Group Counselor Trainee

Job Description:

Group Counselor Trainee

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

GROUP COUNSELOR TRAINEE

THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Regular and Extra-Help Group Counselor Trainee positions.

This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, October 28, 2025

THE AGENCY
TheCounty of Orange , Social Services Agency is composed of four business divisions: Assistance Programs; Children and Family Services; Family Self-Sufficiency & Adult Services and Administrative Services; and over 4,300 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 to view a video about the Social Services Agency.

THE DEPARTMENT
The Social Services Agency (SSA), Orangewood Children and Family Center (OCFC) is seeking qualified candidates to fill current and future Regular and Extra-Help Group Counselor Trainee positions. OCFC is a Temporary Shelter Care Facility, owned and operated by the County of Orange through the SSA, that provides care for children who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

Watch the video here to learn more about County of Orange, Social Services Agency.
Click here to learn more about Orangewood Children and Family Center (OCFC)

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Group Counselor Trainee works under close supervision to learn and assist in the daily care, supervision, and counseling of children temporarily placed in protective custody at a 24-hour multidisciplinary shelter care facility. The position supports the emotional and physical well-being of children and may perform other related duties as required.

The duties of the position include but are not limited to the following:

• Learns to direct activities of children
• Assists with instructing children in standards of conduct
• Learns to provide crisis intervention and discipline
• Assists in providing the children a safe, secure environment
• Checks for and reports illnesses
• Learns to assists in formulation of case treatment plans for assigned children with participation of child, other counselors, and Social Services Workers
• Learns to keep routine of log of activity
• Learns to prepare case records, development assessments, care plans, log entries and special incident reports in compliance with applicable regulations
• Learns to file information in case folders, extracts information for routine reports, totals and averages daily individual and unit grade

Click here for additional information about the job duties.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will have experience working in a childcare facility, group home, institutions, or similar type of work setting. Candidate who possesses a valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and a valid CA Driver's License is highly desired.

In addition, candidates will also demonstrate experience in the following competencies:

Professional and Technical Experience

• Title 22 Regulations
• Recreational children's programs and activities
• Crisis intervention techniques
• Proper methods of physical restraint
• Engage and interact with children
• Monitor and supervise children in a group home
• Utilize Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Safety

• Ensure children’s safety and maintain a safe and positive environment
• Follow safety protocols and procedures
• Manage stress and maintain self-control during emergency or disturbance
• Report safety concerns efficiently

Oral and Written Communication | Informing | Listening

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Actively listens to understand all viewpoints when others speak
• Interact with children in a positive tone and manner
• Communicate effectively with children and others in emotionally charged situation
• Display a willingness to work with troubled and special needs children

Interpersonal Skills

• Maintain a calm demeanor
• De-escalate emotionally charged youth
• Effectively listens with understanding and without bias
• Genuine and empathetic
• Trustworthy
• Energetic and enthusiastic when working with children
• Dependable and reliable

Critical Thinking Skills

• Respond to crisis/emergencies using positive interventions
• Work independently and take initiative
• Provides age-appropriate support and guidance
• Make sound judgments, actions or decisions to prevent injury
• Alert and mindful of children’s safety

Teamwork

• Maintain an open and approachable manner
• Build rapport with others
• Works collaboratively with staff to ensure consistent and supportive care for children.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL and WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical and Mental Requirements

Lift and carry infants/toddlers weighing up to 50 pounds; lift and move furniture or other heavy objects weighing up to 75 pounds; walk or stand for six hours of an eight hour shift; pursue juveniles on foot (running) by sprinting a distance of 75 yards or more; walk briskly or jog 200-300 yards to the scene of an emergency or disturbance; separate fighting juveniles, physically restrain and remove a resisting juvenile from the scene; verbally de-escalate an attack upon yourself by a juvenile and if verbal de-escalation is not possible, call for assistance, retreat or otherwise act to minimize injury to self and others; body mobility to walk, bend, stoop and reach overhead to stock shelves with items weighing up to 20 pounds; manual dexterity to tie children’s shoe laces; corrected vision to read standard print and to observe children at a distance; hear and speak to converse over a telephone; ability to carry minor’s personal property, weighing up to 50 pounds; carry a wall-mounted 20- pound fire extinguisher while walking briskly 75 feet or more to the scene of a fire; lift a minor for period of time; use an appropriate technique to quickly move a minor weighing up to 200 pounds or more for a distance of 20 feet or more in a safe and approved manner.

Environmental and Working Conditions

Required to work in a facility with minors who have multiple and complex health, social, and psycho-social needs. Ability to interact and communicate with clients served, other health professionals, office support staff, and community partners on a continual basis; Works on rough, uneven, rocky or slippery surfaces; exposure to biohazardous materials or fluids (such as vomit and/or feces while cleaning up and disinfecting after ill children. May have exposure to communicable/contagious diseases (such as covid-19, chicken pox, colds, flu, TB, etc.). It is not uncommon to respond to agitated, hostile, violent or emotionally charged situations or assist a colleague or clinical team in de-escalating situations; may require use of hands-on restraint.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here t o view the minimum qualifications for the Group Counselor Trainee classification as well as the physical & mental requirements and the environmental conditions.

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 (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 10/28/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$47,236.80 - $62,774.40 Annually