The Position
Current vacancies are in Ukiah and Willits with Adult & Aging Services
The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions in a variety of departments, service areas, and locations throughout the County, should they occur. Pursuant to current bargaining unit agreements, employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium.
Under general supervision, provides assistance to social workers by performing the more routine tasks such as ongoing assessments of clients in the In-Home Support Services (IHSS) program, instructing parents in developing parenting and household management skills, supervising parental visits, transporting clients, or performing a variety of the other less complex functions related to assigned program areas which do not require the skill and training of a social worker.
The Social Worker Assistant series provides an excellent career path for those interested in pursuing a career with the County of Mendocino.
Earn your AA, BSW, or MSW with Title IV-E funding-MCDSS employees may qualify for educational assistance. Learn more here .
Job Requirements and Minimum Qualifications
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
Adult Services:
- Maintain a caseload of infirmed or incapacitated elderly adults receiving household services.
- Conduct scheduled home visits or approved alternative such as a phone or video call.
- Conduct ongoing needs assessments.
- Verify needs by contacting medical and health services providers.
- Present assessments to review committees.
- Complete narrative reports of client condition and services.
- Make referrals to medical personnel or social workers as needed.
- Maintain provider registry, reviewing applications and references, and matching providers to recipients.
- Conduct provider orientation.
- Produce and supply Provider List to recipients.
- Coordinates and/or assists with provider files, forms, timesheets, and other documentation, ensuring documents are complete and provided to the appropriate parties.
Family Services:
- Provide direct training and counseling to parents on a variety of topics which may include general parenting and household management skills such as nutritional meal preparation, budgeting, and household care, and Car Seat training, etc.
- May provide training to young adults related to developing and managing life management skills, such as obtaining housing, banking, employment, and other areas in support of independent living.
- Monitor medical and psychological care of abused children.
- Supervise visits with parents and children and report observations to social worker.
- Conduct drug screenings for clients.
- Provide emergency childcare.
- Testify in juvenile court hearings, as needed.
- Meets with families to gather information, identify needs, review services to help ensure needs are met,
- Conduct ongoing needs assessments.
- Conducts research, locates, contacts and/or coordinates with family members.
- May be assigned to specialized programs, such as Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) program, Family Findings and Connections Program, Wraparound Program, and Independent Living Skills Program, etc.
All Areas:
- Identify and report specific indication of a need for social services.
- Maintain records and written reports.
- May transport clients.
- Perform administrative tasks, such as coordinating visits with families, providers, and staff, and providing office coverage.
- Track progress of clients and perform follow up visits as required.
- Assist social workers in providing a variety of child and adult social services.
- Serve as a liaison between clients and professional staff and individuals and groups in the community serviced.
- Directly assist families in learning and using resources available, with particular attention to medical, legal, and employment services.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education and Experience:
One (1) year in a public social services agency as a Social Worker Assistant I, or two (2) years performing the duties of a Vocational Assistant, Eligibility Worker, or other class providing direct service to clients on a regular basis.
OR
Equivalent to two (2) years of college with at least 15 semester units in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, child development, or other behavioral science areas.
Any combination of higher education, training or experience that provides the required knowledge and skills to perform the job duties.
Licenses and Certifications:
Valid Driver’s License
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
- Basic principles of human behavior.
- Basic community resources useful to clients served.
- Acceptable housekeeping and homemaking methods and standards.
- Basic rules and regulations regarding social services, and Welfare and Institutions Codes, including both adult and child services areas.
- Specific laws, rules and regulations impacting area of assignment.
- Basic methods and standards involved in caring for the physically and/or mentally ill or disabled, including physically or sexually abused children.
- Basic instructional methods and techniques.
- Computers and specialized software used in the work.
Skill in:
- Identifying and understanding reactions of individuals.
- Identifying problems, developing and recommending options, and implementing solutions, as appropriate.
- Recognizing and reporting specific indications of need for social services.
- Understanding and accepting differences in human behavior resulting from cultural, economic or other forms of deprivation.
Mental and Physical Abilities:
- Understand and apply principles and processes for providing client services.
- Interview others to obtain a variety of information applicable to the provision of social services.
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and relay information to other employees, clients and service providers.
- Understand and accept differences in human behavior resulting from diverse cultural, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds.
- Effectively instruct physically and mentally handicapped adults in parenting and household skills.
- Prepare written reports.
- Recognize and report specific indication of need for social services.
- Work effectively in emotionally charged or stressful setting/emergencies, which may include interacting with physically and sexually abused children.
- Deal with the more complex cases.
- While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to: walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear; and push, pull, move, or lift above and below the neck objects weighing up to 40 pounds.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
- Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Selection Procedure & Other Important Information
Important Application Information:
- It is your responsibility to demonstrate through your application materials how you meet the minimum qualifications of the position/s for which you apply.
- You must complete all sections of the application. A résumé or other information you feel will help us evaluate your qualifications may be attached to your completed application, but will not be accepted in lieu of completing any part of the application. Blank applications that contain only a résumé or those that reference “see résumé” will be rejected as incomplete.
- Check your application before submitting to ensure it is complete and correct; no new or additional information will be accepted after the closing date.
- Inquiry will be made of your former and current employers; please provide the names and telephone numbers of supervisors on your application.
- You must provide the names and contact information of at least three (3) references (not relatives) that have knowledge of your job skills, experience, ability and/or character.
- Application materials are the property of Mendocino County and will not be returned.
- It is your responsibility to keep your NEOGOV profile updated, including any changes to your telephone number or address. Failure to do so may result in missed notification of exams or interviews.
- The exam process listed on this flyer is tentative. Mendocino County reserves the right to make necessary modifications to the examination plan. Such revisions will be in accordance with approved personnel standards. Should a change be made, applicants will be notified.
- The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.
Examination Process: All complete applications will be reviewed; incomplete applications will not be considered. Based on the number of qualified candidates, applicants meeting the job requirements and qualifications will be invited to participate in an oral examination (weight 100) or an application appraisal exam, consisting of an evaluation of education and experience as stated on the application form. The examination process will test the knowledge and abilities described above. A minimum score of 70 must be attained for placement on the employment list.
Special Testing: The County of Mendocino is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), if special accommodations for a disability or religious conviction are necessary at any stage of the application and/or testing process, please notify the Human Resources Department in advance at (707) 234-6600. Reasonable notice is required to allow adequate time for review and evaluation of your request.
Special Requirements: Employment in some County departments or positions may require the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background, which may include fingerprinting, and/or a medical examination, which may include drug screening.
This announcement is a synopsis of duties and requirements of this job. To review the complete classification specification and benefits, please see the HR website. Applications must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by the final filing date.
The County of Mendocino participates in the E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility. If hired, the information you provide on your Form I-9 will be used to verify your authorization to work in the United States.
Learn more:
- E-Verify Notice of Participation (Download PDF reader)
- Right to Work (Download PDF reader)
The County of Mendocino is an Equal Opportunity Employer
This information is a summary of general benefits. Benefits listed in Mendocino County Resolutions or Memorandums of Understanding prevail over this listing. This information is not legally binding, nor does it constitute a Contract.
SALARY
Compensation is based on a five-step salary range, with annual merit-based increases within the salary range.
RETIREMENT
Covered under Social Security and the 1937 act; both employees and the County pay into the retirement fund. For the most current information regarding County Retirement please go to:
https://www.mendocinocounty.org/retirement
HOLIDAYS AND PERSONAL LEAVE
Mendocino County observes 11 paid holidays per year. Employees are granted 24 - 48 hours of personal leave annually, depending upon Bargaining Unit.
VACATION
Accrues at the rate of two weeks per year for three years. Three weeks per year after three years, four weeks after eight years and five weeks after 15 years.
SICK LEAVE
Paid sick leave accrues at the rate of 1.25 days per month, or 15 days per year. Accruals are pro-rated for part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week. Part-time employees working less than 20 hours per week, and extra-help employees receive up to 24 hours (or 3 days) of paid sick leave annually.
MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, AND LIFE INSURANCE
The County and the employee share the cost of an employee selected health care plan; enrollment in the plan includes $20,000 Life Insurance.
HEALTH INSURANCE
For the most current information regarding Health Insurance please go to:
http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/ehb
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For the most current information regarding Employee Assistance please go to:
http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/eap
EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM
For the most current information regarding Employee Wellness please go to:
http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/mcwow
LABOR CONTRACTS
For the complete list of most current labor agreements please go to:
http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/labor
Closing Date/Time: 6/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
