Social Services Aide

Under general supervision, the Social Service Aide assists Social Workers by performing tasks related to the improvement of family functioning and child and adult services. The Social Service Aide is a paraprofessional who relieves Social Workers of routine tasks such as assessing clients, instructing parents in parenting and household management, and supporting child and adult service programs.

• Maintain a routine caseload of elderly adults receiving household services.
• Conduct ongoing client needs assessments and verify needs by contacting medical and health service providers.
• Present client assessments to professional staff for approval.
• Complete narrative reports regarding a client’s condition and services provided and enter data into the automated system.
• Make client referrals to medical personnel or social workers as needed.
• Provide direct training and counseling to mentally ill and developmentally disabled parents on parenting and household management skills and teach families about nutrition, budgeting, and household care.
• Monitor the medical and psychological care of abused children.
• Supervise visits between parents and children and report observations to the social worker.
• Provide emergency child care.
• Transport or accompany clients to appointments for service or interviews.
• May testify in juvenile court hearings.
• Assist Social Workers in providing a variety of child and adult social services.
• Act as liaison between clients and professional staff, individuals, and groups in the community served.
• Directly assist families in using and learning about community resources, particularly medical, legal, and employment services.
• Maintain records of work performed and perform related duties as required.

• Basic rules and regulations regarding In-Home Support Services, child abuse reporting, and Welfare and Institution Codes.
• Basic community resources useful to clients served, acceptable housekeeping and homemaking standards, and methods, materials and equipment used in general housekeeping work.
• Basic methods and attitudes involved in the in‑home care of physically ill, handicapped or disabled persons and adequate food preparation with limited kitchen equipment.

• Interview persons to obtain a variety of information applicable to the provision of social services.
• Understand and accept differences in human behavior resulting from cultural, economic or other forms of deprivation.
• Effectively instruct physically and mentally disabled adults in parenting and household skills.
• Deal with physically and sexually abused children.
• Prepare basic written reports.
• Recognize and report specific indications of need for social services.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and county regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with co‑workers, outside organizations, and the public.

Sixty (60) semester units or ninety (90) quarter units of college, including fifteen (15) semester units or twenty‑two and a half (22.5) quarter units in social welfare, social/human service, sociology, or another social or behavioral science; or two (2) years of full‑time experience providing social services to disadvantaged adults or children; or a combination of education and experience equivalent to two years of full‑time experience, including a minimum of fifteen (15) semester units or twenty‑two and a half (22.5) quarter units in social or behavioral science.

When combining education and experience, fifteen (15) semester units or twenty‑two and a half (22.5) quarter units equal six months of experience. Examples of social or behavioral science courses include anthropology, criminal justice, economics, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, law, nursing, nutrition, philosophy, political science, psychology, public health, religion, social welfare, sociology, welfare, and women’s studies.

The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.