Senior Community Worker (Extra-Help) (Open)

The Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division of San Mateo County's Human Services Agency is seeking an experienced Senior Community Worker to provide a wide variety of advanced community services of a remedial, educational, and emergency nature for socially, economically or mentally disadvantaged persons, which may include group and individual instruction and counseling, needs assessment and plan development, outreach, case management and direct patient care services.

In addition, the Senior Community Worker will perform the most complex types of duties assigned to the class series, exercising a high level of autonomy, judgment, and initiative demonstrated by a high level of involvement in the development of individual (non-medical) care or support plan, significant levels of advocacy with external groups on behalf of the clients and advanced level of group facilitation, community education and training activities.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be sensitive to the needs of the economically/socially disadvantaged.
• Have experience providing supportive services to individuals with barriers.
• Be client and customer centered.
• Motivate others and work as a team member.
• Collaborate effectively with community partners and other agencies.
• Be highly organized, flexible and work independently.
• Make effective decisions without supervision.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Speak a second language is highly desirable but not required.
• Use various computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and other programs as needed.
• Have reliable means of transportation to drive throughout San Mateo County.

Days and hours may vary, as the work schedule will be based on the clients work schedules. Additionally, the incumbent will be available to work evening and weekends to perform duties of the position.

NOTE: This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.

Examples Of Duties

Duties include:

• Provide individual support in developing independent job skills at the worksite to assist the client in maintaining employment with the goal of self-sufficiency.
• Assess the client and employer needs and the work environment; observe, shadow, train, coach, create and provide tools, model, interpret, and monitor the client onsite in employer facilities to support and facilitate client success.
• Educate and assist in assimilation in the workplace; develop solutions, often immediate, to problems and situations as they arise.
• Assist the client in resolving differences or challenges in the workplace; mediate differences between co-workers and employers when necessary.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations and County program policies and guidelines.
• Problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of disadvantaged individuals and of the total community served.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• Social and community resources.
• Basic techniques and dynamics of assessment and engagement.
• Techniques for group and individual counseling.
• Basic case management techniques and processes.
• Perform effectively in stressful, emotional, and confrontational situations.
• Recognize factors causing reaction or changes in a client's condition or behavior.
• Evaluate information received and make appropriate recommendations and referrals.
• Identification, development, and utilization of social and community resources.
• Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with the general public, other agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, and regulatory organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, clientele, and staff.

Skill/Ability to:

• Effectively market and represent a program, its clients, and services to external agencies.
• Interpret, explain, and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
• Organize, maintain, and update office database and records systems.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Interpret agency programs and policies to members of the community served.
• Write clear and comprehensive reports.
• Analyze problems, formulate plans and put them into effect with a minimum of supervision.
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time and lift and carry equipment and supplies used in the course of the work.

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skills is two years of experience providing community services of a remedial and educational nature which includes experience counseling and conducting outreach to the client population served.

Licensure/Certification: Some positions may require possession of a class C California driver license or equivalent.

Physical Demands: Must possess mobility to work in the field as well as an office environment; to operate a motor vehicle to attend meetings, and visit various County sites/employers, and to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard. Positions in this classification may bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work.

Environmental Elements:
Employees may be exposed to loud or excessive noise levels, unpleasant odors, or dust. Protective clothing such as gloves when supporting client job training.

Application/Examination

This is an extra-help recruitment. Anyone may apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. The Human Services Agency screen materials after the recruitment closes. The Human Services Agency will contact qualified candidates directly for a departmental interview.

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted five days in advance on this job announcement.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply Online" button above or below. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

~TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE~
Application Filing Deadline: February 9, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Departmental Interviews: TBD

At the County of San Mateo, we take pride in the way our employees bring together their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to serve our community's needs. The County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Analyst: Arlene Cahill (Senior Community Worker - G117)