Job Description

Posting number: 26-57726-03TAT

Department: Dept. of Public Social Services

Division: International Liaison

Job classification: SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANT

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Human Services, Social Sciences

Summary

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The County of Riverside’s Temporary Assignment Program seeks a Bilingual Temporary Social Services Assistant to support the Department of Public Social Services for Riverside.

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.

Work Schedule: 5/40 Monday-Friday, 7:30AM-4:00PM

Meet the Team:

https://rivcodpss.org

To learn more about TAP:

https://rc-hr.com/temporary-medical-assignment-program-tapmap

To learn more about the benefits of working for the County:

Benefits of Working for the County of Riverside

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Examples of 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 resolve training barriers; teach age-appropriate responses to youth; support client's efforts in dealing with youth, including those with medical and/or emotional problems; interact with clients to gather data on progress in learning and performing basic skills.
• Act as liaison between professional staff and clients through clarifying instructions and providing information on basic social services, County programs, and available community resources; act as liaison between County departments and agencies, organizations, community groups and individuals.
• Assist clients in arranging for transportation to obtain County services and/or attend required service appointments, etc. (e.g., mandated Court ordered services, including but not limited to, drug testing, medical, therapy), transport clients and/or youth in accordance with all California safety regulations, including the use of age-appropriate mandated safety equipment and managing assistive equipment (e.g., wheelchair, walker) for elderly or disabled clients; assist social worker in the placement of clients who are unable to care for themselves in an appropriate care or treatment facility.
• Supervise and support youth while awaiting placement; gather and inventory belongings, including medications and deliver during placement transitions; supervise youth during visitation with parents, siblings, family members, court hearings, therapy appointments, etc., in accordance with safety regulations protecting the youth, social services workers, and members of the public; document and provide feedback on the quality of the visitation.
• Write reports on client statuses, searches conducted on locating missing/absent parents/guardians for custody proceedings, and other case management related reports; prepare correspondences under the review of professional staff; maintain current electronic records of client visitation, client statuses, and other tracking and/or documentation as required in the centralized database; acts as an interpreter for non-English speaking clients when applicable.

Qualifications

OPTION I

Experience: Six months as a Community Services Assistant in any Riverside County department.

OPTION II

Experience: One year experience performing client directed services in either a social service, healthcare, mental health, or non-county (public or private) agency and/or organization.

OPTION III

Education: Completion of 15 semester or 24 quarter units from an accredited college or university preferably with course work in psychology, sociology, social welfare, social/human services, other behavioral sciences, or a related field to the assignment.

ALL OPTIONS

Knowledge of: Basic public social service programs at the state and local level; basic principles of public assistance policies, laws, rules, and regulations governing public social services agencies; current issues, in the field of social services; behavioral patterns of the disadvantaged; cultural and ethnic attitudes towards community and social services; basic principles of interviewing and problem-solving methods.

Ability to: Work effectively with a wide variety of agencies, organizations, and individuals; interview, evaluate clients and recognize the relevant and significant factors pertaining to their needs; implement basic social service plans and monitor client's progress toward established goals; understand and evaluate basic psychological, cultural, and social factors affecting behavioral patterns; explain department procedures;, interpret agency programs and policies to clients, agencies, and organizations; read and interpret information obtained from computers, microfilms, and written documents; obtain information in a non-intrusive but persuasive manner; interact effectively with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.

Supplemental information

What’s Next?

The preliminary closing date for this posting is Friday, September 18th, 2026, at 11:59PM however postings may close at any time.

Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted.

Applications must be submitted through NeoGov at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/riverside

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.

For specific questions regarding this position, please contact Ashley Thomas at Ashlthomas@rivco.org. For general inquires, please allow up to 2 business days to receive a response.