SOCIAL WORKER TRAINEE

County-of-Los-Angeles; California; On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care options

Robust retirement plan

Job summary

County of Los Angeles is seeking a Social Worker Trainee to join the Department of Public Social Services. Under close supervision, you will gain practical experience in casework, assess client needs, and develop service plans in collaboration with clients.

You will help clients with housing, finances, health care, citizenship, and employment; learn to evaluate needs of seniors, disabled, and apply In-Home Supportive Services.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Documentation of degree must be in English; foreign degrees may require evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Identify and analyze clients' needs for services and develop plans with clients.
• Assist clients in problem solving in housing, money management, health care, citizenship, residence, employment and other tangible issues.
• Assess clients' employment or training potential and help overcome barriers to employment or training.
• Evaluate needs of aged, blind and disabled clients and help use In-Home Supportive Services to remain at home.
• Provide information about resources and connect clients with community resources.
• Investigate situations involving adults endangered by abuse, neglect, exploitation or unsafe conditions and take appropriate action.
• Advocate on behalf of clients and refer for conservatorship when appropriate.
• Assist clients and relatives in locating alternative living arrangements when in-home services are not appropriate.
• Coordinate referrals from public and private agencies and perform home visits as needed.

Skills

Identifying needs

Analytical thinking

Advocacy

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

WHEN TO APPLY:

We will be accepting online applications from Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until Monday, October 19, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (PT). All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Monday, October 19, 2026, to be accepted.

EXAM NUMBER

49050O

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

We welcome applications from anyone.

WHY WORK FOR US?

With almost 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California with over 100,000 employees in 39 departments, we provide vital and diverse public services like law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, and cultural activities.

The County has more than 2,100 different job types, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. Join us and discover one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the county with a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

For more information about our amazing benefits, please visit us here: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/

ABOUT THIS POSITION:

Under close supervision and in a training capacity, assists in performing social casework.

• As a trainee, the incumbent receives information, instruction and practical experience in the following activities:
• Identifies and analyzes clients' needs for service; sets priorities, explores alternatives with clients to develop plans for resolving problems.
• Assists clients in carrying out problem solving activities directed toward resolving housing, money management, health care, citizenship, residence, employment and other problems of a tangible nature.
• Assess client's employment or training potential, and assists clients to overcome problems that would prevent or limit them from obtaining employment or participating in training programs.
• Evaluates the needs of aged, blind and disabled clients and helps them use In-Home Supportive Services, so they may remain safely in, or return to, their own homes and help maintain and strengthen their capabilities for self-care.
• Provides information to clients about resources within the department and in the community; assists clients in selecting appropriate resources, contacting agencies and in utilizing these resources.
• Investigates situations involving adults reported to be endangered by abuse, neglect, exploitation or unsafe or hazardous living conditions, takes appropriate action and/or reports to appropriate agency to eliminate or reduce the possibility of endangerment.
• Initiates requests for assistance from the appropriate legal authority to gain access to the client or obtain protection for clients in violent situations.
• Acts as an advocate on behalf of the clients in situations where the clients are unable to act on their own, and when appropriate, refers clients for conservatorship.
• Assists clients and their relatives in locating alternative living arrangements such as nursing homes, intermediate care facilities or board and care homes when in-home supportive services are not appropriate.
• Takes appropriate action on referrals from public and private agencies and other jurisdictions.
• Makes home visits as needed.

For additional information regarding the Social Worker Trainee, click on Social Worker Trainee.

WITHHOLD INFORMATION:

No withhold will be allowed. Required education must be fully met by the last day of filing and clearly indicated on the application.

REQUIREMENT(S) TO QUALIFY:

A bachelor's degree* from an accredited college or university.

*To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your diploma, transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution with your application. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards if not listed in the International Handbook of Universities or World Higher Education Database. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf.

If you are unable to attach the documentation, please email it to [e-mail] within ten (10) calendar days from the last day of the filing period and indicate Social Worker Trainee and 49050O on the subject line. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

2 – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

The examination will consist of multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 100%, assessing:

• Written Expression
• Reading Comprehension
• Data Analysis and Decision Making
• Learning Potential
• Responsibility
• Customer Focus

Applicants must meet the requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% to be placed on the Eligible list.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:

If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam.

TEST PREPARATION:

We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on our website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/job-search-toolkit/. The section dedicated to test preparation is 'Employment Test Assistance.'
• Online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests. You can also visit our Los Angeles County Online Assessment Preparation Series webpage at https://lacounty.attract.neogov.com/la-county-online-assessments-prep-series for information about common online assessment types, sample questions, and test-taking tips.

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION:

Applicants who passed the assessment(s) are placed on a list for a period of 12 months. We will use this list to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Social Services as they occur.

SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION LIST:

From those who pass the assessment, we may establish a secondary list targeting additional qualifications we are seeking for specialized positions. Selective certification lists may be prepared for the following language specialties: AMESLAN, Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Cantonese, Farsi, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The Department may also prepare selective certification lists by service areas.

PASSING THIS EXAMINATION AND BEING PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST DOES NOT GUARANTEE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION AND COORDINATOR CONTACT INFORMATION:

If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, contact the Testing Accommodations Coordinator at:

• For Written Tests: [e-mail] or call [phone]
• For Online Assessments: [e-mail]

We require a completed Request for Reasonable Accommodation form as well as supporting documentation from a qualified professional justifying the request. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond and keep you moving through the process.

Teletype Phone: [phone]

California Relay Services Phone: [phone]

Department Contact Name: Mark Castro

Department Contact Phone: [phone]

Department Contact Email: [e-mail]

Questions regarding this posting may be sent to [e-mail] in the subject line, include the exam name, SOCIAL WORKER TRAINEE and exam number, 49050O.