Salary : $91,374.40 - $122,449.60 Annually
Location : All Locations - San Luis Obispo County, CA
Job Type: Permanent - Hourly
Job Number: 1026PM-001516-01
Department: Social Services
Division: DSS Child Welfare Services
Opening Date: 10/16/2026
Closing Date: 11/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
About the Position
The County of San Luis Obispo's Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking a Social Worker Supervisor to serve the Children's Services branch. This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.
Under general direction, a Social Worker Supervisor plans, organizes and directs the work of a social service staff providing the most advanced social services and does other related work as required.
Typical Tasks and Representative Duties
Plans, organizes and directs the work of a unit of social workers providing the most advanced or complex casework such as Child Welfare and/or Adult services; in addition, may direct the work of social workers performing less complex services; assists in the development of community resources for all programs; assists and participates in the development of in-service training and staff development programs; refers problems to other agency staff; evaluates the effectiveness of policies and procedures; represents the social service department at conferences and addresses groups; evaluates the performance of personnel and takes or recommends appropriate courses of action; may direct research studies and prepare reports; and does other duties as required.
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The Ideal Candidate
Knowledge of: The functions of public social service agencies and the principles of public social service administration; social research methods; principles, methods, and resources in the field of public health, mental hygiene, education, correction and rehabilitation as they relate to public social service; techniques of supervision, training and of casework consultation to staff members; the laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of the public social service agencies; principles of community organization; resources available in the community for referral or utilization in social service programs.
Ability to: Plan, organize and direct the work of subordinate staff; classify case problems and evaluate the effectiveness of effort in solving problems; apply effective interpersonal skills; develop and maintain cooperative relationships with community groups and resource agencies; analyze a situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action; make oral and written presentations clearly and concisely.
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:
Either A: Master's degree in Social Work or Master's degree from a two-year program in counseling, psychology, sociology or closely related field from an accredited college/university and two-years of increasingly responsible and related social work experience comparable to a Social Worker IV.
Or B: Successful completion of 30 units in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, psychology or other behavioral science and six-years of increasingly responsible and related social work experience including two-years experience comparable to a Social Worker IV or in a lead or supervisory capacity.
How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca. 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.
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 Confidential inquiries are welcome.
For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.
In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail .
For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).
Some benefits include:
- Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
- Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
- Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
- Free visits to the employee health clinic
- Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
- Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
- A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
- Optional deferred compensation plan
- Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
- Paid personal, sick and vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Education and Wellness Allowance
- Post Employment Health Plan
- Family Friendly workplace policies
- Flexible work schedule options
- Rideshare commuter benefits
- Pet Insurance
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.
Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.
Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.
To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),
Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.
Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:
- Emotional Intelligence
- Supervisor/Manager academies
- Microsoft Suite courses
- Defensive Driving
- Financial management
- Retirement preparedness
- Teambuilding
- Written Communication
- Conflict Management
- Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
- Job specific conferences/trainings
Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.
Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored byto get a loan for the down payment.
01
Please explain what prepares you to successfully step into the role of a Social Worker Supervisor for Children's Services.
02
Please describe any experience you have working in a supervisory or lead position for Children's Services or other closely related work.
03
List three (3) programs or units in Children's Services and explain how the Social Worker Supervisor role supports them.
Required Question
