Merit System Services Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $2,313.82 - $2,550.99 Biweekly
Location : Crescent City, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 21-00308-1
Department: Health & Human Services
Opening Date: 07/31/2026
Closing Date: 8/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
General Recruitment Information:
This recruitment will establish a list of candidates to be used in filling the vacancy as well as an eligibility list that may be used for future vacancies or temporary help for up to one (1) year.
Job Opportunity:
Only online applications are accepted. It is the responsibility of each applicant to review the full job description and requirements. Resumes are encouraged, but will not be accepted in lieu of required application materials. Applications which are incomplete as of the final date to apply will be eliminated from consideration. Candidates who meet all the minimum qualifications may be invited to an oral interview.
Description
Biweekly Salary
$2,313.82 - $2,550.99
This is a Merit System Services position. To apply for this opportunity, refer to the MSS section under the MENU in the upper left corner and select Merit System Services or visit the website directly at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mss
Under general direction, the Social Worker III carries a difficult caseload involving the determination of need for basic social services functions for applicants or clients; performs social studies and assignments involving individualized treatment and specialized application of casework methods and skills; provides comprehensive casework services of a tangible nature; and performs other related work as assigned.
Social Worker III is the advanced journey level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents are normally assigned a selected caseload of the more difficult cases and when needed are given supervisory consultation in development of treatment plans. They may also be assigned to a specialized function requiring a high degree of perception such as a special problem caseload or they are assigned to a specific geographic or functional area such as Court Investigations, Family Maintenance/Reunification, Emergency Response, Child/Adult Protection, or Foster Care. A Social Worker III may act as a lead worker to other social service workers. Incumbents are expected to work independently.
Social Worker III differs from Social Worker II in that the former receives the more difficult assignments requiring greater skill and depth of job knowledge in assessing problem situations and formulating plans for services. Incumbents normally work with a high degree of independence of action in administering services and in making use of agency or community resources. Social Worker III differs from Social Worker IV-A/B in that the latter is the most experienced worker and requires both advanced education and social work experience.
Incumbents in the Social Worker III classification receive general direction from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level manager or deputy director, and may act as lead worker to lower classification working in the same program area.
Detailed Work Activities

• Carries a caseload of more difficult types of social services cases requiring a high degree of technical competence, such as situations where environmental forces affect family life.
• Receives and responds to reports of suspected abuse; obtains information from reporters; personally investigates and assesses situations to protect vulnerable adults and children and recommends alternate placement; may provide information to law enforcement or district attorneys; may be required to work on-call; may testify in court..
• Performs case studies evaluates individual and family case information to assess the safety of children and adults; determines appropriate types and methods of treatment.
• Develops and carries out social treatment plans for an assigned caseload; ensures all services are delivered in a respectful, culturally sensitive and appropriate manner.
• Counsels or provides guidance and support to individuals and/or families with more complex or specialized needs including Adult Protective Services, crisis intervention, special medical or legal needs, and other social services.
• Refers clients to other staff members.
• Makes a diagnosis of client problems and follows through with the social treatment plans with a high degree of independence.
• Interprets policies, rules, and regulations to client, applicants, and others.
• May act as a lead worker to a small group of social service workers or service employees.
• Assists applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources for individual needs.
• Makes home visits in connection with casework assignments.
• Develops and prepares court report, case plans, case narratives and safety plans in automated computer systems.
• Enters and retrieves data and narratives from automated computer systems.
• Prepares and maintains case.
• Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the social work processes and achieve technical competence.
• Receives casework consultation from professionally trained staff members.
• May be required to testify in court.
• Works with community organizations and makes referrals to outside resources.
• Provides self-help information, education, and services; works with clients and caregivers to develop and improve caregiving and independent living skills.
• Obtains and evaluates police, medical, and psychological reports.
• Maintains client confidentiality; performs all duties in conformance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
This is a Merit System Services position. To view current qualifications, visit the MSS website directly at
Pattern 1: One (1) year of full-time experience performing journey level social work case management in the Social Worker II classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county;
OR
Pattern 2: Two (2) years of full-time social work case management experience in a public or private agency; AND Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units from an accredited college or university, including fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and a half (22.5) quarter units in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science;**
OR
Pattern 3: Bachelor's degree and successful completion of twenty-four (24) semester or thirty-six (36) quarter units of a master's degree program in Social Work, or a Counseling program from an accredited college or university, emphasizing Marriage, Family and Child Counseling or Marriage and Family therapy, Gerontology or Clinical Psychology; AND Twelve (12) months of social work case management experience.*
*Qualifying social work case management includes direct case work management, such as: assessment, evaluation; conducting investigations of abuse and neglect; preparing court reports; responsibility for a long term caseload, monitoring compliance through home calls and other personal contact; collaboration with other agencies and linking clients to resources and programs; development of a case plan, modification of case plans as needed/required; and authority to impose sanctions or implement actions that impact services.
**Examples of acceptable social or behavioral science courses include: anthropology, criminal justice, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, law, human services, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health, social welfare, sociology, welfare, women's studies.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of:

• A valid California Driver's License is required.
• Principles and practices of organization, workload management and time management
• Principles and practices of note taking, report writing, and English composition, grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Phone etiquette and interview techniques
• Socio-economic conditions and trends
• Basic principles of individual and group behavior
• Current issues in the field of social welfare
• Principles of analysis and problem-solving methodology
• Basic public welfare programs on the Federal, State, and local level
• General principles of public assistance policies and programs
• Principles and techniques of interviewing and recording of social casework
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of the public welfare agency and the role and responsibilities of a social worker
• Community organization and the social problems calling for the use of public and private community resources
• Current problems and methodology in the field of public social services
• Medical, legal, economic, and social management needs of individuals and families with special medical needs such as HIV disease, drug dependency, the medically fragile child, Alzheimer's, and the terminally ill
• Strategies and protocols surrounding crisis intervention techniques such as voice modulation and assessing the potential for suicide
• 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 home; options for placement; effects of removing clients from unsafe situations

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with others in writing, in person and over the telephone
• Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions.
• Respond appropriately to situations.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations.
• Understand and apply the agency program, policy and procedures.
• Obtain facts and recognize the relevance and significance.
• Organize and maintain work detail.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with agency staff, clients, and outside organizations.
• Analyze situation and adopt effective courses of action.
• Apply the principles of psychology and family relationships to engage individuals and families in social services.
• Recognize signs of abuse for children, elderly and dependent adults; assess risk factors and potential dangers to clients.
• Apply existing laws, rules, and regulations to welfare department operations.
• Interpret and explain to applicants, recipients, or others public social service programs, policies, rules and regulations.
• Develop skill in interviewing case, recording, and interpretation.
• Work within a community setting and effectively use appropriate resources and services.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with legal standards and/or county regulations.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment and related software.
• Act appropriately in emergency and stressful situations.
• Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients.
• Respect cultural differences.
• Work with difficult or complex cases/clients including clients with dual diagnoses, potentially dangerous clients or legally complex cases.
• Analyze data from multiple sources, interpret and apply complex directions, rules, policies, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.

Selection Process:
The County of Del Norte does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual preference, or disability in any of its programs, activities, or hiring practices. All applications will be reviewed and those individuals with backgrounds most closely meeting the needs of the county will be selected for further review. In the event of a large number of qualifying applicants, a written examination may be given to determine which applicants will be invited to attend an oral interview. An eligibility list will be established upon completion of the oral interviews. Expenses (i.e. travel, food, lodging) incurred in connection with the interview shall be the burden of the applicant. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if special accommodations are necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Office prior to the interview/examination so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Condition of Employment:
In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, Del Norte County is required to verify, within three days of employment of any person, that he/she is: 1) a citizen or national of the United States; 2) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence or authorized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to work in the United States.
Disaster Service Workers: All County of Del Norte employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through State law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County of Del Norte requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Work related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Del Norte County is an equal opportunity employer hiring employment eligible applicants. Disabled applicants who require special testing arrangements should contact the Human Resources Department