Childrens Services Social Worker II/III (Open and Promotional)
Salary
$95,243.20 - $140,483.20 Annually
Location
County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
G092R
Department
Human Services Agency
Opening Date
09/01/2026
Closing Date
9/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
08
Description
The Human Services Agency (HSA) of the County of San Mateo is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Childrens Services Social Worker II/III within the Children and Family Services (CFS) branch. This recruitment will focus on filling positions within the Weekend Unit (including after hour and grave shifts) as the first level of priority. These positions are based out of the Central Region Office (San Mateo/Foster City border). Social Workers assigned to these units are responsible for screening and responding to emergency response referrals outside of traditional business hours.
Children and Family Services is committed to promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children while partnering with families, caregivers, and communities to support positive outcomes. Our Social Workers perform critical work that includes responding to child welfare referrals, assessing safety, engaging with families, coordinating services, and helping connect children and caregivers with resources and support.
We recognize that child welfare is complex, challenging, and meaningful work. The role requires compassion, resilience, flexibility, and sound judgment. Social Workers in these assignments must be comfortable navigating changing priorities, responding to urgent situations, and working with children and families during some of their most difficult moments.
We are seeking individuals who are committed to learning, growth, and collaboration. As we continue to strengthen our practice and support for staff, we value employees who bring curiosity, adaptability, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and families. Successful candidates will be individuals who are open to feedback, willing to continue developing their practice, and committed to contributing to a team environment.
Hiring Incentive!! Eligible candidates may receive a sign-on bonus of up to $15,000!
First-time external new hires, as well as current County employees promoted internally or transferring from other County departments into a regular Childrens Services Social Worker II/III position within the Human Services Agency, may be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $15,000. The incentive is paid in three phases and is prorated for part-time positions. Restrictions apply, and the program may be modified or discontinued at any time. See the Hiring Incentives webpage for complete details: https://jobs.smcgov.org/hiring-incentives/.
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
Current Priority Assignments
Available assignments are based on operational needs at the time of onboarding and may include the following:
Weekend Unit (Friday-Monday)
Afterhours Weekday Unit
In the event there are additional future vacancies approved, next priority will be given to fill additional shifts in the afterhours weekday unit, and/or Emergency Response.
Support for Staff
Children and Family Services recognizes the importance of supporting staff who perform this demanding work. The program offers on-site Clinical Support through the Secondary Trauma Action Team response to assist employees following challenging cases and promote staff well-being.
Telework
Telework, in accordance with the HSA telework policy, remains an option for eligible assignments at one day per week for a five-day work week beginning January 2027. A minimum of four days must be on-site, in office.
Shift Differential
Employees regularly assigned to eligible shifts of eight (8) hours or more that begin after 11:59 a.m. and before 1:01 a.m. may receive shift differential pay for all hours worked during that shift, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the County of San Mateo and AFSCME (2024-2027).
Informational Session:
Join us for an engaging LinkedIn Live informational session to explore this exciting opportunity. We'll provide an overview of Children & Family Services (CFS), including the vital work this team does to support children and families in the community. Learn about the key responsibilities of the role, benefits, and what makes an ideal candidate. We'll also walk through the recruitment and selection process. Don't miss out-join us on Monday, September 14, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST. Click here to register.
Check out these videos to discover the rewarding work, training, and support we offer!
SALARY:
Childrens Services Social Worker II: $45.79- $57.24 Hourly
Childrens Services Social Worker III: $54.00- $67.54 Hourly
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/ limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.
A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. Based solely on the information provided in the application materials, an application screening committee will select those applicants whose education, training and experience most closely matches the needs of the department. Those selected will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%) which may include the evaluation of a written or performance exercise given immediately preceding the interview. Selected applicants will be notified of the date, time and place of the tests.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the Countys website, you may click on the "Apply" button. If you are not on the Countys website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
LinkedIn Live Informational Session: Monday, September 14, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. PST
Final Filing Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Screening: September 23 - 28, 2026
Combined Panel Interviews: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and/or Wednesday, October 7, 2026
San Mateo County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
As an employer, the County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Arlene Cahill (09012026) (Childrens Services Social Worker II/III-G092)
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. This information will weigh heavily in the application screening by the subject matter experts and will also be used in the selection process. Answer the questions completely, paying attention to the multi-parts of the questions, while being thorough, detailed, and concise. Your strategic use of language as well as neatness, clarity of expression, attention to detail, proper use of grammar and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses.
02
This position requires possession of a valid California class C driver license or equivalent. Please provide 1) driver license number and 2) expiration date.
03
Please read carefully the minimum requirements for each level below and select the option for which you qualify.
04
How do you meet the educational requirements for this position?
05
How do you meet the work experience requirements for this position?
06
Child welfare is complex work, and families may come to the attention of child welfare systems for many different reasons. Please describe the circumstances, challenges, or factors that you believe may contribute to concerns regarding child safety and the need for child welfare involvement. Please also discuss how a child welfare social worker can maintain a respectful, supportive relationship with a family while carrying out the responsibilities and authority of the child welfare agency.
07
Children's Services Social Workers may respond to families during some of their most stressful and challenging moments. The role requires social workers to assess child safety, engage families with empathy and respect, and exercise the authority and responsibilities of the child welfare agency. Describe how you would approach a family crisis when the family's needs or wishes may conflict with concerns about child safety or the responsibilities of the agency. Please provide a specific example when possible and explain how you would balance empathy and engagement with sound professional judgment and your responsibility to child safety.
08
Children's Services Social Workers may work overnight and weekend shifts, often independently and with limited or delayed access to a supervisor or colleagues. The work requires sound judgment, flexibility, and the ability to manage unexpected or competing demands. Describe a specific experience that demonstrates your ability to work independently and make sound decisions in a challenging or unpredictable situation. Please explain how you handled the situation, when you sought support or consultation, and what you learned from the experience. Please also describe how your experience, skills, and approach have prepared you to be successful in an afterhours/weekend assignment such as a grave shift.
09
Which of the following shifts are you willing to work? Check all that apply. Please note these are preferences but actual assignments are determined by agency need.
10
Bilingual language skills are sometimes required depending on the needs of the community being served. Though this current recruitment does not require bilingual skills, the hiring list generated by this recruitment could be used to fill future vacancies. Please indicate your fluency in any language(s) in addition to English.
11
If you were referred to this position by a current County of San Mateo employee, please indicate the name of the employee in the space provided. Type NA if you were not referred.
12
How did you learn about this position?
13
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question
Employer County of San Mateo
Address County of San Mateo Human Resources Department
500 County Center, 4th Floor
Redwood City, California, 94063-1663
Phone (650) 363-4343
Website https://jobs.smcgov.org
| Location | San Mateo, CA |
| Salary | $95,243.20–$140,483.20 Per Year |
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