Group Counselor II

Salary : $58,011.20 - $77,500.80 Annually
Location : Orange County
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 7426GE-0526-063 (O)
Department: Social Services Agency
Opening Date: 05/20/2026
Closing Date: 6/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


CAREER DESCRIPTION
Group Counselor II

SALARY INFORMATION

Salary may be negotiable, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an Open
eligible list and will be used to fill current and future Group Counselor II positions within Social Services Agency. The eligible list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications within the County of Orange.
DEADLINE TO APPLY

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the recruitment will close on

Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 11:59p.m. (PST)
COUNTY OF ORANGE
The County of Orange is California's third most populous county, with more than 3 million residents and 34 cities. With a workforce of more than 18,000 employees across 22 diverse departments, the County offers a variety of opportunities for career development and growth, the job satisfaction of serving the public, and to contribute to efforts that make a difference in people's lives.
SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY
The County of Orange , Social Services Agency (SSA) is composed of four business divisions: Assistance Programs; Children and Family Services; Family Self-Sufficiency & Adult Services; and Administrative Services; and over 4,000 dedicated employees, providing human services to an average of one in three Orange County residents. Our mission is to deliver quality services that are accessible and responsive to the community, encourage personal responsibility, strengthen individuals, preserve families, and protect vulnerable adults and children.
Click here to learn more about the Social Services Agency.
Click here t o view a video about the Social Services Agency.

ORANGEWOOD CHILDREN AND FAMILY CENTER
Orangewood Children and Family Center (OCFC). The OCFC is a 24-hour emergency shelter care facility, operated and owned by the County of Orange, Social Services Agency for children who have been abused, abandoned and/or neglected.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The position will work in a Licensed Temporary Shelter Care Facility regulated by the State of California.

Group Counselor II responsibilities include but are not limited to learning and assisting with the following:

• Directing and supervising the daily activities of abused and neglected children at Orangewood Children and Family Center (OCFC)
• Providing direct care for the physical well-being of young children, (e.g., changing diapers, feeding, bathing, etc.)
• Helping children with their needs, such as; tying children's shoelaces and carrying minor's personal property
• Assisting with children's emotional adjustment within the temporary shelter care environment
• Intervening with youth in a variety of crisis situations
• Learning and reporting on the developmental stages and progress of the children under their care
• Transporting children to school, activities, hospital, field trips in the community, and medical/hospital appointments, including lifting and carrying infants/toddlers
• Verbally de-escalating tense situations with children and adolescents, which include separating fighting juveniles, physically restrain and remove a resisting juvenile from the scene
• Maintaining peace between children and adolescents
• Responding to emergency or disturbance, such as; pursuing juveniles on foot (running)
• Working cooperatively and effectively with a multidisciplinary team of professionals
• Assisting with general housekeeping

Work Schedule
Group Counselor II's are assigned a fixed schedule that include weekends and holidays and are subject to change every six (6) months, depending on the needs of the department. Standard shifts are 6:30 am - 2:30 pm and 2:30 pm - 10:30 pm.
Supplemental Pay

• Night shift differential pay
• Bilingual pay is available to positions requiring bilingual skills. Candidates must pass the bilingual exam to be eligible for the supplemental pay.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES

The agency is seeking a candidate with a completion of 12 semester units or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or child development at an accredited college or university including at least 3 semester units of coursework in the care of infants and 3 semester units of coursework in abused and/or drug-exposed children OR a current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with at least 3 post-secondary semester units or equivalent quarter units of coursework in abused and/or drug exposed children.


The ideal candidate will also possess two (2) or more years of experience which would demonstrate working directly with infants, children, and teens, providing care, recreational activities (e.g., playing games/sports), and providing crisis intervention (e.g., approved physical restraint and/or verbal de-escalation techniques). In addition, the ideal candidate will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and experience in all of the competencies below.

Technical Knowledge | Technical Experience

• Understanding of juvenile institutional administration laws, rules, and regulations and familiarity with the Welfare and Institutions Code
• Comprehension of intervention techniques to be able to evaluate situations and handling difficult situations
• Working with at-risk youth (abandoned, abused, neglected)
• Utilizing effective techniques to assist or help child's needs
• Working with troubled and special needs children in relation to their level of functioning
• Developing and coordinating case treatment plans
• Observing for illnesses, reporting them as they occur, and providing medications as prescribed by physician, if needed
• Utilizing Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook proficiently

Leadership l Supervision

• Leading, mentoring, and training Group Counselor Trainee I/II and Group Counselor I staff
• Training counselors in organizational procedures, unit program, techniques of individual and group counseling and direction of social and recreational activities
• Promoting and supports ethical and professional standards in the work place, and skillfully handles personnel issues
• Demonstrating experience leading and facilitating meetings, trainings and projects
• Cultivating and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers

Judgment | Decision Making Skill

• Demonstrating expertise utilizing crisis intervention techniques
• Hypersensitive of children's personal safety and security, and any environmental hazards while working with children
• Making sound decisions/judgment or take actions to prevent injury to children
• Responding quickly to emergencies, especially, involving children

Interpersonal | Communication Skills

• Having compassion to provide care and assistance without judgment to troubled children
• Using effective communication when working with staff, other County agencies, and/or stakeholders, both orally and in writing
• Maintaining a positive attitude and effectively handling stress when dealing with difficult children
• Writing accurate data and/or reports

As the incumbents are responsible for transporting children to their various activities, a valid Class C Driver's License is highly desirable.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click for complete classification description for Group Counselor II
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates will be required to undergo a background clearance check from California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Community Care Licensing (CCL) and must successfully clear prior to the start of their employment. All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Areas considered in the background check include conviction history, employment history, professional references and education verification (i.e. degree, license, or official transcripts) if applicable. Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.) In addition, a Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) background clearance check may be required. CACI is a repository of child abuse investigation reports managed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that contains information related to substantiated cases of physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental/emotional abuse, and/or severe neglect of a child.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Resumes will not be accepted and/or screened in lieu of applications, therefore, you will need to demonstrate your qualifications on your application.
A pplication Screening (Refer/Non-Refer): Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applications exhibiting qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.
Structured Oral Interview (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a qualification appraisal panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.
Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, Human Resource Services will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Veterans' Employment Preference Policy
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants with the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click to review the policy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EMAIL NOTIFICATION:

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.


NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.


Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address is changed, please update your profile at
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Cindy Mora at .

EEO INFORMATION
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System
Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
Click for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.
01


Do you possess 12 semester units or equivalent in the behavioral sciences such as psychology, counseling, sociology or social work at an accredited college or university? **If you answered "yes", a copy of an unofficial transcript MUST be attached for consideration.

• Yes
• No

02


If you answered "Yes" to the above question (Question #1), please list at least 12 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of the required coursework that you have completed at an accredited college/university , In your response, please include the following• Course title• College/university name• Units completed (specify whether semester or quarter).If this option does not apply to you, please type "N/A".
03


Do you have two years of experience as a counselor in an institution for dependent children or juveniles, which demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities required as listed in the class specification

• Yes
• No

04


If you answered "yes" to Question 3 above, please describe your experience as a counselor in an institution for dependent children/juveniles. Include the number of months worked, the number of hours worked per week, and your level of responsibility. If this option does not apply to you, please type "N/A".

• Yes
• No

05


Have you completed 12 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) in early childhood education or child development at an accredited college/university? **If you answered *yes", a copy of an unofficial transcript MUST be attached for consideration.

• Yes
• No

06


If you answered "Yes" to the above question (Question #5), please list at least 12 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of the coursework that you have completed in early childhood education or child development at an accredited college/university This includes at least 3 semester units of coursework in the care of infants and 3 semester units of coursework in abused and/or drug-exposed children. In your response, please include the following• Course title• College/university name• Units completed (specify whether semester or quarter).If this option does not apply to you, please type "N/A".
07


Do you have a current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with at least 3 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) in abused and/or drug exposed children? **If you answered yes, a copy of the CDA credential MUST be attached for consideration.

• Yes
• No

08


Please describe in detail your experience working with children with disabilities and/or "At Risk Youth". Include in your response, your role, job responsibilities, experience - handling violent tantrums with children. You must also discuss how you will remedy a violent tantrums with children and why arrive at your decision.
09


Please describe in detail your years/months of work experience of being a counselor, including your roles and responsibilities.
10


Please describe in detail your experience leading/supervising and training entry level staff. Include in your response, the years of experience, the number and levels of staff supervised, led, and/or trained, and your roles and responsibilities in guiding and mentoring staff.
11


Describe your experience handling situations where staff was not compliant with standardized procedures/protocols. Include in your response, the details of the situation, how you addressed it, and the steps you took to resolve it.
Required Question