Career Opportunity

HSA Social Worker - Access to City Employment (ACE) (2918)

Recruitment: REF3185Z

Published: September 16, 2022

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About:

The Access to City Employment Program (ACE) seeks to hire qualified individuals with a disability into permanent entry-level jobs outside the normal civil service selection process. To be hired through the ACE Program, individuals must meet the minimum qualifications of the job and provide a Certification of Disability from the California Department of Rehabilitation or a Veterans Preference Letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Role description

Definition: Under supervision, incumbents perform a variety of professional social work duties involving casework, case management, and continuing client investigation and processing for social work programs in various Human Services Agency programs.

Distinguishing Features: This class utilizes the deep class concept and encompasses multiple levels of responsibility from entry through the fully-experienced journey level. Incumbents with little or no experience in the duties of the class perform beginning-level work and perform at increasingly higher levels of responsibility that require a commensurate higher degree of ability and initiative as experience is gained. The 2918 Human Services Agency Social Worker class is distinguished from the 2910 Social Worker and 2912 Senior Social Worker in that the 2918 provides social work services to clients applying for or receiving public assistance at various Human Services Agency locations. Classes 2910 and 2912 provide social work services to patients and/or clients in need of medical and/or social services at various Department of Public Health facilities and other City and County of San Francisco agencies such as the Public Defender’s Office and Juvenile Probation Department.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties: According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list. 1. Schedule and interview applicants to determine new or continuing service needs; conduct in-home interviews as necessary; investigate statements and information received from applicants through the use of telephone or written verifications; evaluate information to establish eligibility. 2. Make referrals of potential or suspected fraud cases. 3. Assess, formulate and develop a service plan for client needs; develop goals and plan of action; provide case management activities including identifying and assessing client needs; coordinate and monitor services; prepare reports and reassessments; advise and counsel clients regarding family, economic, physical and emotional situations. 4. Refer applicants, clients and the general public to other agencies according to established policies; coordinate services with public and private agencies and community resources. 5. Establish and maintain complete files; document case files as necessary; maintain narratives on assigned cases. 6. Study and evaluate case records of recipients to determine conformance with established legal provisions, policies, procedures, interpretations, and instructions to determine further courses of action. 7. Answer questions, provide information, and explain policies, rules and regulations of the agency to applicants, clients and the general public; assist clients in preparing forms and reports. 8. Present orientations for community agencies; establish and maintain contacts with local organizations, nonprofit agencies, business and other interested groups in promoting community resources program; initiate and mediate case conferences between workers and staff of service provider contractors. 9. Assist clients in resolving their problems that prevent or limit their ability to participate in public assistance programs provide transportation as required for clients. 10. Monitor, interact and supervise children during intake process; transport children to placements and other locations as necessary; complete placement assessments and assist with requests for emergency placements; investigate complaints regarding the safety of children in placement. 11. Refer clients to Adult Protective Services for conservatorship, placement or protection when necessary. 12. Compose and prepare correspondence and narratives; maintain case records, document case actions and complete required forms; process actions related to eligibility for social services and ancillary services. 13. Coordinate transfers of clients between counties; inform clients of procedures. 14. Gather data, make recommendations, and prepare reports as required. 15. Perform related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of: Interviewing and investigative techniques; office procedures, methods and computer operation; basic operations, services and activities of social services programs; pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations as related to assigned program responsibility; principles and procedures of record keeping and reporting; ; socioeconomic conditions and trends; principles and practices of case management; principles and practices of client relations and caseload management; methods and techniques of crisis intervention;; services provided by related agencies services. Ability to: Learn departmental programs, policies and procedures; learn basic principles of case management;; effectively communicate with and elicit information from clients in difficult situations; prepare clear and concise reports; accurately gather, record and evaluate data necessary for the determination of eligibility for various services; operate a personal computer and other standard office machines; analyze and interpret information and recommend and implement corrective courses of action; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; exercise sound judgment in the performance of duties; consider personal and psychological factors in difficult situations; act effectively under stressful situations; interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations; work independently with minimal supervision.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications: These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in social work, sociology, psychology, counseling, or other behavioral science.

Substitution: Experience performing social casework or eligibility casework with a public or private agency/organization may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two years). Thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

What else should I know?

Notes: Established: 7/22/2014 Amended: 5/1/2015

Conviction History: As a selected candidate for a job, 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 (or arrest, in limited circumstances) conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you are a selected candidate. 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, such as: Candidates for positions with the Unified School District and the Community College District may be disqualified from consideration should their conviction history not meet the standards established under the California Education Code. Candidates for positions with the Recreation and Park Department may be disqualified from consideration should their conviction history not meet the standards established under California Public Resources Code 5164. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with the City. If you are a selected candidate, the hiring department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

Disaster Service Workers: All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City 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.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.