Child Welfare Worker II Alameda COUNTY

1. THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.  This examination may be reopened as necessary and the names of additional candidates merged onto the existing list according to examination score.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

This is a continuous filing exam with filing deadlines on the following dates at 5:00:00 PM:

• Monday, August 19, 2024
• Monday, September 9, 2024
• Tuesday, November 19, 2024 (added 8/30/2024 imb)
• Tuesday, January 21, 2025 (added 1/17/2025)
• Tuesday, March 14, 2025 (added 3/14/2025)
• Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (added 4/29/2025)

 ***If you have previously applied or started an application for the Child Welfare Worker II, Examination #24-6745-01, to reapply for this recruitment, please contact the examination analyst, Ione Bell, at [email protected] to have your previous application released back to you.***

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

*All applicants must provide a transcript which notes the number of units and field practicum obtained for their Master’s degree. Transcripts must be submitted at the (appointment) time of the oral examination. If the transcript does not clearly indicate degree requirements have been fulfilled, a letter from an accredited college or university which affirms the graduation requirements/status must be provided.

Applicants who fail to provide sufficient proof of their Master’s degree will be disqualified.

Bilingual Candidates are Highly Encouraged to Apply. Qualified bilingual persons who speak English and are also fluent in: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Korean, Mien, Tagalog, Amharic, Farsi, Dari, Tigrigna, Russian, Romanian or Sign Languages are especially encouraged to apply. There is an additional biweekly compensation for persons in positions designated bilingual. Qualified candidates may be tested to demonstrate language proficiency.

*The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants.  If you previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, your new score/disposition will replace your current disposition.  If you do not wish to change your score/disposition, you are not required to reapply to this examination.  Candidates who received a qualifying score cannot participate in the examination within six (6) months of their disposition notice. Candidates who did not qualify may reapply sixty (60) days from their disposition notice.  Candidates who failed any of the exam components (i.e., oral exam), may reapply sixty (60) days from the exam date.*

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

EITHER I

Experience:  

The equivalent of one (1) year of full-time experience as a Child Welfare Worker I in the Alameda County classified service.

AND  

Recommendation for promotion based on recent performance evaluations.  

OR II

Education:  

Possession of a master's degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work, which included a supervised field placement providing social casework and counseling services to individuals and families.  

OR III

Education:  

Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Sociology, Education or an equivalent field (Vocational Rehabilitation majors not acceptable).

AND

Experience:  

Satisfactory completion of two (2) semesters of supervised field work in an agency involved in the provision of direct services to families or children in one of the following or closely related areas:  child welfare, family counseling, juvenile probation, pediatric social work, alcohol and drug counseling, school social work, or school counseling.  

OR  

Experience:  

The equivalent of six (6) months full-time post baccalaureate professional work experience which involved the provision of direct services to families or children in one of the areas previously described.  

License:  

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.  

NOTE:    The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Principles of sociology and psychology relating to normal and abnormal human behavior and family and community dynamics.
• Child development and parenting skills.
• Interviewing techniques, including crisis intervention and counseling methods.
• The role of the Agency in the treatment plan and the Social Services Agency's policies, procedures, programs and services.
• Community resources.
• Legal definitions of sexual molestation, physical abuse, general neglect, incest, failure to thrive, emotional abuse, medical neglect and other details of laws relating to child abuse reporting and other related areas of law.  

Ability to:

• Work cooperatively with varying interests and coordinate them towards achieving case plan and solving problems.
• Set limits to assist clients in taking steps toward greater self-sufficiency.
• Write clear, concise and descriptive reports under time restraints.
• Exercise sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children.
• Deal effectively with hostile, disorganized or aggressive clients.
• Accept supervision and consultation.
• Handle high-pressure, crisis situations professionally and extract appropriate information in such situations.
• Learn and use various computer applications such as word processing and databases.

The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire to verify possession of minimum requirements.  Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. **A oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score.  The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this examination.

 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

**Revised 2/27/2024 imb- Removed "virtual" as the interviews will be "in-person" interviews.

Martin