Position Information
Join the County of Sonoma as an extra-help Client Support Specialist and help our community! S tarting salary up to $33.89 /hour* depending upon experience.
Position Overview:
A Client Support Specialist (CSS) plays a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient transportation for clients transitioning between healthcare settings, residential placements, and appointments. The CSS is responsible for driving passengers, communicating with facility staff, delivering medications, and coordinating schedules with both facility staff and fellow drivers. The role requires a balance of strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and organizational abilities to handle the dynamic needs of passengers who may have mental health or behavioral challenges. You will be responsible for:
- Transporting passengers from hospitals or residential settings to new living environments, appointments, court hearings, or other locations
- Collecting medical information, including medication lists and discharge paperwork
- Coordinating pickup and drop-off times, working closely with the transportation coordinator and co-drivers
- Consulting with the coordinator in case of schedule changes or safety issues
- Utilizing knowledge of mental health and behavioral challenges to effectively redirect behaviors and communicate kindly with passengers
- Experience with populations that have mental health or behavioral challenges
- The ability to interact compassionately and communicate clearly with passengers, facility staff, and team members
- An understanding of the importance of tact, positivity, and patience when dealing with passengers and their diverse needs
- The capability to manage schedules, and paperwork, and coordinate tasks efficiently
- The proven ability to build relationships and work with a diverse customer base, especially individuals facing mental health or behavioral challenges
- Adaptability to changes in schedules and passenger needs throughout the workday
This recruitment is being conducted to fill intermittent, extra-help Client Support Specialist positions in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED. Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
An Associate of Arts degree with major course work in community mental health, psychology, sociology, or other related field. Experience as a Client Support Assistant, or the equivalent, may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
AND
One year experience working as the equivalent of a Client Support Assistant, or one year of paid experience working with adults diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness, or children with a serious emotional disturbance that would provide basic understanding of the needs of mental health services programs.
Driver's License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Special Qualifications: Some positions may require the ability to fluently speak and write a language other than English.
Working Knowledge of: Community resources and services available to program clients; techniques of rehabilitation; client legal rights; interviewing techniques, charting and case management documentation; and the use of electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department.
Ability to: Develop and maintain the trust and cooperation of clients, their families and other significant care providers; interpret and apply County mental health program policies and procedures; analyze a client situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action; work with clients to resolve conflicts with other staff, care providers or family members; work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; understand the legal mandates governing the storage of client records and information and the rights of the client to confidentiality; understand and apply the principles and techniques of case management and rehabilitative interventions with clients; coordinate the delivery of mental health services; apply basic interviewing techniques; facilitate group sessions; coordinate the delivery of mental health services; communicate effectively with persons from a variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds; evaluate situations and adopt effective courses of action to prevent a crisis; speak and write in at a level necessary to fulfill the job requirements; read, understand, and apply regulations and procedures governing mental health programs.
- 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.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.
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 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. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. 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: SZ
HR Technician: RR