Clinical Social Worker Jobs in California
Clinical Social Worker jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in healthcare systems, county behavioral health departments, school districts, and community mental health centers, with openings at every level from associate clinical social worker through licensed clinical social worker supervisor. The largest hiring volumes are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health maintain ongoing clinical social worker needs. The most in-demand specialties are child and family services, substance use disorder treatment, and integrated behavioral health. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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If you have a passion for elevating lives, we invite you to use your unique expertise, dedication, and compassion to make a significant, positive impact on the community. This limited Licensed Clinical Social Worker role will be serving as the primary therapist for UCLA’s Perinatal Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The therapist provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy to patients who are pregnant or within one year postpartum. The social worker is responsible for:
- Assessing each patient, creating a treatment plan, and working with the interdisciplinary treatment team of psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, and other mental health providers to enact the treatment plan.
- Engaging the patient's family and community resources to ensure a safe and comprehensive discharge plan following the acute stabilization of symptoms. Leading group therapy and family therapy sessions.
For more information about the work done at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital watch these informational videos and see our website.
At UCLA Health, our passion for impact and improving others’ lives has enabled us to become a world-renowned health system with four award-winning hospitals and more than 270 community clinics throughout Southern California. We’re also home to the world-class medical research and clinical education capabilities of the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Please note this is a part-time 3-month limited position.
CSW 3 Salary range: $ 58.41 - $ 69.80 Hourly
Required:
- Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a program accredited by the United States Council on Social Work.
- Must be LCSW with the California State BBS.
- Excellent skills in interpersonal communication and documentation.
- Knowledge of HIPPA, and knowledge of laws and procedures related to child and elder/dependent adult abuse, knowledge of laws pertaining to Tarasoff Reporting.
- Knowledge of evidence-based interventions for suicidality, understanding of risk levels.
- Ability to formulate safety plan with patients and families.
- Knowledge of LPS, Probate, and Limited conservatorships and ability to explain to others.
- Knowledge of capacity, consent, advanced directive, power of attorney.
- Basic computer skills and proficiency in and/or ability to learn MS Word, Epic and related smart tools.
Preferred:
- Knowledge of DSM and related treatment approaches; trained in at least 1 evidence-based treatment modality, and ability to plan and conduct therapeutic groups.
- Knowledge of levels of care and community resources available for persons with mental illness.
If you have a passion for elevating lives, we invite you to use your unique expertise, dedication, and compassion to make a significant, positive impact on the community. This limited Licensed Clinical Social Worker role will be serving as the primary therapist for UCLA’s Perinatal Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The therapist provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy to patients who are pregnant or within one year postpartum. The social worker is responsible for:
- Assessing each patient, creating a treatment plan, and working with the interdisciplinary treatment team of psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, and other mental health providers to enact the treatment plan.
- Engaging the patient's family and community resources to ensure a safe and comprehensive discharge plan following the acute stabilization of symptoms. Leading group therapy and family therapy sessions.
For more information about the work done at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital watch these informational videos and see our website.
At UCLA Health, our passion for impact and improving others’ lives has enabled us to become a world-renowned health system with four award-winning hospitals and more than 270 community clinics throughout Southern California. We’re also home to the world-class medical research and clinical education capabilities of the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Please note this is a part-time 3-month limited position.
CSW 3 Salary range: $ 58.41 - $ 69.80 Hourly
Required:
- Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a program accredited by the United States Council on Social Work.
- Must be LCSW with the California State BBS.
- Excellent skills in interpersonal communication and documentation.
- Knowledge of HIPPA, and knowledge of laws and procedures related to child and elder/dependent adult abuse, knowledge of laws pertaining to Tarasoff Reporting.
- Knowledge of evidence-based interventions for suicidality, understanding of risk levels.
- Ability to formulate safety plan with patients and families.
- Knowledge of LPS, Probate, and Limited conservatorships and ability to explain to others.
- Knowledge of capacity, consent, advanced directive, power of attorney.
- Basic computer skills and proficiency in and/or ability to learn MS Word, Epic and related smart tools.
Preferred:
- Knowledge of DSM and related treatment approaches; trained in at least 1 evidence-based treatment modality, and ability to plan and conduct therapeutic groups.
- Knowledge of levels of care and community resources available for persons with mental illness.
See All 194+ Clinical Social Worker Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Clinical Social Worker JobsClinical Social Worker Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Social Worker Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sutter Health20
- Collage Rehabilitation Partners20
- Rehab Without Walls13
- University of California - San Francisco11
- Rula8
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services32
- Education5
- Non-Profit & Social Services1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical social worker jobs across California.
- Active California LCSW license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
- Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program
- Registered associate clinical social worker number while working toward licensure
- Experience delivering individual, group, or family therapy in a clinical setting
- Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical documentation standards
- Knowledge of Medi-Cal billing requirements and California Welfare and Institutions Code
Clinical Social Worker Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical social worker in California?
You earn a Master of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program, then register as an Associate Clinical Social Worker with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences before accumulating supervised hours toward the Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential. The BBS requires passing the ASWB Clinical exam and completing California-specific law and ethics coursework. Most candidates complete supervised hours at community mental health agencies, county departments, or hospital systems before sitting for licensure.
Which companies hire clinical social workers in California?
Employers hiring clinical social workers in California right now include Sutter Health, Collage Rehabilitation Partners, and Rehab Without Walls, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large county behavioral health systems and integrated health networks generate especially consistent openings across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings.
Which California cities have the most clinical social worker jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Whittier have the most clinical social worker openings in California. Los Angeles dominates due to its concentration of county mental health programs, hospital systems, and nonprofit agencies, while San Francisco and San Diego support strong demand through major academic medical centers, Veterans Affairs facilities, and robust community health infrastructure.
Are there remote clinical social worker jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields because clinical social work often involves in-person assessment, crisis intervention, and on-site care coordination. About 45% of clinical social worker openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and telehealth therapy roles account for most of those listings.
How can I get hired as a clinical social worker in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is registering as an Associate Clinical Social Worker with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and applying to supervised positions at county departments such as the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services or Alameda County Behavioral Health. Large California health systems like Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health run new-graduate social work residency and fellowship programs. Case manager, mental health rehabilitation specialist, and social services assistant roles at these organizations are common lateral entry points that also count toward LCSW supervised hours.
Where can I find and apply to clinical social worker jobs in California?
You can find and apply to clinical social worker jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across healthcare systems, county agencies, school districts, and community mental health providers. Find roles that fit your license status, specialty, and location, then apply directly.
See All 194+ Clinical Social Worker Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Clinical Social Worker Jobs