Travis County, TX

Compensation

Full Description

Salary: $65,997.32 - $94,377.00 Annually Location : Texas, TX Job Type: Full Time Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid Job Number: 25-10245 Department: Community Legal Services Opening Date: 09/29/2025 Closing Date: 10/13/2025 11:59 PM Central Job Summary Manages the day-to-day and overall operations of the social workers at the Office of Parental Representation (OPR). Performs managerial, consultative, technical, and administrative work in the planning, developing, overseeing, implementation of, and evaluating departmental goals and objectives. Provides social work services to clients to include case management, psychosocial, and/or needs assessments. Works with client and attorney to develop case goals and monitors progress. Utilizes community resources to assist clients and their families and provides client education, training, and advocacy. Distinguishing Characteristics This is a job classification within the Social Services job family and is responsible for managing the operations of the social workers at the Office of Parental Representation. This classification is distinguished from the Social Services Program Administrator which directs and manages a large department or broad-based series of multiple funded programs with broad scope of responsibility, complex budget and large staff. This position also provides social work services to clients to include case management, psychosocial, and/or needs assessments. Works with client and attorney to develop case goals and monitors progress. Utilizes community resources to assist clients and their families and provides client education, training, and advocacy. Duties and Responsibilities • Directs and manages the planning and operations of the social work staff. Oversees staff, including contributing to hiring, training, performance evaluation, and disciplinary actions, ensuring activities are consistent with policies, procedures, laws, regulations, goals and objectives. • Plans, develops, and establishes goals and objectives. Participates in and develops strategic plans to accomplish the goals and objectives. • Manages service delivery and operations for assigned area. Organizes operations and procedures. Sets priorities, monitors activities, and assignments and resolves problems. • Provides technical advice, policy interpretation, and guidance for application of appropriate procedures to staff. • Evaluates social worker effectiveness to develop improved methods. Devises evaluation methodology and manages implementation. Analyzes results and recommends or takes appropriate action. • Develops, oversees, and evaluates new and existing services and initiatives for implementation. • Assists in developing budget for social worker needs. Recommends expenditures within established budget. May prepare proposals for funding or funding continuation. • Serves as liaison and collaborates with governmental and public agency representatives, community outreach and advocacy groups, service providers, and others. Plans, develops, and manages a variety of community development and community organizing activities. Identifies and resolves service gaps and barriers. Stimulates interest in departmental programs and services. • Develops and participates in education and training. Makes presentations related to the Office of Parental Representation. • Prepares periodic reports, financial analysis, and statistical reports on program activities and program progress. • Conducts client psychosocial and/or needs assessment to obtain maximum benefit from all available sources. • Develops and implements client goals and monitors progress. Conducts periodic and final assessments to determine progress, client barriers, follow-up needs, and client outcomes. • Provides crisis intervention to clients to resolve crisis, prevent future crisis, and promote progress toward self-sufficiency. • Provides short or long-term case management and service coordination in manners and settings conducive to best client outcomes. Utilizes community resources to assist client in learning to live as a self-sufficient member of the community, including, but not limited to, medical resources, local, state and federal agencies, community-based agencies, and other resources. • Participates in community collaboration for resource development and elimination of duplication of services. Serves as member of community groups advocating for client populations and needs. • Provides client education, training, and advocacy. • Maintains current knowledge about resource availability, service costs and budgetary parameters, and remains fiscally responsible in carrying out all case management functions and activities. • Participates in evaluative and quality assurance activities designed to monitor the appropriateness and effectiveness of both the service delivery system in which case management operates as well as the case manager's own case management services. Ensures full professional accountability. Uses evidence based practices and remains current with standards of profession. • Documents case worker and compiles data/information in accordance with professional standards and policies. • Participates and coordinates in case reviews involving client, attorney, and service providers. • Provides information, referral, and linkage services to all community residents. • Performs other job-related duties as assigned. Minimum Requirements Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Social or Behavioral Sciences or a directly related field AND five (5) years increasingly responsible experience in social services, including one (1) year of supervisory or management experience; OR, Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job. Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC); OR, Qualified Credentialed Counselor (QCC). Licensed Social Worker (LSW); OR, Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). If position assigned to Juvenile Probation Department, certification as a Juvenile Probation Officer and Juvenile Supervision Officer or eligible for certification by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department within six (6) months of employment, including successful completion of Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification, First Aid and Handle with Care (state approved physical restraint technique). Valid Texas Driver's License. Preferred: Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW). Master's degree in Social Work. Experience working with client populations impacted by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Knowledge of: • Management and supervisory principles, practices, and techniques. • Theoretical constructs of human development and social work theory and practices. • Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function. • Local social services, organizations and programs and the resources available. • Crisis intervention and counseling techniques. • Requirements for categorical assistance programs. • Psychosocial factors impacted by stressors, illness and disability and intervention techniques. • Federal, State and Local program laws and requirements. • Financial resources available to clients. • Child welfare policies and practices. • Domestic violence dynamics. • Mental health diagnoses. • Modern office practices, procedures and methods. • Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages. • May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information. Skill in: • Planning, development, monitoring, and evaluation of social service programs and services. • Supervising others, allocating resources, and evaluating programs. • Leadership and community collaboration. • Problem-solving and decision-making. • Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer. • Counseling and providing crisis and other assistance to clients. • Assessing the medical, psychosocial, and environmental status of clients. • Sourcing types of counseling, social service provider, and other services indicated for clients. • Referring clients to appropriate social services organizations and programs. • Crisis intervention and counseling techniques used in trauma, grief, or crisis situations. • Navigating services for clients. • Planning and organizing social service programs and activities. • Application of social work ethical principles. • Interviewing and obtaining information from clients and other sources. • Problem-solving and decision-making. • Both verbal and written communication. Ability to: • Motivate, train, supervise, and develop and evaluate staff. • Serve as technical consultant and liaison. • Create and recommend department and program initiatives. • Prepare administrative and statistical reports. • Apply social work and counseling theory, practice, and procedures. • Utilize approaches to work with individuals experiencing crises and economic stress. • Work effectively and courteously under high-pressure circumstances. • Prepare accurate and complete records and reports. • Demonstrate consistent, sound, and mature judgment in the effective and efficient use of human and financial resources. • Deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile and aggressive individuals. • Work independently. • Manage time well and meet timelines. • Communicate effectively. • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public. Work Environment & Other Information Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds (50-100 pounds if assigned to Juvenile Probation Department) occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions. Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions. Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. May work some holidays, some nights, some weekends Location: 1700 Guadalupe St, Austin TX 78701 Department: Community Legal Services Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required. This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position. Benefits Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment. FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees. Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits. Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction. Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit. Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family. Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction. Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs. Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year. Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County. The following benefits are employee paid: • Dental • Vision • Supplemental Life, AD&D • Dependent Life • Short Term Disability • Long Term Disability • Long Term Care New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment. Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification. On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous...