Children's Services Social Work Supervisor - Exempt (Open and Promotional)

Note: The job announcement was amended on September 30, 2025 to change the recruitment to continuous.

The County of San Mateo's Human Services Agency is seeking a well-qualified individual for the position of Children's Services Social Work Supervisor in the Children and Family Services Branch. The Children's Services Social Work Supervisor plans, assigns, reviews, evaluates the work of a unit of Children’s Services Social Workers, and provides direction to subordinate staff. Assignments may include, but not limited to, the following child welfare units: After Hours, Weekend, Intake/Screening, Emergency Response, Court Investigations, Court Officers, Family Maintenance & Reunification, Permanent Placement, AB12, Independent Living Program (ILP), Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), Resource Family Approval, Adoptions, and/or Training. It is highly likely that the selected incumbent for this position will be assigned to Emergency Response.

Children and Family Services operates on a 24/7 schedule. Some assignments are required to work nights, weekends, and holidays. Additionally, this position is subject to on-call shifts.

  Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of a unit involved in providing casework, client management, continuing client investigation and processing services for programs in Children & Family Services. 
• Consult with staff regarding Risk and Safety 
• Review case service plans and court reports.
• Coordinate the workload of the unit with other departmental units providing related services.
• Review and evaluate staff work to ensure program compliance with applicable policies and procedures; review completed cases and assignments; work with employees to correct deficiencies, recommend corrective action when required,  and implement discipline procedures.
• . Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for providing effective caseload management of clients; implement policies and procedures.
• Consulting with and providing information to other public and private agencies.
• Training new workers in casework techniques.
• Providing services for the most difficult cases or when unit workload is heavy.
• Attending and participating in policy teams and other Agency meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Strong leadership skills to direct the work of and motivate a team of social workers.
• Knowledge and experience with the mandates of a child protection services agency including safety and risk assessment, Emergency Response, Court Investigations, Family Maintenance, Family Reunification, Permanent Placement, Adoption, Resource Family Approval, and Extended Foster Care.
• Knowledge of Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and Juvenile Court Procedures.
• High-level of understanding of tools and initiatives to include: Structured Decision Making, Safety Organized Practice, Integrated Core Practice Model and child welfare systems.
• Demonstrated ability to provide reflective practice and supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, competing project demands.
   
   

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods and techniques of social work.
• Theories of human behavior and their practical applications.
• Psycho-social, medical, and economic interrelationships that result in individual and social abnormalities.
• Philosophy and function of social work systems.
• Appropriate utilization of a variety of social resources.
• Laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of social work agencies, specifically those relating to children and family services.
• Principles and practices of organization, workload management, and time management.
• 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 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.
• 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 conditions.

• Teach the concepts and methods involved in the practice of children's service social casework and/or residential childcare.
• Plan, organize, supervise and evaluate the work of assigned staff.
• Effectively interpret departmental policies, rules and regulations.
• Formulate, develop and implement treatment plans.
• Work effectively with persons differing in value systems, ethnicity, cultural backgrounds and psychopathologies.
• Work with a variety of social resources to plan and coordinate services to individual clients.
• Act as a consultant and trainer to other social service staff.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate effectively with others in writing, in person, and over the telephone.
• Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
• Prepare complex case records, detailed and legally sound court reports and related Agency and program reports within designated time frames.
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions.
• Respond appropriately to situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, clients, and outside organizations.
• Apply the principles of psychology and family relationships to engage individuals and families in social services.
• Recognize the signs of abuse for children, and non-minor dependent adults; assess risk factors and potential danger to clients.
• Interpret and explain to applicants, recipients, or others public social services programs, policies, rules and regulations.
• Demonstrate skills 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.
• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment and enter data accurately and timely on-line into one or more computer systems; utilize and understand various computer software programs.
• Interact professionally and respectfully with clients including difficult, hostile, or distressed clients.
• Analyze data from multiple sources, interpret and apply complex directions, rules, policies, procedures, and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
• Utilize social work methods and evaluation; crisis intervention and social work skills; communicate with and relate to a varied client group; work constructively within an agency and community setting; effectively use consultative supervision resources, services; control personal bias and apply social work ethics, keep records and prepare records.
• Comply with and implement specific court orders related to the presentation and disposition of cases, which may include detailed research, notification of missing parents and transporting minors out of state.
• Exercise discretion and judgment in the performance of duties.
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings and as directed.
• Follow a regular and agreed-to work schedule and limit work schedule modifications to a minimum and for emergency cases only.
• Work over 40 hours per week, if needed.
• Work on-call, and regularly scheduled shifts, when assigned.  This may include nights, weekends, and graveyards.
• Work under pressure, exercise good judgment and common sense while making sound decisions in emergency situations.
• Function under stress.

• Climb stairs, stand, walk, run, bend, twist and/or kneel in the course of making visits to client homes, lifting and transporting children and their possessions.
• Sit, drive, and travel for long periods of time to transport children to placement location and to maintain required visits.
• Drive safely and/or travel by other means such as by bus, train and airplane in order to perform job duties such as conducting home visits and transporting children, sometimes in remote locations and over long distances.
• Hear and smell sufficiently to detect sounds and odors within a home.
• Read lengthy documents, identify and distinguish between colors of a bruise or wound and visually appraise living conditions of a home.
• Speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly in person or on the telephone.
• Sufficiently operate office equipment such as a computer keyboard or to take field notes.
• Make home visits to clients' residences which may be unsanitary or unsafe, risking exposure to sick, disabled, hostile, uncooperative, or mentally unstable clients/relatives.
• Some positions may require ability to lift up to 50 lbs. when transporting and securing children to car seats.

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applications received, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position. Because of this screening process, all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination process. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

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

~ TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE ~
Final Filing Date: Continuous until filled
Application Screening: TBD
Combined Panel Interview:  TBD

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.