County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

This series specification describes two Child Welfare Worker classes which under close supervision at the lower level and under direction at the higher level, provide intensive assessment, case management and/or casework services directed toward providing the most stable home environment for children who have been or are in danger of being abused, neglected or abandoned; and to perform related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Child Welfare Worker I is the entry-level class. Incumbents work under close supervision and may be assigned all duties. Child Welfare Worker I’s are expected to gain experience and demonstrate proficiency which qualifies them to promote to Child Welfare Worker II upon completion of one (1) year full-time service. The Child Welfare Worker I appointment will not be extended beyond one (1) year. The Child Welfare Worker I class is for individuals who do not possess an MSW degree or equivalent. The Child Welfare Worker II is the journey-level class in the Child Welfare Worker series for individuals possessing an MSW degree with requisite coursework. Positions in the Child Welfare series differ from those allocated to the Social Worker series in that the work of Child Welfare Workers involves high-pressure or crisis situations, requires substantial involvement with the Court system, involves significantly greater authority and/or involves a significantly greater consequence of error. In contrast with the next higher level class in this series, Child Welfare Supervisor, Child Welfare Worker I’s and II’s do not have supervisory responsibilities.

Positions in the Child Welfare series are found exclusively in the Social Services Agency, primarily in the Department of Children and Family Services.

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. Makes immediate assessments of families and children as a result of a report of abuse or neglect; provides crisis intervention and/or initial intake services to maintain the child safely in his/her own home or to recommend removal, as appropriate.
2. In Emergency Response units, receives telephone calls from individuals or agency Representatives regarding situations involving alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation; elicits and records information from callers that provides sufficient detail to make an assessment; makes the assessment as to whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation has occurred and an immediate determination regarding need for processing of the abuse referral.
3. Conducts investigations of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect; makes recommendations to the Court regarding whether or not to remove a child from the home; provides intensive casework services to keep families intact or ensure safety of child; prepares related case and Court reports according to legislative and judicial mandates.
4. Supervises a caseload of parents and children in the home; provides services to maintain children in their own homes; coordinates services and activities of therapists, school personnel and other community service agencies; develops service plans for parents designed to establish time-limited objectives that result in maintaining a child's safety, and evaluates the family's progress toward achieving these objectives.
5. Supervises a caseload of dependent children placed in foster care; develops a specific time-limited plan for the purpose of assessing the appropriateness of a child's reunification with his/her family; provides case management services to assure a child's needs are met and necessary support is available for parents to meet the reunification plan; prepares Court reports on results of reunification efforts, with a recommendation to reunify the family or establish an alternative placement for the child.
6. Supervises a caseload of dependent children for whom reunification is not possible; develops plan for adoption, legal guardianship or long-term foster care based on the needs of the child and the availability of resources; provides extensive case management and casework services to assure stability for the child in a permanent placement.
7. Assesses the parenting skills of prospective foster parents; determines applicants' eligibility for foster home licenses by investigating the physical characteristics of the home and the applicants' financial status; submits reports and recommendations on issuance or revocation of licenses and completes yearly renewals on individuals licensed to provide foster care; provides consultation to placement staff seeking to locate an appropriate placement.
8. Conducts foster home and adoptive recruitment activities; prepares and disseminates recruitment information; acts as liaison with specified related volunteer agencies; makes presentations to community groups; develops training groups for foster parents and potential adoptive parents.
9. Investigates the personal and financial background of prospective adoptive parents and evaluates their home environment; receives petitions for independent adoptions and interviews petitioners to evaluate the adequacy of the home for the child; confers with petitioner's attorney to verify marital status, child's birth record and consent of natural parents; prepares and submits reports and recommendations to the Superior Court. 
10. Counsels natural parents considering the relinquishment of their child; explains the adoption program, and informs them of their legal rights; prepares information for the Court on termination of parental rights or abandonment proceedings; ensures compliance with the laws relating to adoption.  
11. Evaluates children who have been relinquished, or who may be freed for adoption; places and supervises children in adoptive homes and counsels children and adoptive parents to facilitate their adjustment; submits final adoption reports and recommendations to the Superior Court.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EITHER I

Experience:  

The equivalent of one (1) year of full-time experience as a Child Welfare Worker I in the Alameda County classified service.

AND  

Recommendation for promotion based on recent performance evaluations.  

OR II

Education:  

Possession of a master's degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work, which included a supervised field placement providing social casework and counseling services to individuals and families.  

OR III

Education:  

Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Sociology, Education or an equivalent field (Vocational Rehabilitation majors not acceptable).

AND

Experience:  

Satisfactory completion of two (2) semesters of supervised field work in an agency involved in the provision of direct services to families or children in one of the following or closely related areas:  child welfare, family counseling, juvenile probation, pediatric social work, alcohol and drug counseling, school social work, or school counseling.  

OR  

Experience:  

The equivalent of six (6) months full-time post baccalaureate professional work experience which involved the provision of direct services to families or children in one of the areas previously described.  

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, skills and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.  

Knowledge of:

• Principles of sociology and psychology relating to normal and abnormal human behavior and family and community dynamics.
• Child development and parenting skills.
• Interviewing techniques, including crisis intervention and counseling methods.
• The role of the Agency in the treatment plan and the Social Services Agency's policies, procedures, programs and services.
• Community resources.
• Legal definitions of sexual molestation, physical abuse, general neglect, incest, failure to thrive, emotional abuse, medical neglect and other details of laws relating to child abuse reporting and other related areas of law.  

Ability to:

• Work cooperatively with varying interests and coordinate them towards achieving case plan and solving problems.
• Set limits to assist clients in taking steps toward greater self-sufficiency.
• Write clear, concise and descriptive reports under time restraints.
• Exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children.
• Deal effectively with hostile, disorganized or aggressive clients.
• Accept supervision and consultation.
• Handle high-pressure, crisis situations professionally and extract appropriate information in such situations.
• Learn and use various computer applications such as word processing and databases.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TT:Lm-h/Revised: 4/84

TB:pb/Revised: 3/31/87

BV:ara/Revised: 2/91

TTS:pf/revised:  3/97

MM/RE:bl/revised:  12/99

Old Document:  Cadssec/0661h.doc

New Document:  Jobspecs/6740-6745

ys/3/01

CSC Date:  1/5/2000

DB:pf  Rev. 8/15/01

CSC Date:   10/24/01

DR:sa Revised 10/20/2022

CSC Date: 11/16/2022

 

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.