GAIN SERVICES WORKER

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

WHEN TO APPLY:
We will be accepting online applications from Thursday, June 4, 2026, 8:00 a.m. (PT), until Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (PT). All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, to be accepted.

EXAM NUMBER:

49165A

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

We welcome applications from anyone.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS BY THE LAST DATE OF FILING

Why work for us?
With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, over 116,000 employees in more than 38 Departments, we provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more.

We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. The County has more than 2,300 different job descriptions, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the country. Join us and discover 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.
WITHHOLD INFORMATION:
No withhold will be allowed. Required experience must be fully met by the last day of filing and clearly indicated on the application.
About this Position:
Develops and monitors individualized employment plans for GAIN (Greater Avenues for Independence) program participants and identifies and provides support services to GAIN participants.

Please view the classification specification: GAIN Services Worker

Essential Job Functions

Interviews and conducts group orientations of potential GAIN participants in offices or training sites and assesses the suitability of welfare recipients for participation in the GAIN Program.

Gathers and evaluates information to establish exemptions and deferrals from GAIN participation.

Determines clients' needs, assists them in obtaining support services, and consults with professionals including physicians and attorneys regarding impediments to GAIN participation.

Assists clients in identifying and overcoming barriers to achieving economic or financial independence.

Evaluates and interprets clients' work histories, educational screening test results to assess appropriateness of training programs initiated by the clients.

Works with GAIN participants in developing the Welfare to Work Plan Activity Assignment Contracts designed to provide appropriate services to enhance their participants' basic education and work skills.

Assists participants in determining the type of supportive services needed and the amount of issuance necessary to cover the payment for these services. The type of GAIN supportive services may include childcare, transportation, educational or vocational training related expenses and other ancillary expenses.

Develops mutually acceptable employment plans with GAIN participants based on outside assessments, work histories, educational achievements, needs for supportive services, and personal goals of participants.

Meets with service providers to resolve problems and to conciliate GAIN participants' disputes with service providers and/or agency policies.

Initiates money management services and financial sanctions for GAIN participants who repeatedly fail to comply with program requirements.

Conducts investigations into participant sanctions and determines if participants have good cause to lift the non-compliance sanction.

Prepares correspondence and records pertinent information in participant's case file.

Accesses interactive computer systems in conducting office interviews and case processing.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
Two (2) years of employment counseling experience* in a GAIN environment**.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION:

*Employment Counseling Experience is defined as follows:

• Conducts pre-employment workshops to prepare customers for the workforce.
• Provides coaching to customers in a group or individual setting on job skills development and interviewing techniques.
• Provides assistance to customers in locating and securing employment by coaching customers on resume preparation, interviewing strategies, networking exercises, and job search techniques.
• Refers customers to appropriate training sources to improve job skills.
• Contacts employers to solicit orders for job vacancies and records data of relevant jobs obtained.
• Develops client's employability development plan.
• Provides case management services and monitors and evaluated progress of clients in meeting long and short-term career objectives.
• Provides information and referral to a range of vocational training and education and employment programs available.
• Provides and/or refers specialized clients for vocational interest and aptitude assessment.

**GAIN (Greater Avenues for Independence) environment - services operating under the GAIN program.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II - 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.
LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
ENDORSEMENT OF COUNTY QUALIFICATIONS:
If you performed work that differs from the duties described in your class specification and you believe qualifies you for this opportunity, we will need to receive proof that you were officially recognized for doing that work by your department. This proof should be in the form of Verification of Experience Letter(s), signed by your Departmental Human Resources Manager. This must be provided within ten (10) calendar days from the last day of filing. That letter will be reviewed, verified, and approved if appropriate. If we don't receive that proof from you, then we cannot consider this type of experience.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
The examination consists of multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 100%, measuring the following areas:

• Professional/Technical Knowledge (Social Work Interviewing and Case Management)
• Written Expression
• Reading Comprehension
• Data Analysis and Interpretation (Including Mathematics)
• Professional Potential
• Generating New Ideas
• Analyzing Information
• Responsibility
• Learning Quickly
• Working to High Quality Standards
• Coping with Uncertainty
• Adapting to Change
• Achievement
• Willingness to Learn
• Working Relationships
• Using Time Efficiently

Applicants must meet the Requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be placed on the Eligible List.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENT(S) 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.shl.com/en-us/practice-tests /
  

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

Applicants who received a passing score are placed on an eligible list in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months.
VACANCY INFORMATION:

The list of successful candidates created from this exam will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Public Social Services as they occur.

SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION LISTS:
For those who receive a passing score, we may establish a secondary list targeting additional qualifications for the following language specialties: AMESLAN, Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Cantonese, Farsi, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Candidates who wish to have their names placed on a language selective certification list must indicate their foreign language on the application supplemental questionnaire and pass a qualifying LA County language proficiency test on their ability to speak, read, AND write English and the specialty language.

The Department may also prepare selective certification lists by service areas.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:


We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into https://governmentjobs.com/ and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

• RomeoTeves@dpss.lacounty.gov
• info@governmentjobs.com
• talentcentral@shl.com
• donot-reply@amcatmail.com
• klent@hr.lacounty.gov
• jmacam@hr.lacounty.gov

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to governmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY PRIOR TO CLICKING THE "SUBMIT" BUTTON
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.
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. The Department of Public Social Services is 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 ACCOMMODATIONS INFORMATION AND COORDINATOR CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, contact the following respective ADA/Testing Coordinators:

• For online assessments: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov
  
• For written tests: LassandraHill@dpss.lacounty.gov or call (562) 551-3384.
  

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: (800) 735-2929
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

Questions regarding this posting may be emailed, with the exam name, GAIN Services Worker, and exam number, 49165A in the subject line, to ExamsUnit@dpss.lacounty.gov .

Department Contact Name: Romeo Teves
Department Contact Email: ExamsUnit@dpss.lacounty.gov

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: 6/17/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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