JOB
Under general supervision, the Social Service Aide assists Social Workers by performing specifically designated tasks related to the improvement of family functioning and child and adult services; and performs related work as required.Social Service Aide is a paraprofessional class. Incumbents assist Social Workers by relieving them of routine tasks such as performing assessments of clients in the In-Home Support Services program, instructing parents in the development of parenting and household management skills, and/or performing various tasks for the child and adult service programs.The Social Service Aide differs from the Social Worker in that the former requires a lower level of skill and training than the level required of a professional Social Worker.SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVEDIncumbents in the Social Service Aide classification receive supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level supervisor or manager.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Maintains a routine caseload of elderly adults who are infirm or incapacitated and receiving household services.Conducts ongoing client needs assessments and verifies needs by contacting medical and health services providers.Presents client assessments to professional staff for approval.Completes narrative reports regarding a client's condition and services provided and/or recommended. Enters data regarding case and client information and contacts into automated system.Makes client referrals to medical personnel or social workers as needed.Provides direct training and counseling to mentally ill and developmentally disabled parents on parenting and household management skills, and teaches families about nutritional meal preparation, budgeting and household care.Monitors the medical and psychological care of abused children.Supervises visits between parents and children and reports observations to social worker.Provides emergency child care.Transports or accompanies clients to appointments for service or interviews.May testify in juvenile court hearings.Assists Social Workers in providing a variety of child and adult social services.Acts as liaison between clients and professional staff, individuals and groups in the community serviced.Directly assists families in using and learning about the resources of society, particularly medical, legal and employment services.Maintains records of work performed, and performs other related work as required.Performs related duties as assigned.EMPLOYMENT STANDARDSKnowledge of: Basic rules and regulations regarding In-Home Support Services, child abuse reporting, and Welfare and Institution Codes.Basic community resources useful to clients served, acceptable housekeeping and homemaking standards, including the methods, materials and equipment used in general housekeeping work.Basic methods and attitudes involved in the in-home care of physically ill, handicapped or disabled persons and adequate food preparation with limited kitchen equipment.Ability to: Interview persons to obtain a variety of information applicable to the provision of social services.Understand and accept differences in human behavior resulting from cultural, economic or other forms of deprivation.Effectively instruct physically and mentally disabled adults in parenting and household skills.Deal with physically and sexually abused children.Prepare basic written reports.Recognize and report specific indications of need for social services.Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.Establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers, outside organizations, and the public.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
EXAMINATION INFORMATIONTRAINING & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION – WEIGHTED 100%The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate’s knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination.If conditions warrant, an Experience and Education examination may be conducted in lieu of the Training and Experience examination. Please review the Experience and Education examination information below: EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION – WEIGHTED 100%The Education & Experience examination is based solely upon information provided from the application and supplemental information (e.g., resumes, transcripts). Information provided from the application and supplemental information will be assessed compared to a standard developed in relation to the elements of the. Special care should be taken to submitting a complete description of your education and experience relevant to the typical tasks, scope, and minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin. Supplemental information will be accepted, but competitors should read this bulletin carefully to determine what kind of information will be useful to those individuals completing the evaluation. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination. Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks after the closing date of the job bulletin.IF EXAM IS CONTINUOUS: MSS is accepting applications on a continuous basis. Qualifying candidates will be notified via email with instructions for completing the examination within 30 days of the date of application.ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATIONA departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Sierra. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.RETEST PERIODOnce you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTSSpecial testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at mssprogram@calhr.ca.gov or 916-909-3251 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school, or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.APPLICATION DOCUMENTSIf you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.GENERAL INFORMATIONMSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.If you meet the requirements stated in this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITYThe Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONA valid driver license may be required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance, and a DMV clearance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.Position may require pre-employment fingerprinting for a background investigation.Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records. Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. Applicable agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information.The ability to speak, read, and write Spanish in addition to English would be an asset in this position, but is not required. Applicants for English/Spanish bilingual designated positions must take and pass the Merit System Services bilingual proficiency examination.Recruitments that note continuous under the closing date are subject to close at any time. Applicants will not be accepted after a continuous recruitment is closed.VETERANS PREFERENCEIf you would like to request Veteran's preference points as part of the application packet, please attach a copy of your DD-214 form to your application. EXAMINATION INFORMATION If supplemental questions are included as a part of this job bulletin, applicants may be rated based upon their responses to the supplemental questions. If rated, only those that are determined to be highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTSSpecial testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or for religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact the California Department of Human Resources, Merit System Services at mssprogram@calhr.ca.gov or 916-323-2756 a minimum of five business days prior to the scheduled examination date. Documentation may be required. ABOUT SIERRA COUNTYSierra County, with a population of a little over 3,300, is located in the heart of the northern section of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The town of Loyalton, with a population of approximately 862, is the most populated area of Sierra County. The County seat is located in Downieville. Sierra County is comprised of 3 very different regions. The West side is mountainous and heavily forested, supporting miners and loggers. On the East side is a large alpine valley, home to farmers and cattle raising. Midway between lies the area of "Lake Basin", a collection of some 50 lakes, studded with resorts and campgrounds.