Residential Care Worker II-26507210

About the role

Are you passionate about working with children? Join us and help shape the future for the better!

The County of San Diego, Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) has immediate openings for:

Residential Care Worker II

Interviews will be held the week of December 7th, 2026. Job offers for selected candidates will be made on the same day. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview via email.

The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate’s qualifications at time of appointment.

Future Salary Increases

• June 2027 – 6.03% increase to base pay (3% Across-the- Board + 3.03% Market Adjustment)

Hourly Rates and Premiums

Positions may also be eligible for bilingual premium depending on assignment.

To be considered for any of the positions, you must be willing to work a variety of shifts including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Residential Care Worker II positions are assigned to the Polinsky Children's Center, a 24-hour facility licensed as a Temporary Shelter Care Facility for children who must be placed outside of their home for their own safety, or when parents cannot provide care. As a Residential Care Worker at Polinsky Children's Center, you will be providing direct care and supervision for children from birth to 17 years of age.

These children come from diverse backgrounds and have been removed from their home due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment and may have been exposed to domestic violence, drugs or other trauma. Children who are currently in foster care and are experiencing a change in their placement may also be entering Polinsky.

Employees who work at Polinsky are expected to provide a consistent, high level of care and supervision as well as assure the health, safety and wellbeing of children at all times, while maintaining excellence in customer service and public trust.

For additional information on Polinsky Children's Center, please

Under general supervision, Residential Care Worker II incumbents perform the full range of duties involved with care, supervision and assessment of children. Responsibilities include working with children in all age groups, handling the more difficult care and assessment situations to include attending to the specialized needs of children experiencing challenges with their behavior, emotional dysregulation, and trauma-related responses, orienting new staff and providing technical guidance to other Residential Care Workers, as well as contracted workers.

Click the following link for the complete Residential Care Worker II job description, including examples of qualifying education and experience, working conditions, and more information regarding the position.

Hiring Process and Timeline

Interviews will be scheduled shortly after eligible candidates are referred to the Department. The department will be reaching out to candidates to invite them to participate in an interview. Job offers for selected candidates will be made shortly after the interviews. Candidates should be prepared to immediately complete background paperwork, upon receipt of a job offer.

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below. Please note that dates are approximate and are dependent upon the successful completion of each step of the process.

• Job Offer and Background Process begins: Day of interview.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications

• The completion of twelve (12) units from an accredited U.S, college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in a social or behavioral science, or a related field; AND one (1) year of work experience providing supervision and care to teens, children and/or infants in any combination of the following: 24-hour residential facility, a licensed day care program, or a licensed after school program for youth or as a schoolteacher instructing teens and/or children; OR,
• One (1) year of experience as a Residential Care Worker I in the County of San Diego, OR one (1) year of full-time experience in a similar classification in a group home for children and/or teens or a 24-hour residential facility for children and/or teens.

Notes

• Experience babysitting or experience providing care for one's own children or care of children in an unlicensed facility is not considered qualifying.
• If applicants are qualifying under requirement #1, then they must provide a copy of an official or unofficial transcript at the time of application. Please attach the electronic file of the transcripts during Step 1 of the on-line application process.
• College/University coursework in child psychology, child development and behavior management/modification is highly desirable.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate must be prepared to manage trauma-related behaviors and verbal aggression in a calm and professional manner; perform the physical demands of child care, supervision, safety, and security; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; value and respect others; and with appropriate training and guidance, learn to perform duties in a professional and ethical manner. The County of San Diego desires candidates who are customer-focused, driven to excel, team players, continuous learners, and supportive of change.

Blind Applicant Screening

• The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments.
• This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, will hide a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision.
• Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race.
• This process will help contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Conditions of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

• The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a three (3) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
• Applicants that are invited to interview for Residential Care Worker II will be asked to complete a written exercise at the time of interview as part of the evaluation process.

Accommodation

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce.

We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

• Veteran’s Preference Policy
• The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

• Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience?
• This tool can help!
• Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool.

• The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all.
• Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability.
• Each of these values are infused throughout our operations.
• The County also embraces a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce.
• Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov).

Disaster Service Workers

• Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers.
• The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district.
• Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset, and our customers are our number one priority.