Community Worker II (Open And Promotional)

Description

Note: The job announcement was amended on October 26, 2023 to extend the recruitment and make it continuous.

The County of San Mateo Human Services Agency (HSA) Children and Family Services (CFS) Branch is seeking qualified candidates for Community Worker II.

Community Worker positions are further distinguished by the area of specialty (option) to which assigned. Options include:

• Elysian Short-Term Residential Treatment Program

• Central Support Services

• Family Support Services Coordinator

CFS operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Services are based on client need and availability. Staff may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Examples Of Duties

Duties of Community Worker positions in any of the above options may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Elysian Short-Term Residential Treatment Program - Spanish Speaking Preferred

Community Workers for the Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) provide support services to children and families involved in the County's child welfare system. In the STRTP assignment, the Community Worker will support the day-to-day operations of the adolescent facility and provide administrative and client support services. Community Worker will support the program by providing transportation to residents; supervising sibling visits; support the office by greeting all guest who enter the facility; entering client information in the database; organizing files; calendaring items; completing basic reports and maintaining records.

Central Support Services

Central Support Services Workers provide direct supportive services and scheduling of services to children and families involved in the County's child welfare system under the Central Support Services Unit (CSSU). The Central Support Services Worker will be assigned field-based services and/or desk tasks including but not limited to supervising sibling visits, connecting families to community resources, purchasing supplies for families, delivering in-home parent-education services, scheduling Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings with families and their supports, scheduling services and appointments, transporting children to and from visits or appointments, and providing basic translation support for social workers and families.

Family Support Services Coordinator

The Family Support Services Coordinator (Service Coordinator) position supports the goals of child welfare including safety, permanency and well-being. The Service Coordinator will work alongside a second Service/Visitation Coordinator and with families involved in the child welfare system to coordinate and schedule court-ordered visitation services between children and their parents, and/or siblings, caretakers, and other family members. The Service Coordinator will schedule, confirm, reschedule services and visits; coordinate with child welfare staff to arrange for and confirm transportation for services; serve as a primary contact for child welfare staff and families related to service requests, and other duties as assigned. The Service Coordinator may be cross-trained to provide field-based services including in-home parent education (SafeCare); transportation of children; purchases; other duties as assigned.

This position is Spanish-speaking bilingual preferred.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Experienced at providing services for vulnerable/at-risk populations.

• Experienced in coordinating complex schedules.

• Client and customer centered with an excellent customer service philosophy.

• Committed to learning, following directions from supervisor/team lead, and working collaboratively with other colleagues, child welfare staff, community partners and other agencies.

• Able to motivate others and work as a team member.

• Able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Highly organized, flexible, and able to work independently.

• Able to multi-task, prioritize, and function in a constantly evolving and fast-pacedenvironment.

• A fast and creative thinker who is able to make effective decisions.

• Experienced in using various computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and other programs as needed.

• Spanish language fluency is preferred.

Examples Of Duties

• Develop rapport, establish, and maintain contact with members of the community served and interpret community needs and cultural patterns to professional staff members.

• Provide educational services to the clientele served; schedule, arrange, and assist in the facilitation of educational programs and activities to support client health/wellness, recovery, self-sufficiency, or employment goals.

• Perform outreach to provide education and information to individuals who may be at risk and unaware of services and/or prevention methods; inform clients and community members of programs and services.

• Identify needs of clients served; provide information and refer clients to appropriate social services which may include areas of employment, health services, child care, and transportation; research community resources for clients; work closely with other County staff to coordinate various functions of outreach and referrals.

• Conduct outreach activities to community organizations to provide information about the program and resources and to secure health, welfare, educational, and other social service supportive programs on behalf of clients; promote participation of groups, businesses, and individuals in program activities; and coordinate the delivery of support services to clients.

• Prepare various reports and correspondence; maintain accurate case notes; maintain caseload to meet the outcome requirements of funding sources; maintain files related to client relations, program operations, and other activities.

• Perform a wide variety of general clerical duties to support assigned operations; coordinate calendars and make appointments; arrange for necessary materials to be available for operations; screen calls, visitors, and mail; respond to complaints and requests for information; assist public at front counter and direct public to appropriate locations/staff; order and maintain office and other related supplies.

• Determine eligibility of program participants including eligibility for continuing participation; interview applicants; investigate and verify applicant and participant information for accuracy and completeness; contact applicants and participants to discuss and clarify discrepancies; make financial computations; complete required information and input into computerized records systems.

• Assist individuals or groups to identify home, family or community conditions needing improvement and to develop, recommend and implement measures to correct these conditions.

• Assist in the follow up and monitoring of cases for assigned client groups; work with client and case management team to develop and maintain individual development plans.

• Monitor action plans and periodically make contact with clients to assess progress and identify support needed to aid clients in pursuing interim goals as planned.

• Assist clients in a wide variety of daily living activities, such as completing applications, resumes and cover letters, and other forms, providing transportation, and navigating support service systems.

• Represent the division or section on internal and community committees and task forces as assigned representing the needs of the community or of individual clients.

• Prepare and distribute flyers to publicize services and community activities.

• Act as an interpreter in contacts involving non-English speaking residents.

• Attend staff and in-service meetings.

• Develop immediate solutions to emergency needs such as food, shelter, or other basic needs and expedite delivery of needed services.

• Identify home, family, or community conditions needing improvement and develop, recommend measures to correct these conditions.

• Advocate with external agencies, employers, and other organizations, to help ensure that the client is represented and informed of processes and procedures, to resolve issues and disputes with third parties, as well as engage in communications on behalf of the client.

• Perform special assignments and projects and other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of the client population and of the total community served.

• Social and community resources.

• Techniques for group and individual counseling.

• Basic case management processes.

• Identification and utilization of social and community resources.

• Basic case management processes.

• Perform clerical support work with accuracy, speed, and minimal supervision.

• Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with the general public, other agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, and regulatory organizations.

• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, clientele, and staff.

• Basic recordkeeping principles and practices.

• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.

Skill/Ability to:

• Address the client population's unique needs in a culturally sensitive manner.

• Relate and communicate effectively with the community served.

• Learn and understand the organization and operation of the assigned department and of outside department and agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.

• Respond to and effectively prioritize multiple phone calls and requests for service.

• File materials alphabetically, chronologically, and numerically.

• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.

• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

• Interpret and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures.

• Organize, maintain, and update office database and records systems.

• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.

• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.

• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.

• Interpret agency programs and policies to members of the community served.

• Write clear and comprehensive reports.

• Stand and walk for extended periods of time and lift and carry equipment and supplies used in the course of the work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skills is:

• Community Worker II: Equivalent to two years' experience in providing community services within the assigned program and demonstrated first-hand knowledge of the problems, needs, attitudes, and behavior patterns specific to the population served within the assigned program.

Licensure/Certification:

• Some positions require possession of a class C California driver license or equivalent. Positions designated to operate mobile van clinics or community outreach vehicles require possession of a class B California driver license or equivalent.

• Some positions may require fluency in a second language, as determined by client population served.

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and medical equipment; vision to assess emergency situations, including medical incidents and to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. Depending on assignment frequent standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard, or calculator and to operate standard office and medical equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 45 pounds.

Environmental Elements

Employees primarily work in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions. Employees may work outdoors and are occasionally exposed to loud noise levels and cold and/or hot temperatures. Incumbents may be exposed to blood and body fluids rendering First Aid and CPR. Employees may interact with members of the public or with staff in a highly emotional setting while interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply.Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary,Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition toour regular employment application form. The examination will consist of an interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applications, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position based solely on the information provided in the application documents. Because of this screening process, all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials.Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

~TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE~

Final Filing Date: Continuous until Filled

Screening Date: TBD

Combined Panel Interview: TBD

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment.The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.Eighty percentof employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Arlene Cahill (Community Worker II - G113)