STAFF DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, SOCIAL WORK

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT:

FILING DATES:
Applications will be accepted starting Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 8:00 a.m., PT through Monday, September 30, 2024, 4 :59 p.m., PT.

EXAM NUMBER:
49132B

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:
Open Competitive Job Opportunity

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT BY THE LAST DATE OF FILING
WITHHOLD:
No withhold will be accepted for this examination.

DEFINITION:
Participates in the development, implementation, coordination, and presentation of staff development programs and activities for social services staff in a department with a large social service program.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class typically report to a higher-level manager and participate in the development and implementation of staff development programs and activities for social services staff and graduate and undergraduate students of social work. Positions in this class plan training programs, conduct classroom-training sessions, and evaluate results of training programs. Incumbents in these positions must exercise knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and techniques in training development and the functions and services of the department's social services operation and have the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing to develop training programs and speak before large groups of people.

Essential Job Functions

Conducts research and analysis as to training needs, and makes recommendations to management concerning the need for new training programs, or regarding revisions that should be made in existing training programs to increase their effectiveness.

Develops and conducts training programs for new social services workers to orient them to the County, their department, the various aid programs, and the basic concepts and principles of the practice of social work.

Develops a field work program for graduate social work students in coordination with a school of social work; supervises a unit of graduate students, instructing them in the application of social work theories, concepts, and principles.

Develops a field experience program in social welfare for under graduate students in coordination with various colleges and universities; instructs students in the overall program of the department and introduces them to the theory and practice of social work.

Develops special reference materials and training program content in coordination with program staff of the department for the use of various staff development personnel in meeting training needs in special areas such as adult services, family services, social work supervision, and group work.

Reviews the work of graduate and undergraduate students and new social workers, advising them of those areas needing improvement and suggesting means of overcoming deficiencies; prepares written evaluations of their work.

Conducts evaluation studies of training programs to determine how their effectiveness may be increased.

Conducts administrative studies on research projects as assigned.

Keeps informed of new developments in the field of social work.

Develop and implement a variety of staff development programs for staff other than social services staff as part of total departmental training plan as needed.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
A Master's degree from an accredited graduate school of social work, family or psychological counseling, psychology, or gerontology - AND - Three years' social work experience, one year of which must have been in a supervisory*, training**, or consultative*** capacity.

Note: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part time experience is credited on a part time ratio, such as 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II - Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*Supervisory capacity is defined as a position that has formal technical and administrative responsibility for the supervision of at least three (3) subordinate employees typically in the same or related occupational series. The supervisory employee may not engage regularly in the same work as his/her subordinates more than 40 percent of the time. The responsibilities delegated to a supervisory position are to direct employees and ensure the satisfactory performance of work objectives. This formal authority includes establishing job descriptions, assigning and reviewing work, approving absences and leave requests, evaluating performance, taking disciplinary actions, and counseling.

**Training capacity is defined as a position that participates in the development, implementation, coordination, and presentation of staff development programs and activities for social worker staff in a department with a large social work program.

***Consultative capacity is defined as an employee whose primary contribution is knowledge of a specific subject. Generally differentiated by ability to provide consultation to solve problems and develop new resources in the specific field of expertise rather than performing manual or interpersonal tasks. These employees may apply theoretical and analytical knowledge, acquired through formal education, to apply information in order to perform multidisciplinary, complex and unpredictable work. They analyze information and apply expertise in a variety of areas to provide recommendations to solve problems, generate ideas, or create new programs and services.

ENDORSEMENT OF COUNTY QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience gained in a position performing similar kinds of work which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the higher-level position will be accepted. Experience claimed will be verified and evaluated to determine if the type, level or length of experience is qualifying. Applicants must supply sufficient information for this evaluation to be made. County employees who wish to meet the requirements using out-of-class experience must provide, within ten (10) calendar days of filing, written proof of this experience in a Verification of Experience Letter (VOEL) signed and approved by their Departmental Human Resources Manager or authorized representative. Out-of-class experience will be given additional points beyond meeting the exam requirements.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION.
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from the Class Specification and/or Minimum Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED.

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of two (2) parts:

Part 1: A multiple-choice test weighted 50% covering:

• Written Expression
• Data Analysis and Decision-Making
• Reading Comprehension
• Professional Potential
• Achievement
• Coping with Uncertainty
• Responsibility
• Working to High Quality Standards
• Willingness to Learn
• Working Relationships
• Analyzing Information
• Learning Quickly
• Generating New Ideas
• Using Time Efficiently
• Adapting to Change

Only those who achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on Part 1 will proceed to Part 2 of this examination.

Part 2: A multiple-choice test and Training and Experience weighted 50% covering:

• General Knowledge
• Training Delivery
• Design Strategy
• Characteristics of Instructional Design

Training and Experience

• Work Duties
• Training Delivery and Evaluation Experience
• Supervisory and other Relevant Experience

Applicants must meet the Minimum Requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each weighted part of the examination in order to be placed on the eligible list.

Many important notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add CindyMaldonado@dpss.lacounty.gov , info@governmentjobs.com, Noreply@governmentjobs.com, talentcentral@shl.com , noreply@proctoru.com , donotreply@amcatmail.com and the domains dpss.lacounty.gov, hr.lacounty.gov and to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or re-scheduling of a test component.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Notice of Non-acceptance and Final Result letters will be sent via E-mail or USPS, depending on your chosen method of contact in the supplemental questionnaire. Test scores cannot be given over the phone.

Standardized and copyrighted examination materials are not subject to review in accordance with Civil Service Rule 7.19.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:

• Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination.
• This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred.

TEST PREPARATION:
Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.

• An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/ . Please click on "Find a Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.
• Additional practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests .

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the eligible list in order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation.

SPECIAL INFORMATION :
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The resulting eligible list will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Social Services offices located throughout Los Angeles County.

PASSING THIS EXAMINATION AND BEING PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST DOES NOT GUARANTEE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be filed online only. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using the website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty .

Applicants must submit all applicable documents, diplomas, official transcripts, certificates, etc.) during application submission. All documents must be clear and legible. Although resumes can be uploaded as attachments to the application, resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of completing the online application.

Documents not submitted with the application may be emailed to ExamsUnit@dpss.lacounty.gov but must be received within ten (10) calendar days of filing. All emails must clearly identify the applicant's name and the subject line must include the exam name STAFF DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, SOCIAL WORK and exam number 49132B .

Acceptance of your application depends on whether you clearly show that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Fill out the online application completely and correctly in order to receive full credit for any related education, training, and job experience. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, and description of work performed. Utilizing verbiage from the Class Specification and/or Minimum Requirements will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and disqualification. All information supplied is subject to verification. APPLICATIONS MAY BE REJECTED AT ANY STAGE OF THE SELECTION PROCESS. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY PRIOR TO CLICKING THE "SUBMIT" BUTTON

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER :
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes.

Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record and is subject to disqualification from this examination.

Questions regarding this posting may be emailed, with the exam name STAFF DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, SOCIAL WORK and exam number 49132B in the subject line, to ExamsUnit@dpss.lacounty.gov .

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS AND COORDINATOR CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you need accommodation to take online assessments and/or written tests, let us know by contacting the following ADA/Testing Coordinator:

Written tests: LassandraHill@dpss.lacounty.gov or 562-551-3384

The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond to your request and keep you moving through the process.

Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

Department Contact Name: Cindy Maldonado
Department Contact Phone number: (562) 566-7528
Department Contact Email: ExamsUnit@dpss.lacounty.gov
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Closing Date/Time: 9/30/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

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