Social Service Appeals Officer

About the role

The Position Bargaining Unit: Local 21 - Non-Supervisory Management

Why join the Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department?

Contra Costa County is excited to announce a recruitment for the position of Social Service Appeals Officer. This position will be in the Administrative Services Bureau of the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD).

We currently have one (1) vacancy.

Contra Costa County’s Employment and Human Services Department works diligently to provide the community with resources that support, protect, and empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency.

The department is committed to hiring candidates that share our core values of delivering an exceptional customer service experience, encouraging open communication, embracing change, practicing ethical behavior, and embracing diversity.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing case records and interviewing appropriate parties to obtain facts and clarification of points relating to issues being appealed for categorical aid and service programs.
• Researching and reviewing local, state, and federal regulations related to granting categorical aid and service programs to ensure customers receive due process.
• Preparing various documents, collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data.
• Representing and testifying on behalf of the County in administrative hearings.
• Serving as a hearing officer in evidentiary hearings, administering oaths, receiving written and verbal testimony, examining witnesses, and preparing written decisions.
• Investigating complaints of discrimination in accordance with Civil Rights regulations.
• Providing guidance and instruction to district staff on corrective actions to be taken on appeal and complaint matters.
• Effectively engaging with state personnel, including Administrative Law Judges, Appeals representatives from other counties, advocates, authorized representatives, customers, and County Employment and Human Services staff.

Qualifications

• Licenses Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.
• Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree, from an accredited college or university, with a major in business or public administration, social or behavioral sciences, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Either 1) Three (3) years of full-time experience in a public social service agency in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Eligibility Worker, Social Service Program Analyst, or Social Work Supervisor with responsibilities for providing supervision, training, or program analysis to eligibility workers or social workers in categorical aid, public social service programs or 2) Three (3) years of full-time or its equivalent experience representing a public social service agency on categorical aid and/or service program appeals; or Three (3) years of experience in an In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in a classification equivalent to Contra Costa County Social Worker and possession of a IHSS Academy certificate issued by the State of California Department of Social Services.
• Substitution for Education: Additional qualifying experience of the type noted above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of two years.
• Substitution for Academic Major: One (1) year of additional qualifying experience, as noted above, may be substituted for the required academic major.
• Desirable Qualifications: Experience with direct and cross-examination procedures, experience working in multiple benefit programs at the County level, experience navigating procedures relating to the appeal and hearing processes, training on diversity, equity, and inclusion, bilingual skills.