Salary : $57,116.80 - $107,369.60 Annually
Location : All Locations - San Luis Obispo County, CA
Job Type: Permanent - Hourly
Job Number: 0926PM-001536-01
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 09/04/2026
Closing Date: 9/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

About the Position
The Department of Social Services (DSS) is developing a list of eligible candidates for current and future Social Worker vacancies. There are current vacancies in both the Adult Services Division and Children's Services Division at DSS, but the resulting eligible list may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary or substitute vacancies within the County and DSS.

Social Workers determine the need for social services; approve and directly provide social services to persons eligible for public services or vocational assistance services; and perform other related work as required. Employees in this classification may be required to work holidays, weekends, and evenings. Travel may be required.

Children's Services Division: Social Workers in the Children's Services Division may be involved with the following programs: Voluntary Family Maintenance, Emergency Response, Dependency Investigations, Resource Family Approval, Placement, Family Maintenance, Family Reunification, and the Adoptions Unit.

Adult Services Division: Social Workers in the Adult Services branch would be involved in the Adult Protective Services or IHSS (In-Home Support Services) programs.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates may be eligible for additional compensation.

Click for detailed job description.
Click to learn more about the Department of Social Services.
The Ideal Candidate

Education and Experience
A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Social Worker I: One of the following options:
A: Possession of a Bachelor's degree in Social Work or closely related degree* (see below);
OR B: Bachelor's degree in any field AND one (1) year social work experience** (see below);
OR C: 30 semester units or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university, including 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units in a closely related field of study* AND four (4) years of social work experience**

Social Worker II: One of the following options:
A: Possession of a Bachelor's degree in any field AND one (1) year of experience equivalent to a Social Worker I with San Luis Obispo County;
OR B: 30 semester units or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university, including 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units in a closely related field of study* AND two (2) years of experience equivalent to a Social Worker I with San Luis Obispo County

Social Worker III: One of the following options:
A: Possession of a Bachelor's degree in any field AND one (1) year of experience equivalent to a Social Worker II with San Luis Obispo County;
OR B: 30 semester units or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university, including 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units in a closely related field of study* AND two (2) years of experience equivalent to a Social Worker II with San Luis Obispo County
OR C: Master's Degree in Social Work Social Work or closely related degree*;
OR D: Master's Degree in any field AND one (1) year social work experience**.

Social Worker IV: One of the following options:
A: Possession of a Bachelor's or Master's in any field AND one (1) year of experience equivalent to a Social Worker III with San Luis Obispo County.

*Examples of closely related degrees: Psychology, Sociology, Social Services, Social Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Counseling, Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Public Health, Social Welfare, Humanities, Nursing, Ethnic Studies, Child Development, Health Science, Anthropology.

**Examples of Job-related experience: Experience in a public or private agency that includes supporting or managing a caseload comprised of people with various types of social service problems, by properly applying the laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of social service agencies.
How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. To apply for this position, click "apply" at the top of this page. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews. *Please note those who meet minimum qualifications for this specific recruitment will be invited to the first round of in-person interviews for this position. The department anticipates holding interviews Monday October 12, 2026 and/or Tuesday October 13, 2026.*

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

01

Please indicate your level of job-related experience*. *For the Social Worker I/II/III/IV classification, job-related experienced is defined as experience in a public or private agency that includes supporting or manager a caseload comprised of people with various types of social service problems, by properly applying the laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of social service agencies.

• Under 1 year of job-related experience.
• 1 to 2 years of job-related experience.
• 2 to 5 years of job-related experience.
• 5-7 years of job-related experience.
• No job-related experience.

02

Please list any relevant fields of social work that you have experience in (examples: Adoptions, Adult Protective Services, Dependency Investigations, Emergency Response, etc.) and explain your role in case management.
03

The role of a Social Worker I/II/III/IV will include working hours outside of a typical Monday thru Friday work week. This includes working early mornings, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Please indicate your level of availability to work on the following days of week by checking the boxes on days you are available. Leave the boxes blank for days with partial or no availability.

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• F