Social Services Assistant - Housing Regional Admin- Riverside

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general supervision, provides routine support to professional staff and/or social workers in their case management, which may include, the coordination of social services programs, social services applicants and/or recipients, and outreach services and activities to community members; acts as a liaison between the client, County departments as assigned, and community groups and agencies; and performs other related work as required.

The Social Services Assistant is an entry level paraprofessional classification in the social worker class series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or management level job class.

Depending on area of assignment incumbents are responsible for providing routine social services and resource referral duties, supportive counseling, placement services, observation services of clients, and basic assessment and training.

The Social Services Assistant may be assigned a variety of routine investigative duties, including, but not limited to obtaining information to identify and locate missing/absent parents.

Incumbents support professional staff and/or outreach efforts and activities, which do not require the same level of expertise of a professional social worker.

The Social Services Assistant is distinguished from the Social Services Practitioner series in that the latter represents the professional level classes in the social worker series and incumbents perform case management services, which require greater assessment skills and a broader knowledge of social work concepts.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Make home visits to assess client family environment, including, but not limited to, determining potential or imminent risk to the health and safety of clients and/or youth residing in the household on previously assessed cases by social workers; provide assistance, answer questions, gather data from interviews with clients, physicians, public or private agencies, and/or other appropriate sources.

• Review case records to formulate basic service plans or participates with professional staff in the formulation of service plans; assist in the delivery of social service plans (e.g., resource referrals and training in work skills and parenting), and other case management related duties.

• Assist or complete on behalf of clients application forms for County program participation and/or in obtaining needed services (e.g., medical care, CalFresh, vouchers, restraining orders); advocate for clients in securing services, provide encouragement and support to clients in attaining, preserving, and following through on services.

• Assist clients in recognizing and correcting home, family, and social conditions contributing to problems; instruct clients on appropriate methods of home management, basic health, and nutrition needs; provide supportive counseling to clients.

• Assist clients in developing appropriate parenting skills, job skills and daily living skills; assist clients to r...