help you preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary. An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section. Additional online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practicetests/ ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of (12) months following the date of promulgation. Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. All notifications (e.g. Notices of Non-Acceptance, Notice of Results, etc.) will be emailed. Scores cannot be given over the telephone. SPECIAL INFORMATION: COVID-19 VACCINATION: County workforce members working in health care facilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Impacted workforce members include County Social Workers and Supervising County Social Workers who are assigned to work in health care facilities. Successful candidates for these positions must submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department. FINGERPRINTING CLEARANCE AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: All Department of Children and Family Services employees are fingerprinted and subject to criminal background check by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.Employment/Promotion is contingent upon passing the background checks. An individual with job-related convictions as defined by the County policy (PPG 514) or the requirements of a "sensitive position" may be withheld from appointment or may be discharged. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION: Candidates who are selected for employment must successfully complete the pre-employment requirements, which include fingerprint clearance and background investigation, medical examination and psychological evaluation. Appointees must be willing to work after hours, weekend shifts and holidays. VACANCY INFORMATION: The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. AVAILABLE SHIFT: ANY APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. Applicants are required to submit a standard Los Angeles County Employment Application online and complete the Supplemental Questionnaire to be considered for this examination. Paper applications and/or resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of online application. All applicants MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission). Applications by mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted . Note: If you are unable to attach the required documents, you may email them to DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov within 15 calendar days of filing. Make sure to reference your full name (Last name, First name), examination title and number on the subject line of your email or in your fax. Apply online by clicking on the green " APPLY " button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application by using this website: hr.lacounty.gov . Plan to submit your online application well in advance as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address. IMPORTANT NOTES: ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION. We may reject your application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION . Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES : For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, laptop computers and portable WIFI are available for loan from various public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or a friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator: Department of Human Resources (DHR) ADA Coordinator Email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Veronik Geragoosian Department Contact Phone: (213) 351-5898 Department Contact Email: DCFSexams@dcfs.lacounty.gov For detailed information, please click here