County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under direct supervision to perform paraprofessional child welfare work duties in support of professional staff’s handling of child welfare work cases and other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Family Support Worker is a paraprofessional class located in the Children and Family Services Department of the Social Services Agency. Incumbents will be responsible for providing assistance to the professional staff with the casework duties of child welfare work. Primary responsibilities of this position will consist coordinating and monitoring family visitations; providing help in locating housing and household management; and all forms of data gathering in support of complex child welfare cases and usage of statewide computer system and related duties. This position is distinguished from the Child Welfare Worker I/II class in that the latter has overall responsibilities for maintaining a caseload of child welfare cases and all the professional duties found within each assigned case.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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

1. Assists in coordinating, arranging and supervising family visitation between parents and children in the welfare system.

2. Assists with data gathering on child welfare cases.

3. Transports children who are receiving child welfare services to and from medical appointments, court hearings, social service agencies and other appointments.

4. Observes client behavior; providing oral and/or written feedback to professional staff; maybe ordered to testify in court hearings regarding observed behavior.

5. Assists with investigations of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect by following up on leads via the telephone, in writing or in person.

6. Inputs information on child welfare cases into the statewide computer system to comply with state Child Welfare requirements.

7. Assists with the coordination of services and activities of therapists, school personnel and other community services agencies that have contact with children receiving child welfare services.

8. Assists in providing parenting skills for foster parents and clients.

9. Assists in recruitment activities of foster and adoptive parents; may act as liaison with specified related volunteer agencies; assists in making presentations to community groups.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

Education:

Completion of an Associates Arts degree from an accredited college or university (90 quarter units or 60 semester unit) with major coursework in psychology, sociology, social work, child development or related human services field.

AND

Experience:

The equivalent of two years full-time experience in the class of Specialist Clerk or in an equivalent or higher classification in the Social Services Agency.

Or II

Education:

Completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (180 quarter units or 120 semester units) with major coursework in psychology, sociology, social work, child development or related human services field.

License:

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

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

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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

Knowledge of:

• Concepts of basic sociology and psychology relating to normal and abnormal human behavior and family dynamics.
• Concepts of basic child development and parenting skills.
• General techniques of effective interviewing skills.
• The role of a Social Services Agency in the protection of children who are in abusive, neglective and dangerous situations.
• Community resources.
• English grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Operations of office machines and equipment, including personal computers and word processing programs.
• Basic concepts of adult learning.
• Basic problem solving skills.

Ability to:

• Deal effectively with hostile, disorganized and difficult people.
• Work in an emotional and stressful environment.
• Handle multiple task from various individuals.
• Understand and following oral and written instructions.
• Gather and evaluate relevant information.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, the public and outside resources.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Compile data.
• Conduct fact-finding interviews.
• Make public presentations.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

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BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

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

For your Financial Future

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

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.