Promotional Only & Grant Funded Social Worker III (County) Public Defender

Please note:
This is a promotional recruitment. Promotional recruitments are only open to current permanent status County employees.
This is a two-year grant funded position beginning March 2026.

• Develops and carries out social treatment plans for an assigned caseload.
• Refers clients to community resources for direct and intensive services.
• Serves as a member of the Public Defender interdisciplinary defense team advocating on behalf of client - may testify in court.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• 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 and 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 and in conformance with agency state and federal requirements; assists clients and family members to develop strategies to accomplish case plan goals
• 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 or to community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling; advocates on clients behalf for most appropriate services including enabling services
• 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 records and databases; communicates decisions timelines recommendations and case plans to clients families and service providers
• 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

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

• 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 Alzheimers 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

• 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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOW TO APPLY

A complete original application must be filed for each position you are interested in applying for.Applicants must apply online through the Countys automated application system at must be submitted no later than the final filing date and time listed on the job flyer.

It is important that your application shows all the relevant education and experience you possess. Human Resources staff does not consider or review resumes or attachments. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Please read the job requirements section of the announcement. Be sure you meet these requirements since they will be carefully evaluated during the selection process.

Your performance in any employment examinations will be compared with the performance of others who take the tests. The examination results will be emailed to you as quickly as possible.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The County utilizes a set of rules to ensure that our hiring processes are fair and equitable. Applications will be screened and those considered qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received the selection process may consist of additional application screening written and/or practical exam(s) oral interview or any combination thereof.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does it take to fill out the application

Can I change my application after submitting it

How long until I hear back from you and how can I check for updates on my application

Will I be informed if I am not selected for an interview / Oral Exam

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Research indicates that individuals in protected classes can be less likely to submit a job application. The County of Humboldt is dedicated to building a diverse inclusive and authentic workplace where our employees are free to bring their full selves to work each day in an environment that allows them to reach their full potential. The County Board of Supervisors has made organizational commitments to Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and the County is working to ensure that these commitments are reflected in all we do. The County recognizes that certain populations (BIPOC Disabled Persons Veterans LGBTQIA community members etc.) face systemic and structural challenges which may inhibit their ability to satisfy every requirement of the recognition of these structural and systemic factors the Human Resources Department understands that experience can be gained in many ways oftentimes outside of formal institutions and strives to take a holistic approach in assessing an applicants qualifications for a position.

If youre excited about this role but your past work experience doesnt align perfectly with every qualification in the job description we strongly encourage you to apply.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access and opportunities in its programs activities and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of mental or physical disabilities. The Human Resources Department is located in the Humboldt County Courthouse which has an accessible entrance on 4th Street. Accessible parking is available adjacent to the 4th Street entrance and on the 4th Street side of the K Street lot. Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities or religious convictions. If invited to an examination and you are in need of a reasonable accommodation please contact Human Resources immediately at so arrangements can be made.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The county is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race religion or religious creed color age sex sexual orientation national origin ancestry marital status medical condition mental or physical disability military service or any other classification protected by federal state or local laws or ordinances.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

A pre-employment medical examination provided by the County may be required upon offer of employment.

OTHER EXAMINATIONS

Some positions also require psychological evaluation and/or extensive background investigation.

LICENSES

Some classifications require possession of valid professional and/or technical licenses. Some classifications may require the possession of a valid California drivers license.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

Persons appointed to regular County positions serve a probationary period. This is normally six (6) months but could be up to one (1) year. All designated safety employees serve a one-year probationary period.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY

It is the Countys intention to hire only those workers who are authorized to work in the United States pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990. If you are offered employment you will be required to verify your eligibility to work in the United States. For law enforcement positions you will be required to verify your U.S. citizenship or legalized status.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS

All County of Humboldt employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. THE COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXAMINATION PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY MERIT SYSTEM RULES.