Deputy Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator

The Human Services Department seeks a qualified candidate to fill a full-time Deputy Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator position! Starting salary up to $ 51.31 /hour ($ 107,090 /year) plus a competitive total compensation package!* Deputy Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservators (Deputy PA/PG/PC) investigate, and may administer, the estates of deceased individuals who either had no will or were without appropriate people willing or able to act as administrators. They conduct official County investigations into conservatorship matters and act as legally appointed conservators for persons found by the Courts to be unable to properly care for themselves or their finances. Deputy PA/PG/PCs also perform case, estate, personal, and financial management services for adults who are older, dependent, and/or gravely disabled who are unable to act in their own best interest, or resist fraud and/or undue influence. They will communicate with clients, community partners, and others, sign medication consents, investigate referrals, prepare court documents, conduct quarterly visits, attend team meetings, and serve as the Officer of the Day, as needed. The ideal candidate will possess many of the following: Experience involving the probate of estates and/or legal guardianship/conservatorship Expertise investigating and evaluating information and data Professional experience dealing with decedent estates, probate guardianships, and/or Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorships An understanding of the public assistance programs available to clients Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage a large workload under strict deadlines Experience working with a diverse population of clients in varying degrees of crisis Strong communication skills to assist clients and family members who may be under severe stress The ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain client confidentiality Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Panoramic Database Software, and other case management tracking tools About the Human Services Department (HSD) As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is to build upon strengths, as we bridge clients to opportunities through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFRESH, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging. HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community. The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services, please visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services . What We Offer Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including: Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education *Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory . The Human Services Department is currently recruiting to fill a full-time Deputy Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified candidates who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed. Experience and Education: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include a Bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, social welfare, behavioral health, business administration, legal studies, or related field; and one year experience determining eligibility for benefits as an Eligibility Worker, Social Services Worker, or closely related class in a county public social service, or similar, agency; or one year experience involving probate of estates, estate management, and/or legal guardianship/conservator duties. OR Academic course work at a college or university in behavioral science, social welfare, behavioral health, business administration, legal, or related field; and two years of experience determining eligibility for benefits as an Eligibility Worker, Social Services Worker, or closely related class in a county public social service, or similar, agency; or two years experience involving probate of estates, estate management, and/or legal guardianship/conservator duties. Certification: Certification by the California State Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators is required within four years of appointment. License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. The position advertised on this announcement requires possession of a valid California Driver’s License. *Specification History 12/24 revisions limited to person-first, gender-neutral language Working knowledge of: basic principles and techniques of investigations, interviewing, and case management; the appropriate provisions of the California Probate, Health and Safety, and Welfare and Institutions Codes, and other pertinent laws and regulations as they relate to Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator services; legal definitions and forms used in conservatorship and probate proceedings; various public welfare programs and community resources available to conservatees; concepts involved in wills, trusts, insurance policies, deeds and contracts; legal procedures and practices; courtroom procedures; research and recordkeeping methods; the special needs of adults who have disabilities, mentally illness, and are frail; medical and psychiatric terminology, and current treatment methods. Ability to: communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; investigate, assess, and evaluate data and develop an effective course of action; work independently in performing most work assignments, and in resolving problems and deviations; develop and maintain effective working relationships with the public, coworkers, clients, relatives and friends of clients, and employees of agencies involved with assigned caseload; effectively and tactfully communicate with persons under emotional stress; effectively work with clients who are difficult, unstable, mentally ill, potentially abusive, or violent; effectively organize and budget time and workload; establish and maintain systematic records including business, tax, and inventory records; use modern office equipment and computers sufficient for satisfactory work performance. 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 hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process. 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 res