sheriff

support specialist

deputy sheriff

office technician

promoter

Kern County, CA

Social Work is a special calling, and even more so with the department.  It is a role of quick assessment, entering dangerous and uncertain situations, healing, giving, counseling with a listening ear, building awareness, advocating on behalf of the well being and safety of the child, and connecting vulnerable families to desperately needed resources and community interventions.  It is a person who is able to work with the public, work with all kinds of people high and low, in order to connect the needy with solutions.  

A typical day is very busy at the department.  There is a saying that our in-box and voicemail will always be full.  This requires organization skills, people skills, ability to multitask especially under pressure and high case load, while still balancing one's personal life and coping strategies.

The best part of the job is helping families stabilize and access resources that help them reach their goals.  I loved keeping families intact, bonded, and safe with coping skills and life skills.  I loved seeing my families out and about with news of no recidivism and a life with hopes and dreams to live.

The hardest part is being the messenger of bad news, watching a child go through trauma/loss/separation/abandonment/being unwanted/undergo further harm/trauma.  It is also hard when personal life does not blend with or significant others do not accept the Social Worker's professional life.  So, it is very important to take time for oneself, but most will complain that they return to work with even more work.

This is a special calling.  It is not for someone looking for a J-O-B or cheap healthcare or loads of paid time to take off for your family's sick days.  It is for those that run to fires (so to speak) rather than runs away from it.  It is for those that want to serve others and do not intend to be rewarded.  The rewards are not for everyone, as it is not monetary.  Most Social Workers do not share what profession they are in, as the job often is not viewed in favor by the public and overall leads to emotional reactions, debate, or someone looking for personal advice.  We like to say that we leave our work at work due to the stressful and challenging and heart breaking content of this profession.

A healthy, balanced lifestyle is very important, otherwise it is easy to suffer relationship problems, health problems, and Secondary Traumatic Stress.

•	Managed and assisted with Family Services and AB429 caseloads.  
•	Prepared court reports and legal documents for presentation in court proceedings.
•	Made home calls and supervised visits with children and parents.  
•	Created, processed, and completed necessary case records and reported them to management both electronically and in hardcopy.
•	Received training on dealing with difficult clients, legal writing and the impact of trauma on behavior.
•	Managed multiple databases to ensure proper levels of case documentation.
•	Evaluated client’s needs, education, employment, financial, and housing to determine possible programs and resources. 
•	Entered and retrieved a variety of data and information from case management and job development databases.
•	Prepared, processed, and maintained a variety of records and reports.
•	Attended meetings and training sessions.
•	Operated a personal computer and related software and equipment.
•	Conducted Interviews and screened clients to determine program participants regarding employment and financial services.

I started the day by reviewing my clientele lists to see what they were applying for. I dealt mainly with Cal Works, Food Stamps and Medical for the young and elderly. I learned to put myself in my client's position in order to better assist him. I advanced quickly in this job because I had a good rapport with my clients and the mutual respect of co workers. Management jobs were hard to get it seems but, that didn't deter my love for what I did. The hardest part of my job was in dealing with the homeless. Usually, the food stamp program was authorized in a 3 day time span. I would issue the same day they applied and had all of their paperwork. I put myself in their position and always seem to analyze the situation as if it were me. 
This job helped me learn how to empathize and not just sympathize with a person. I enjoyed working with the public.

After I received my Bachelor's of Science degree in Human Resources, I became a Children's Social Worker until I relocated to Long Beach, CA.

Worked with the general public, that is, most of the time spent was out of doors in a personable person to person setting, except at large events, where as many as 20 people gathered at my well laid out table.

Preparation was well planned out, such as, main events or out of state, which was computer searched gearing toward the huge events or what was in the neighboring areas.

I learned the basic set up of an office in which I used my filing,and general skills to good use. There was always paperwork to be completed at the end of the day. This could be drudging, if I didn't keep up the work as I went along.

The most enjoyable part of this work was the challenge of the day, especially when out of state. Those chosen were usually able to secure a needed event and were management material.

I've watched people grow with experience, including myself and become managers that I now work with in and out of California.

I utilize therapuetic skills based on a recovery model and link clioents to community resources.
I have had 5150 training, BLS, First Aid, TBS, DBT and several other trainings related to the mental health profession.
Management is very inconsistent and oftentimes does not follow protocols developed by the Board of Supervisors.
My Co-workers are great we tend to assist each other for the benefit of our clients.
The politics of the position can be difficult and the management does not follow progressive discipline as was the case with several of my co-workers throughout the years.
My clients make me stay, the clients make the politics and all the other troublesome management issues great.
Currently I have transferred to a very good team with a great supervisor and administrator but I have been on teams that was opposite of the current values.

Was in charge of checking and doing inventory on daily basis as well as maintaing the courtrooms and clerical offices throughout the building. Learned how to better budget the money allowed for supplies, how to strip and wax floors, extract carpet, and how to clean everything in a timely manner. Mostly got along with everyone. Very few were just unhappy people who didn't like to say much of anything, but the others were fantastic people who were always cheery. The hardest part of the job was getting everything done before the other workers arrived for work. The most enjoyable part of the job was recieveing compliments from fellow employee's of doing a good job.

Supervisors will speak to you in demeaning and insulting ways and treat you as if you are stupid. You are encouraged to bring up concerns in your evaluations, but they will be used against you if your supervisors do not like you. Supervisors eavesdrop on you, accuse you of things you do not do, and twist your words. Many coworkers actively avoided the supervisors whenever possible.

That being said, I enjoyed the actual work and helping clients. It is a LOT of information to learn and master, but it is well worth it. That part of the job is extremely rewarding if you can tolerate the toxicity and blatant favoritism that is prevalent in the workplace culture. There is a reason that the department has less than 50% of the positions filled.

A typical day at work is redundant. It’s the same thing every day. I do learn something new every day in regards to the emotional side of things with the children I have. management really sucks They don’t look out for the children’s Best interest. There’s not really any culture about my job. The hardest part is watching the child struggle and the county not doing what they need to to support that child. The most enjoyable part of my job it’s just watching the difference you can actually make in a child’s life and skills that they carry with them when they go back home. 

The job was very interesting, met new people from various socio - economic backgrounds. The hardest part of the job at the time was maintaining a very low error rate with client files. A typical days works consisted of arriving there at 7:45 am, and opening new mail and filing mail in client files, and imputing new information into client files,and then going to interview clients when they appear at the office unannounced. All awhile maintaining to prepare prospective monthly budgets that included cash aide, food stamps, and state medical benefits. The most enjoyable time was meeting new people.

To be honest, I had the job, but I didn’t take it and believe me I wanted to I still want to. They’re hiring again and I would love to go back as a Fire equipment mechanic for the current county fire department. The job the culture everything about it I love except for the pay it makes no sense to me How they pay those guys so little. They can pay all them business people substantial amount of dollars, but they can’t pay the people who fixed the equipment to come and save your homes and your lives barely anything. 6K a month in the state of California gross you’ve got to be kidding me unless you still live at home with mom and dad I don’t see how people can afford that unless their wife’s has a really good job with mine don’t

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Sheriff 26 salaries reported	$6,568 per month
Support specialist 10 salaries reported	$4,514 per month
Deputy sheriff 8 salaries reported	$6,404 per month
Office technician 14 salaries reported	$3,468 per month
Promoter 8 salaries reported	$7,662 per month

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