Shelter Counselor I

This examination is being given to fill multiple part-time vacancies at Mary Graham Children's Shelter and to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies. Please be advised that Human Resources will only be accepting online applications for this recruitment. Resumes and paper applications will not be accepted in lieu of an online application. A completed application must be received online by the final filing deadline.

The Mary Graham Children's Shelter is an Emergency Temporary Facility for children age newborn up to eighteen years of age who are removed from their homes through no fault of their own. On an annual basis, Mary Graham provides care and support services to about 1000 children. The Shelter provides a variety of support services through several collaborative partners to try and heal each child have their individual needs addressed. These support services can include medical/dental services, educational support, behavioral support, and transitional support for children under eighteen years old. For more information regarding the Mary Graham Children's Shelter and the Human Services Agency, please visit their website at: Human Services Agency - Mary Graham Children's Shelter

Offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment drug screening, a pre-employment arduous physical, pre-employment background screening, and a LiveScan fingerprint.

*Effective October 24, 2022, staff who are assigned to the Mary Graham Children's Shelter will receive a 5% pay supplement in addition to their base salary. 

Effective July 2025 - 3% Cost of Living Adjustment increase

NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail.

 

• Assists in overseeing the daily activities and behaviors of children within a care facility, both on and off-site; participates in the development, scheduling, and implementation of on-site and off-site activities; assists in ensuring the safety and proper care of children during outings and routine activities; conducts daily counts of children to ensure safety and knowledge of their whereabouts.
• Assigns and develops lists of children's work assignments; oversees the work to ensure its completion; works with children to identify and promote desired behaviors; ensures compliance with rules and regulations relating to the safe and orderly operation of the shelter.
• Schedules and conducts counseling sessions with assigned youth; consults with other staff to determine appropriate intervention strategies to meet children's physical and emotional needs; applies approved techniques within established guidelines; refers children for mental health assistance and evaluations as required.
• Assists in processing new children to the unit, providing orientation, and treating for medical conditions as required; assists children in obtaining daily living items and personal grooming items; provides guidance in living skills and assists in preparing children for their release from the shelter.
• Cleans and sanitizes common areas; sorts, launders, and stores donated and personal items for children; ensures the work unit is ready for the next shift.
• Prepares, updates, and maintains a variety of records, work orders, logs, charts, and reports; attends staff meetings to discuss and document observed behaviors and interactions.
• Identifies and reports safety issues, hazards, and health concerns requiring correction; reports items needing repair; takes immediate action to eliminate or reduce safety hazards; prepares records of actions taken and forwards to appropriate person for review or further action.
• Assists in providing basic medical first aid to injured children; records details of injuries and actions taken; drives children to medical facilities such as emergency rooms and clinics for treatment or scheduled appointments.
• Picks up, delivers, unloads, and stores needed supplies and donated items; drives children to activities and functions.
• Directs visitors to appropriate offices and provides needed information; receives phone calls for residents and staff; takes messages and routes to the proper person.

Principles and techniques of interviewing and recording in social service work, including basic counseling and intervention strategies/techniques for managing troubled youth; basic functions of public social service agencies and the laws, rules, regulations, and various social and economic conditions affecting their work; community resources available to troubled youth; general problems, guidelines and; related to the care and treatment of children in a residential facility; basic mathematical calculations; proper English usage including grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Read and understand written materials; prepare and maintain legible files, records, and logs; write clear and concise reports; make and record observations accurately; clean assigned areas to meet health and safety needs; learn to effectively use and apply observation, counseling, and intervention skills and techniques to evaluate and recommend needed action for dependent youth; assess potentially dangerous situations accurately; make sound decisions requiring independent judgment; work with hyperactive, troubled, and developmentally delayed youth from ethnically diverse backgrounds; provide minor medical aid; learn to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation as required; learn, apply, and adhere to policies, procedures, rules and regulations governing interactions with youth and the operations of a residential facility for children; operate a variety of office equipment and home appliances to perform assigned duties; plan and implement a variety of activities to meet the children's needs; drive a vehicle in the performance of assigned duties; establish and maintain effective relationships with others contacted in the performance of assigned duties.

Mobility-Constant walking; frequent driving and climbing stairs; occasional operation of keyboards, pushing/pulling, bending/squatting and running; Lifting-Frequent lifting of heavy objects or people; occasionally able to lift 5-70 pounds; Vision-Constant use of good overall vision and field of vision/peripheral; frequent reading/close-up work and eye/hand coordination; occasional depth and color perception; Dexterity-Frequent writing and reaching, occasional grasping, holding, and repetitive motion; Hearing/Talking-Constant talking/hearing in person; frequent hearing/talking on the telephone; Emotional/Psychological-Constant concentration and working weekends and nights; frequent decision making, public contact and dealing with emergency situations; occasional exposure to hazardous materials, trauma, grief and death; Environmental-Constant exposure to noise.

San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to Equal Employment Opportunity Division (sjgov.org).

Accommodations for those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Part-Time Employee Benefits: Part-time employees who meet the appropriate eligibility criteria may receive health insurance benefits and step increases.

Applicants for part-time and temporary recruitments who meet the minimum qualifications are either referred to the hiring department for further selection or they may be required to take a written examination.  If a written examination is given, the top candidates may be referred to the hiring department for further selection.

Testing Accommodation:  Candidates who require testing accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must call Human Resources Division at (209) 468-3370 prior to the examination date. 

Physical Exam:  Some classifications require physical examinations.  Final appointment cannot be made until the eligible has passed the physical examination.  The County pays for physical examinations administered in its medical facilities.

Pre-employment Drug Screening Exam:  Some classifications require a new employee successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen as a condition of employment.  Final appointment cannot be made until the eligible has passed the drug screen.  The County pays for the initial drug screen.

 

Employment of Relatives: Applicants who are relatives of employees in a department within the 3rd degree of relationship, (parent, child, grandparent, grandchild or sibling) either by blood or marriage, may not be appointed, promoted, transferred into or within the department when:

• They are related to the Appointing Authority, or

• The employment would result in one of them supervising the work of the other

Department Heads may establish additional limitations on the hiring of relatives by departmental rule.

Proof of Eligibility:  If you are offered a job, you will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or other documents that establish your eligibility to be employed in the U.S.

Please be advised that Human Resources will only be accepting Online Application submittals for this recruitment. Paper application submittals will not be considered or accepted.

 

Apply Online:       

www.sjgov.org/department/hr
               

 

Office hours:               
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

Phone:  (209) 468-3370 

 

Job Line:

For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377. 

When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be submitted online to the Human Resources Division before the submission deadline. Resumes and paper applications will not be accepted in lieu of an online application.  (The County assumes no responsibility for online applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).  

San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer:  San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to www.sjgov.org/department/hr/eeo.