Human Services Social Worker and Human Services Social Worker with Special Skills Classes

Under supervision, the Human Services Social Worker performs duties in the development and delivery of public social services to clients to promote human well-being. These positions are located within the Department of Health Services, Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (formerly Department of Health & Human Services), Department of Human Assistance, Sheriff's Department, and the Office of the Public Defender.

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Goals and objectives of public social services
• Available public and private community resources
• Awareness of cultural differences
• Socio-economic awareness of low income population
• Applicable laws, rules and regulations governing the field of public welfare
• National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics
• Interviewing techniques
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignment
• Basic arithmetic (i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, percentages, ratios, and fractions)
• Social casework principles and practices including group work and community organization
• Social problems which call for the use of public and private community resources
• Socio-economic conditions and problems which affect the work of a public social service agency
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Ability to

• Communicate effectively with persons from a variety of social, cultural and economic backgrounds
• Work effectively with many life styles and different attitudes
• Work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Exercise tact when dealing with others
• Interview effectively in a wide variety of circumstances
• Establish and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with clients, fellow employees, other agencies and the general public
• Interpret public social services programs to clients
• Maintain composure under stress
• Integrate information to form total picture
• Communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing
• Independently initiate and respond to correspondence
• Reason logically, understand and follow complex instructions and procedures
• Compile various records and information accurately
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Read, analyze, interpret and apply complex regulatory material
• Read correspondence and reports and understand their meaning
• Organize work schedule and budget time
• Accept and use consultative supervision
• Do a high volume of work amid interruptions
• Keep accurate and orderly records
• Compose routine business communications, reports and other written materials in a clear, concise, organized, and accurate manner
• Make arithmetical computations accurately and rapidly
• Demonstrate skill in the application of social work methods and practices
• Demonstrate skill in the use of community resources

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Either: 1a. Two years of full-time, paid experience employed by the County of Sacramento in the class of Human Services Specialist;

1b. Successful completion of 12 semester or 18 quarter upper division units from an accredited college or university in social work, sociology, psychology, counseling or other field closely related to the intent of the class.

Or: 2. A Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university with at least 24 semester or 36 quarter upper division units in social work, sociology, psychology, counseling or other field closely related to the intent of the class.

Note: Related fields above may include behavioral science, child development, community health education, cultural anthropology, ethnic studies, family studies, gerontology, human development, mental health, and public health.

Note: Part-time experience is converted to full-time on the basis of 173.6 hours = 21.7 days = 1 work month.

Note: The word "experience" referenced in the minimum qualifications means full-time paid experience unless the job announcement states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements, please click here (Download PDF reader) or speak to someone in our office before the cut-off date listed in this notice.

General Qualifications

Background/Criminal History: The County may access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for this class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602, Personnel Policies and Procedures, and applicable federal and state laws. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate's ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history checks where authorized by Labor Code section 1024.5, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

Driver's License: A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, may be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Commission Rules or applicable bargaining agreement. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Child and Elder Abuse Reporting: Persons selected for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code and Section 15630 of the Welfare and Institutions Code relating to child and elder abuse reporting.

Physical Requirements:Some positions in this class may require the incumbent to be able to:

• Sit for periods up to one hour while driving to home visits.
• Climb flights of stairs to reach residence.
• Lift infants and toddlers weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Carry automobile child safety seats.
• Have sufficient vision to assess physical condition of clients and home environment.

Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Working conditions:Some positions in this class may require the incumbent to:

• Be exposed to hostile, emotionally disturbed or mentally ill persons and/or confrontational interpersonal situations.
• Work in dangerous, high crime areas of the community.
• Work during non-routine hours, standby and/or callback.
• Work in and around substandard living areas with exposure to common communicable diseases, scabies, impetigo and other rashes.
• Work outside in all types of climatic conditions including inclement, very hot and/or cold weather.

Special Skills Language Requirement

Special skills classes require sufficient knowledge to speak, read and write fluently a language other than standard English; and/or knowledge of a multi-cultural group encompassing but not limited to: family member roles and living environments; the various characteristics or problems unique to the group in employment, education, health, economics and social customs; and current social movements involving the group. Incumbents use the specific language and multi-cultural knowledge in the performance of typical duties, incorporating this knowledge to appropriately serve clients and families in a manner that is culturally competent and affirming. In addition, incumbents translate and interpret using standard English and a language other than standard English, and act as a consultant to others regarding the specific multi-cultural group.