What are the responsibilities and job description for the Client Support Specialist - Extra-Help position at County of Sonoma?
Position Information
The County of Sonoma is seeking candidates to fill two extra-help Client Support Specialist positions.
Bring your empathy, customer service skills, and organizational skills to our team to help support members of our community.
S tarting salary up to $35.26 /hour* depending upon experience.
Position Overview
A Client Support Specialist (CSS) plays a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient transportation for clients transitioning between healthcare settings, residential placements, and appointments. The CSS is responsible for driving passengers, communicating with facility staff, delivering medications, and coordinating schedules with both facility staff and fellow drivers. The role requires a balance of strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and organizational abilities to handle the dynamic needs of passengers who may have mental health or behavioral challenges. You will be responsible for:
Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Intermittent, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most regular employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage, accrual of vacation, participation in the County retirement program, or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Intermittent, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of 1,380 hours within any twelve-month consecutive period.Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.
This recruitment is being conducted to fill intermittent, extra-help Client Support Specialist positions in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
An Associate of Arts degree with major course work in community mental health, psychology, sociology, or other related field. Experience as a Client Support Assistant, or the equivalent, may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
AND
One year experience working as the equivalent of a Client Support Assistant, or one year of paid experience working with adults diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness, or children with a serious emotional disturbance that would provide basic understanding of the needs of mental health services programs.
Driver’s License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position. The positions advertised on this announcement require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Special Qualifications: Some positions may require the ability to fluently speak and write a language other than English.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
Working Knowledge of: Community resources and services available to program clients; techniques of rehabilitation; client legal rights; interviewing techniques, charting and case management documentation; and the use of electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department.
Ability to: Develop and maintain the trust and cooperation of clients, their families and other significant care providers; interpret and apply County mental health program policies and procedures; analyze a client situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action; work with clients to resolve conflicts with other staff, care providers or family members; work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; understand the legal mandates governing the storage of client records and information and the rights of the client to confidentiality; understand and apply the principles and techniques of case management and rehabilitative interventions with clients; coordinate the delivery of mental health services; apply basic interviewing techniques; facilitate group sessions; coordinate the delivery of mental health services; communicate effectively with persons from a variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds; evaluate situations and adopt effective courses of action to prevent a crisis; speak and write in at a level necessary to fulfill the job requirements; read, understand, and apply regulations and procedures governing mental health programs.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.
The Selection Procedure Will Consist Of The Following Examination
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.
Additional Information
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
How To Apply
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: DP
HR Technician: KK
The County of Sonoma is seeking candidates to fill two extra-help Client Support Specialist positions.
Bring your empathy, customer service skills, and organizational skills to our team to help support members of our community.
S tarting salary up to $35.26 /hour* depending upon experience.
Position Overview
A Client Support Specialist (CSS) plays a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient transportation for clients transitioning between healthcare settings, residential placements, and appointments. The CSS is responsible for driving passengers, communicating with facility staff, delivering medications, and coordinating schedules with both facility staff and fellow drivers. The role requires a balance of strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and organizational abilities to handle the dynamic needs of passengers who may have mental health or behavioral challenges. You will be responsible for:
- Transporting passengers in a County van from hospitals or residential settings to new living environments, appointments, court hearings, or other locations
- Collecting medical information, including medication lists and discharge paperwork
- Coordinating pickup and drop-off times, working closely with the transportation coordinator and co-drivers
- Consulting with the coordinator in case of schedule changes or safety issues
- Utilizing knowledge of mental health and behavioral challenges to effectively redirect behaviors and communicate kindly with passengers
- Experience with populations that have mental health or behavioral challenges
- Demonstrate a high degree of dependability and reliability
- The ability to build rapport with clients, facility staff, and team members alike through compassionate interaction and clear communication
- An understanding of the importance of tact, positivity, and patience when dealing with clients and their diverse needs
- A professional approach in coordinating schedules, tasks and responsibilities, and handling of client paperwork
- Adaptable to schedule changes and fluctuating client needs, to ensure adequate coverage and support
- Effective working both in a team environment and independently
- Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) are desirable but not required
Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Intermittent, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most regular employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage, accrual of vacation, participation in the County retirement program, or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Intermittent, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of 1,380 hours within any twelve-month consecutive period.Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.
This recruitment is being conducted to fill intermittent, extra-help Client Support Specialist positions in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.
- Salary is negotiable within the established range.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
An Associate of Arts degree with major course work in community mental health, psychology, sociology, or other related field. Experience as a Client Support Assistant, or the equivalent, may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
AND
One year experience working as the equivalent of a Client Support Assistant, or one year of paid experience working with adults diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness, or children with a serious emotional disturbance that would provide basic understanding of the needs of mental health services programs.
Driver’s License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position. The positions advertised on this announcement require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Special Qualifications: Some positions may require the ability to fluently speak and write a language other than English.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
Working Knowledge of: Community resources and services available to program clients; techniques of rehabilitation; client legal rights; interviewing techniques, charting and case management documentation; and the use of electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department.
Ability to: Develop and maintain the trust and cooperation of clients, their families and other significant care providers; interpret and apply County mental health program policies and procedures; analyze a client situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action; work with clients to resolve conflicts with other staff, care providers or family members; work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; understand the legal mandates governing the storage of client records and information and the rights of the client to confidentiality; understand and apply the principles and techniques of case management and rehabilitative interventions with clients; coordinate the delivery of mental health services; apply basic interviewing techniques; facilitate group sessions; coordinate the delivery of mental health services; communicate effectively with persons from a variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds; evaluate situations and adopt effective courses of action to prevent a crisis; speak and write in at a level necessary to fulfill the job requirements; read, understand, and apply regulations and procedures governing mental health programs.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.
The Selection Procedure Will Consist Of The Following Examination
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.
Additional Information
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
How To Apply
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: DP
HR Technician: KK
Salary : $35
