Child Protective Services Social Work Supervisor

Starting salary up to $63.91/hour ($133,387/year) plus a competitive total compensation package.

About the role

Family, Youth, and Children (FYC) CPS Social Work Supervisors are responsible for supervising a team of CPS Social Workers and/or social work support staff who help individuals, families, and the community to ensure the safety and well-being of Sonoma County children and teens. They oversee the investigation of reports of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment and, when needed, support compassionate caring placements with caregivers, including relatives, or residential treatment programs.

CPS Social Work Supervisors provide guidance and coaching to CPS Social Workers who work with children that have been abused, or are at high risk of abuse, and their families to ensure they have access to referrals for social services, day or night, through the 24-hour hotline and standby program, which help client homes become safe, stable, and nurturing places. Supervisors may be assigned to various building locations or regional offices throughout the County, and may provide community training around child abuse prevention and mandated reporting as needed.

Responsibilities

• Hold regular group and individual meetings with assigned CPS Social Workers and/or supportive social work staff to review work activities for appropriateness of services and referrals, ensure compliance with State regulations, and assist with specific case issues
• Consult and collaborate with other supervisors and managers within the Human Services Department (HSD), or representatives from other agencies, to coordinate the unit's work with that of other units
• Perform a variety of supervisory tasks, such as reviewing documents for content and accuracy, monitoring performance, and evaluating and training staff
• Support staff by intervening with complaints, procuring and evaluating information, and making appropriate recommendations in difficult cases
• Participate in on-going program development and advise staff on policy and procedure protocols
• Provide on-call supervisory services for the agency's 24-hour standby program as part of a supervisory rotation
• Work in a high volume, emotionally charged environment where accurate assessments must be made in the moment

Requirements

Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include:

• Possession of a Master's Degree in Social Work, or a Master's degree from a two-year counseling program, such as marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, mental health counseling, addiction counseling, and counseling psychology; and at least two years of experience comparable to a Child Protective Services Social Worker.
• OR Graduation from college, with a Bachelor's Degree in social work, sociology, psychology or other behavioral science; and at least four years of experience comparable to a Child Protective Services Social Worker.

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Skills

The ideal candidate for this position will possess many of the following:

• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• The ability to work effectively in an environment with multiple, competing priorities
• An aptitude for managing a high volume of work while paying close attention to detail
• Thorough knowledge of community services and social work methods
• The ability to develop respectful and responsive relationships with community members
• Considerable knowledge of the various outcomes associated with youth transitioning to and from the foster care system
• Experience and knowledge of the Integrated Core Practice Model's values and framework
• Experience training, motivating, and managing a diverse group of social work staff, including performance management and team building
• Knowledge and awareness of diversity, equity, and disproportionality issues within the child welfare system
• The ability to work effectively as part of a high-performing team
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired but not required

About the Department

As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is to build upon strengths, as we bridge clients to opportunities through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families.

HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFRESH, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging.

HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community. The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community.

Benefits

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Qualifications

Thorough knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques of social work
• Casework methods and techniques with particular reference to problems of child neglect, abandonment, and abuse
• Current philosophy and practices in the field of Child Social Services
• Psychopathology, the different types of mental illness diagnoses, how mental illness affects human behavior and mental health services and treatments utilized by clients
• Signs, stages and dynamics of abuse, and the effects of abuse on child/adult development and behavior
• Signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use/abuse in adults and children and the effects on families
• Standards for maintaining clients safely in the home; options for placement; effects of removing clients from unsafe situations
• Principles and methodologies of research, analysis, problem solving, and decision making
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of public social services agencies and the role and responsibilities of a social worker
• Medical, legal, economic, and social management needs of individuals and families

Considerable Knowledge of:

• Strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques, such as voice modulation
• Principles of community organization
• Resources available in the community for referral or utilization in employment or social service programs

Working Knowledge of:

• Principles, techniques, and practices of supervision, training, mentoring, motivating, casework consultation, and peer counseling
• Principles and practices of organization, workload management and time management

Ability to:

• Exercise sound judgment when organizing, directing, and prioritizing unit activities
• Select, train, coach, supervise, evaluate, and discipline subordinate staff
• Mentor, counsel, and collaborate with staff and foster an environment of teamwork, mutual respect and professionalism
• Classify case problems and evaluate the effectiveness of effort in solving problems
• Use social work methods and evaluation techniques to determine appropriate treatment in difficult, emotional, confrontational, and crisis situations while maintaining a professional demeanor
• Utilize various strategies to address the cumulative impact of a high stress environment
• Employ effective stress management techniques and methods of self-care
• Work on-call and extended hours
• Develop therapeutic relationships in order to conduct crisis intervention and therapeutic social work counseling
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, sound judgment, and cultural awareness; control personal bias and apply social work ethics
• Assess and evaluate home and family situations to determine if crisis intervention or a safety plan is needed
• Exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children
• Develop and utilize community resources to best serve clients' needs
• Interpret, explain, and apply complex laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Provide guidance and consultation to other staff
• Use various computer applications, databases, and specialized software programs
• Write clear, descriptive, and detailed reports under time constraints
• Maintain confidentiality of files and records
• Keep and prepare accurate and timely records