Children's Social Services Practitioner III

This recruitment will establish a candidate pool of qualified competitive applicants and will be used to fill future vacancies as they become available with the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)

Applications to this posting will be valid for up to 180 days.

As positions become available, the recruiter will review applications and refer applicants should they meet the department's requirements.

Due to the nature and volume of this recruitment you will only receive correspondence if you are referred for an interview or when the event is complete.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST UPLOAD A COPY OF THEIR OFFICIAL AND / OR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS OF THEIR COMPLETED DEGREE AT AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

All applicants for positions at Harmony Haven Children's and Youth Center and must meet the age requirement of at least 21 years of age as required by the Transitional Shelter Care Facility Operating Standards by the California Department of Social Services.

Applicants who are under 21 years of age are not eligible for positions within Harmony Haven, but may be eligible for positions in other divisions or departments.

The County of Riverside's Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) seeks multiple Children's Social Services Practitioner III positions throughout Riverside County (Western, Southern, Mid-County, and Desert Regions including Blythe, CA) for the Children's Services Division (CSD).

Frequent driving may be required for all positions.

Competitive candidates will be referred to the department on an ongoing basis.

We are looking for someone who has :

• Excellent interpersonal skills when working with diverse clients of various ages, socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, and mental / physical capabilities
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with other professionals in order to meet the needs of shared clients and promote quality care, safety, and well-being
• Great written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge and ability to learn and apply complex laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to clients
• Strong critical thinking, analytical, organizational, and time management skills
• Tech-savvy skills and the ability to learn and use specialized case management software programs

A few reasons you might love this job :

• Opportunity to compassionately support children, elders / dependent adults and families
• It's more than a desk job - travel throughout the vast County of Riverside to meet with clients and community partners
• Work and network with dedicated professionals who share a passion for public service
• Career growth and upward mobility within the department
• Supportive and respectful working environment that values work-life balance

A few challenges you might face in this job :

• Fast-paced environment
• Meeting mandated deadlines
• The need for documentation and technical writing
• Identifying ways to navigate social service delivery with limited resources while meeting clients' identified goals and needs

About the Children's Services Division (CSD) :

Social Services Practitioners may be assigned to various programs within Children's Services.

Those programs include Investigative and Continuing Services, Extended Foster Care Program (EFC), Command Post, Group Home, Adoptions, or the Resource Family Approval (RFA).

Investigative Services and Command Post conduct investigation of child abuse / neglect referrals made within the Riverside County.

Continuing Services provide support in continuing services with the goal of reunification.

Extended Foster Care completes assessments, develops transitional plans, and provides resources for youth 16 and older, preparing them to emancipate from foster care.

The Resource Family Approval conducts home assessments, background checks, and family evaluations to ensure that prospective relatives / non-related extended family members (NREFM) requesting placement meet standards in accordance with State regulations.

Future SSP IIIs in the CSD (only) may be eligible for DPSS exciting programs that include the Retention Program and Educational and Career Assistance Programs.

All Programs are great opportunities for professional growth and knowledge.

Learn more below :

• Retention Program : All NEWLY hired incumbents and CURRENT employees with less than 10,400 hours of service are eligible for the Retention Bonus Program upon hire! Eligibility is based upon Hours of Service Completed, learn more at https : / / rivcocob.org / board-policies ( Section C, policy C-26 )
• Education Support Program : DPSS employees eligible for the ESP may receive up to $5,250.00 per year for a period of two years of lifetime maximum of $10,500.

ESP programs include Career Counseling, Career Assessment, College partners Tuition Discount information and possible textbook and tuition reimbursement options.

Interested and Eligible candidates will receive a Career Development Plan (CDP) that includes tuition and textbook funding, either by DPSS or Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Department Policy, Eligibility and Application Requirement details are in the link (https : / / esp.rc-hr.com / )

• 20 / 20 Program : The 20 / 20 program is designed to assist Social Services Practitioner IIIs who are students completing a Masters in Social Work Degree from an approved university.

Program participants work a reduced work schedule while being paid as a full-time employee allowing the employee time to complete training and / or educational requirements for degree or certification.

To learn more about the 20 / 20 Program, please contact the recruiter listed at the bottom of this job posting.

• For more about what it's like to work within Children's Services please watch
• For questions related to working within Children's Services, please email CSDStaffing@rivco.org .
• For information about the retention bonus click here : https : / / rivcocob.org / sites / g / files / aldnop311 / files / migrated / wp-content-uploads-2022-08-POLICY-C26.revised-07.26.22.pdf

Job Description

The Children's Social Services Practitioner Ill is the advanced journey level classification of the professionally trained social caseworker in the Children's Social Services Practitioner series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager level position.

Incumbents are characterized by the responsibility for performing full scope social service casework often requiring difficult decisions, assessments and case planning for needed interventions and services, and carry a caseload dealing with individual and family problems that require possession of advanced social work skills and techniques.

Incumbents will need to have a proactive approach, excellent communication skills, a deep understanding of child welfare policies, and the ability to manage complex cases with sensitivity and professionalism.

Depending on area of assignment, incumbents may be required to have a master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, or social / human services.

Meet the Team!

The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) is comprised of employees who work collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community.

jfc : 21102900Examples of Essential Duties (may include but not limited to)

• Conduct thorough investigations into referrals of child abuse and neglect, ensuring timely and accurate assessment and emergency level response appropriate to the situation.
• Provide client services by offering support and services to children and youth where their physical or emotional welfare is at risk; address issues related to neglect, abuse, emotional / behavioral problems, disabilities, and health concerns.
• Assess the family environment; evaluate the safety and welfare of children in the household; determine risks to children's safety and well-being; implement interventions with families where needed; transport according to safety regulations (e.g., car seats) when assisting with initial removal or placement changes, which may also include lifting and carrying equipment and belongings.
• Ensure child safety by taking immediate action to remove children from unsafe environments and transport them to appropriate placements.
• Actively search for and locate runaway dependent children; ensure their safety and place them with appropriate care providers.
• Conduct assessment for child abuse and neglect; develop individualized treatment plans for children and families; create detailed long-term or short-term case plans to address family functioning and child safety, including conducting regular field visits, outside of the office and potentially at long distances.
• Provide comprehensive casework services; offer counseling, protective services and adoptive services to support the physical, emotional and social needs of children and families.
• Perform field visits and service delivery by conducting regular field visits to clients' homes and other locations to monitor and execute case plans effectively.
• Support resource families; conduct home studies and outreach for resource parents for children in need of out-of-home care and supervision, as well as adoption services.
• Prepare and maintain case records; document case activities; write reports and other documents as evidence for court proceedings; prepare for oral testimony when required for court proceedings and respond to official correspondence; ensure all records are accurate, complete and timely within an electronic child welfare database and other record-keeping systems.
• Perform safety compliance by adhering to all safety protocols and regulations while performing job duties to ensure the safety of all involved parties.
• Maintain electronic records; update and maintain electronic case files in the Child Welfare Services / Case Management System (CWS / CMS) or other mandated record-keeping systems; ensure all case management aspects are accurately tracked and documented.
• Interpret social service policies; demonstrate awareness and perform social work practice under guidance of and in alignment with public social service rules, regulations and policies for customers and other members of the public; ensure understanding and compliance with internal policy and practice guidelines.
• Achieve client outcomes by striving to meet the desired outcomes of safety, permanency and well-being for the children and families served; support the overall mission of the department.
• Participate in staff development programs; participate in mandated training requirements including in-person and virtual sessions, sometimes at a distance from one's assigned office.

OPTION I

Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, social / human services, counseling, or a closely related field to the assignment.

Experience : One year equivalent to a County of Riverside Children's Social Services Practitioner II.

OPTION II

Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, social / human services, counseling, or a closely related field to the assignment.

Experience : Two years of performing casework duties in a public or private human services agency.

Experience must include assessing or determining client needs, formulating case plans or executing case plans to support and meet client needs.

OPTION III

Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree, preferably with a major in social or behavioral sciences, social / human services, counseling, or a closely related field to the assignment.

OPTION IV

Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work.

Experience : Completed internship experience in a public or private welfare agency as part of an accredited Bachelor of Social Work degree program.

ALL OPTIONS

Knowledge of : Principles and techniques of social casework and of the function of public social service agencies; individual and group behavior with emphasis on normal growth, development and family relationships; social casework objectives, principles and methods; socioeconomic and cultural factors which promote stable family life, and an understanding of the factors that affect family security; physical and mental illnesses and their impact on personality; community organizations and the services they provide; laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of public social services agencies; basic computer skills.

Ability to : Establish rapport with clients and their families; effectively apply casework knowledge and skills; apply the principles of general and / or child psychology and family relationships; evaluate personal and psychological factors in the client and / or family's situation; work constructively within an agency and community setting; effectively utilize appropriate resources and services; provide consultation to others; demonstrate skill in planning and analysis; control personal bias and apply social work ethics; maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public; provide consultation to and assist in the professional development of less experienced Social Services Practitioners; input and retrieve data from computerized system.

Additional Requirements

License : Possession of a valid California Driver's License is necessary at the time of hire and must be maintained throughout employment.

County vehicles may be available but are not guaranteed.

Employees may be required to use their own vehicles for field travel and are required to provide vehicle insurance information for their personal vehicle.

Schedule : Incumbents may be required to participate in a mandatory on-call schedule which may include working nights, holidays, and weekends.

Physical Requirements : The Children's Social Services Practitioner III position with the Children's Services Divisions requires both office work and field work.

Office work requires sedentary tasks such as report writing / typing and documentation.

Field work may include frequent driving, conducting home visits, attending court hearings, and meeting with various stakeholders in the community.

Field work requires the ability to climb stairs, walk on uneven surfaces, and maneuver around obstacles in the home and work independently and safely in a variety of home environments, which may include hazardous conditions, such as unsecured pets or unclean living spaces.

Additionally, in emergent situations incumbent may be required to lift and carry heavy objects or individuals.

Background Requirement : Employment within the Department of Social Services - Children's Services Division requires frequent and routine contact with children.

As a result, all employment offers for the Children's Services Division are contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug / alcohol test, a search of the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI), clearance to access Criminal Offender Record Information from the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS), and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting.

A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from employment with the Department of Public Social Services.)

What's Next?

This recruitment is open to ALL Applicants

This is a continuous posting, however postings may close at any time.

Additional Information :

Contact Joshua Roberts at JoRoberts@rivco.org or at 951-955-2548 with any questions regarding this recruitment.