The Position

Contra Costa County is one of the few counties in the nation to offer a full spectrum of health-related services under one organizational structure. The Contra Costa Health Department has over 5,200 employees in nine (9) divisions which include the Office of the Director (OOD), Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) and Health Centers (HCs), Public Health (PH), Behavioral Health (BH), Emergency Management System (EMS), Environmental Health (EH), Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), Health, Housing and Homeless (H3), and Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP).

This is an exciting time to join Contra Costa Health as we are recruiting to fill Medical Social Worker II positions in both inpatient and outpatient settings! These positions are located in the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCMRC), Health Centers (HCs), Behavioral Health (BH) programs, as well as Public Health (PH) programs catered to Children’s Services. In order to provide the best services to our patients and community, we strive to recruit motivated, forward-thinking, results-driven staff.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a critical thinker – resourceful and creative with problem-solving.
• Exhibits efficient organizational skills.
• Has exceptional communication skills, both verbally and written.
• Is responsive and professional in working with challenging patients, work situations, and systems.
• Exhibits empathy and cultural competence.
• Can be flexible in a fast-paced environment – able to manage their time and prioritize tasks.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Interview families and clients/participants with intensive care management, to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of needs.
• Interagency coordination and collaboration.
• Attending and actively participating in interdisciplinary rounds or team meetings, to review client needs and plans.
• Reviewing and maintaining chart documentation that is timely, clear, relevant, and thorough.
• Offering consultation and recommendation regarding patient care and discharge planning to medical and ancillary teams.
• Communicating and providing outreach to clients with increased psychosocial needs, e.g., crisis intervention, addressing basic needs (food, housing).

A few reasons why you might love this job:

• The work is rewarding and interesting, with ongoing learning opportunities.
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team.
• Great staff with a culture of supporting one another in a collaborative way.
• Ample opportunities for creative problem solving.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Intense cases with diverse needs.
• Maintaining self-care when working with overly stressed clients and families.
• May encounter intense emotional reactions to medical, psychiatric, or psychosocial factors, requiring the ability to stay calm under pressure.
• Fast-paced environment with competing demands, requiring frequent re-prioritizing.

Competencies Required:

• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Informing: Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Interpersonal Savvy: Considering and responding appropriately to the needs and feelings of others in different situations, including diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Involving Others (Engaging Teams): Engaging others for input, contribution, and shared responsibility for outcomes
• Leading Cross-Divisional Collaboration: Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working within and across divisions and teams
• Negotiating: Reaching mutually satisfying agreements and compromise

To read the complete job description, please click here.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future openings for up to six (6) months.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a closely related behavioral science field.

Experience: Two (2) years of full-time experience providing counseling and/or social work services to medical patients.

Substitution for Education and Experience: Possession of a Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a closely related behavioral science field and either: a) two years of full-time or its equivalent experience as a Medical Social Worker I in Contra Costa County; or b) three years of full-time or its equivalent experience providing counseling and/or social work services to medical patients.

Substitution for Academic Major: One (1) additional year of qualifying experience of the type noted above may be substituted for the required major.
Desirable Qualifications:

• Knowledge of multisystem resources (Regional Center of the East Bay, School District, Behavioral Health, IHSS and so forth)
• Knowledge of conservatorship, guardianship and other court documents
• Post-Master’s experience of at least one year working with medical patients
• Experience working with mental health and substance use disorders (including knowledge of commonly associated behaviors)
• Knowledge of the health care industry and insurance, such as Medicare and Medi-Cal

Selection Process

1. Application Filing and Evaluation: All applicants must apply online at www.cccounty.us/hr and submit the information as indicated on the job announcement by the final filing date. Applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire at the time of filing. Applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.

2. Training and Experience Evaluation: Candidates who clearly demonstrate that they possess the minimum qualifications will have their training and experience evaluated. The responses to the supplemental questions, at the time of filing, will be evaluated to determine each candidate's relevant education, training, and/or experience as presented on the application and supplemental questionnaire. (Weighted 100%)

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

For recruitment questions, please contact Health Services Personnel, Recruitment Team at Exams@cchealth.org. For any technical issues, please contact the Government Jobs’ applicant support team for assistance at 1 855-524-5627.

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.
All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.