Residential Counselor I / Residential Counselor I-Relief (Open & Promotional) bei County of San Mateo, CA

About the Department

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division of San Mateo County Health is seeking experienced individuals for the position of Residential Counselor I. 

Residential Counselors (RC) I will provide guidance, support, supervision, and direction to youth ages 12–18 who have experienced severe or repeated trauma and require intensive mental health services in a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) at the County’s Canyon Oaks Youth Center. The RC-I plays a key role in creating and maintaining a safe, stable, and therapeutic environment that supports healing and growth. This includes monitoring residents’ behavior, safety, health, and overall well-being, while fostering connection and responding to challenging behaviors with empathy. 

RCs use trauma-informed practices to understand and respond to the underlying needs driving youth behavior, while recognizing the impact of trauma on development, relationships, and coping skills. They assist youth in setting and working towards realistic goals, encourage personal accountability, and model healthy communication, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. Through active participation, coaching, and encouragement, RCs guide residents in practicing life skills, strengthening self-regulation, and building confidence for their next steps.

As an RC, you will play a vital role in creating a safe, supportive, and positive environment for youth in our care. Your primary focus will be ensuring the physical and emotional safety of residents, providing day-to-day guidance, and assisting with daily routines and needs. Working as part of a collaborative team, you’ll help youth feel secure, express themselves, and build the confidence to develop the skills they need to thrive. This includes offering encouragement during challenges, celebrating successes, and modeling healthy, respectful interactions.

In this role, every interaction is an opportunity to make a direct and meaningful impact, whether you’re helping a resident problem-solve, providing a listening ear, or creating activities that foster growth, connection, and resilience in the young people we serve.

There is currently one regular full-time vacancy and two Relief vacancies at the Canyon Oaks Youth Center located at 400 Edmonds Rd., Redwood City, CA, 94062. 

Position Duties

Residential Counselors are responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Supervising and engaging with youth by offering guidance, encouragement, and interventions that promote safety and well-being.
• Working alongside youth to find solutions when challenges arise, using redirection and interventions that emphasize teaching and guidance rather than punishment.
• Collaborating with the treatment team to develop, plan, and carry out individualized treatment plans that support each youth’s goals and needs.
• Working with the interdisciplinary team to understand the function of youth behaviors and to identify supportive strategies or coping mechanisms that best promote regulation and growth.
• Planning and leading recreational and skill-building activities including art, cooking and other activities.
• Providing flexible support in day treatment groups, taking on roles such as active participant, silent observer, or assistant to the facilitator.
• Offering consistent support and guidance to youth, fostering confidence, resilience, and a positive self-image.
• Using evidence-based practices to reinforce and encourage positive behavior, such as validation, positive reinforcement, trauma-informed de-escalation strategies, and skill-building interventions.
• Maintaining accurate records and documentation, including shift summaries, medication charts, youth cash and other resources, petty cash, youth personal belongings and clothing inventory and other records.
• Collaborating with day treatment and other program staff to implement treatment and educational strategies and interventions that support individualized goals.
• Ensuring completion of all household and medical routines; supervise and encourage positive hygiene practices of youth.
• Administering first aid, prepare and provide prescribed medication in accordance with protocols and obtain medical care as needed.
• Driving youth to various appointments, community activities, and recreational outings on a regular basis.
• Performing related duties as assigned.

In addition to the above, during the overnight shift, residential counselors must: 

• Remain fully awake and alert throughout the entire shift.  
• Ensure the facility remains secure while maintaining a calm and comforting environment for youth.
• Conduct and document regular night-time bedroom checks to ensure youth are resting safely.
• Provide support and reassurance to youth experiencing emotional distress or difficulty sleeping.
• Perform necessary housekeeping chores assigned.

Rewarding Aspects of the Job:

• You’ll be joining a dedicated team with years of experience working together, offering opportunities for learning, mentorship and professional growth. 
• You’ll be part of a team who makes a tangible impact on the lives of youth, witnessing their growth, resilience, and progress over time. From supporting a young person regulate during a crisis to guiding them toward new coping skills, or celebrating milestones, you have a front-row seat to their transformation.
• You’ll have opportunities to think creatively and adapt to each youth’s unique needs through recreational activities, life skills projects, and problem-solving in the moment.

Opportunities to Make an Impact and Build Skills:

• Strengthen skills in communication, flexibility and teamwork while learning to balance diverse perspectives and approaches within a large interdisciplinary team.
• Develop expertise in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention and problem solving in real time when supporting youth in distress or crisis.
• Build resilience and sustain professional effectiveness by practicing self-care, leveraging supervision, and engaging in peer support while navigating the emotional demands of the role.

IDEAL CANDIDATE 
The facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The ideal candidate will have the flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including daytime, swing, and overnight within a 40-hour work week (8 hours per day, 5 days per week) and scheduled any day from Sunday through Saturday.
  
This program only uses physical interventions as a last resort to prevent serious injury or in situations requiring life-saving measures. Residential Counselors must pass emergency intervention training which includes a written and physical hands-on competency examination; annual examinations are conducted to maintain certification.
  
The ideal candidate will possess:

• A Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Education, Counseling, Child Development or related fields.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles, including awareness of the impact of trauma on behavior and development
• Training and experience in managing assaultive behavior and physical restraint.
• A minimum of one year's experience providing direct supervision of youth in a residential treatment setting working with adolescents.
• A California Driver's License in good standing. 

IMPORTANT: (COYC) is a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program and by law, requires employees to obtain and maintain security clearance and be bondable. Any prior criminal conviction since your 18th birthday (excluding marijuana-related offenses that are older than two years as listed in the California Labor Code 432.8) will result in a denial of your security clearance by the Community Care Licensing agency. While in some circumstances an employer may obtain a waiver of conviction from the licensing agency, Behavioral Health has a policy against obtaining such waivers/exemptions for perspective employees. In addition, Behavioral Health will not accept such waivers/exemptions obtained from the licensing agency by applicants in any other manner. 

Community Care Licensing also requires providers working in this facility to maintain 40 hours of annual training related to the field, which are provided by the facility. This includes but is not limited to training in Professional Assault Crisis Training model (Pro-Act) upon hire and yearly basis.
 
NOTE:  The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications

Security Clearance:  
Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance.

Education and Experience: 

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to qualify is:

Knowledge of: 

• Child and adolescent development and behavior.
• Principles and practices of childcare and custody.
• Group dynamics.
• Child development stages.
• Common safety practices and procedures including first aid.
• Individual and group counseling techniques, especially behavior modification.

Skill/Ability to: 

• Build positive relationships with youth and adults, earning their trust and respect.
• Provide care and support to youth in the facility,
• Work effectively within a team concept.
• Sense, evaluate, and handle tense group and individual situations as they develop and a willingness to accept responsibility for decisions.
• Exercise good judgment and act calmly in emergency situations.
• Communicate and work effectively with parents, public and private agencies, and the community.
• Instruct, train and supervise subordinate personnel.

Special Requirements: 
 Must have the ability to complete 40 hours of mandated training annually.

Other Qualifications

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, by 11:59 P.M. PST

Application Screening: Week of September 22, 2025.
Combined Civil Service & Departmental Interviews: Week of September 29, 2025

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. 

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