Eligibility Worker III - Promotional

Job Description:

Eligibility Worker III - Promotional

Description

Position Information

This recruitment is promotional only. You must presently be a full or part-time regular or probationary County of Sonoma, Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, or Sonoma County Water Agency employee in order to apply for this position.

The Human Services Department (HSD) has requested a department promotional certification to fill an Eligibility Worker III position. Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Human Services Department employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list.

This Eligibility Worker III (EW III) will work within the Family, Youth, and Children (FYC) division of the Human Services Department, acting as a subject matter expert and lead worker assisting eligibility staff in interpreting regulations, explaining policies and procedures, and handling complex scenarios, CalSAWS processes, and eligibility computations. EW IIIs will determine and approve critical benefits for various programs, including foster care, adoption assistance, guardianship, Medi-Cal coverage, and other emergency assistance programs for children in the foster care system. They will utilize multiple computer systems to process cases, including CalSAWS, CWS/CMS, MEDS, Binti, Safemeasures, and other software programs utilized at FYC. They will also work closely with social workers to ensure client payments are processed within a timely manner for the overall wellbeing of children and families in the community. Additional responsibilities include:

• Processing, approving, and managing sensitive or complex eligibility cases
• Reviewing cases for completeness, accuracy, timeliness, presence of appropriate documentation, and compliance with department quality assurance and quality control expectations and guidelines
• Acting as a technical resource for social workers regarding issues with foster care and other programs
• Representing eligibility staff on various committees and planning groups regarding the conversion to CWS/CARES
• Training and onboarding new eligibility staff, including creating training materials and job aids
• Providing back up when the supervisor is absent, including answering questions and providing guidance to eligibility and administrative staff
• Assisting with special assignments and developing guidelines regarding changes in program regulations
• Representing the foster care unit at various state and local meetings, as appropriate, or as back up to the supervisor
• Coordinating with the Economic Assistance and Employment and Training divisions regarding shared cases and processing issues
• Approving routine and emergency payments created by Eligibility Worker IIs

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• The ability to successfully process complex cases and associated programs for payments to foster youth caretakers utilizing appropriate funding sources
• Considerable inter-program knowledge of foster care, adoption assistance, guardianship, and Medi-Cal regulations, policies, and procedures
• A working knowledge of cultural and human behavior, along with self-awareness in order to effectively work with caregivers and staff
• An understanding of the principles and techniques of leadership and training
• Extensive knowledge of CalSAWS, MEDS, CWS/CMS, Binti, Safemeasures, and other data systems utilized at FYC
• An aptitude for handling a large volume of case records and documents with precision
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient computer skills, necessary to navigate department-specific software, perform data entry, and use the internet
• Clear and effective oral and written communication abilities
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Fluent bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired, but not required

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education: Any combination of course work, training, and/or work experience which clearly demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, one year as an Eligibility Worker II coupled with some course work or specialized training in the principles and techniques of leadership and training will provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.

License: A valid California driver's license may be required for some assignments.

The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: the rules and regulations governing eligibility and case management for one or more programs; the goals and functions of public social service agencies; the sources of information necessary to establish eligibility for one or more programs; record keeping and general office procedures; and how to organize information and time.

Working knowledge of: cultural and human behavior, including knowledge of self, to deal effectively with clients and staff; and the principles and techniques of leadership and training.

Ability to: interpret rules, regulations, and revisions affecting the eligibility determination and case management process; determine eligibility and grant maintenance for the more complex cases; conduct and control an interview effectively in a variety of settings; accurately gather, record and correctly evaluate data necessary for the determination of eligibility for one or more programs; elicit factual information from applicants and recipients with communication or emotional problems; speak and write effectively; assume responsibility as appropriate; reason logically and accurately, think clearly, remain calm and continue working under stress and pressure; understand and follow complex instructions; maintain accurate and systematic records; listen actively and ask pertinent questions; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with fellow employees and the general public; and lead and direct the work of others.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How To Apply

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: General*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 9/9/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$71,796.93 - $87,283.36 Annually