sheriff

office assistant

clinical therapist

probation officer

social worker

San Bernardino County

Working for the County of San Bernardino, CA, offers a variety of experiences depending on your role, department, and career goals. Here’s an overview based on general feedback from employees:

**Pros:**

1. **Job Stability & Benefits:**
   The county provides excellent job security, which is a huge benefit in today’s ever-changing job market. With comprehensive healthcare benefits, retirement plans, and paid time off, the county offers a solid benefits package. 

2. **Opportunities for Advancement:**
   Many employees report that there are opportunities to grow within the county, with numerous positions and departments offering career advancement. With a large network of government services, there’s room for professionals from various fields to move up in their careers.

3. **Work-Life Balance:**
   The county tends to offer a reasonable work-life balance, with standard work hours and some flexibility depending on the department. There are also generous vacation and sick leave policies.

4. **Community Impact:**
   Working for a county organization gives you the chance to contribute to the community on a broad scale. Whether you're in public health, law enforcement, or administrative support, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your work positively impacts a large population.

5. **Diverse Work Environment:**
   The county has a large, diverse workforce, which fosters a collaborative atmosphere where employees can connect with people from various backgrounds. This inclusivity can enhance job satisfaction and teamwork.

**Cons:**

1. **Bureaucracy:**
   As with many government entities, there can be a significant amount of bureaucracy, which can slow down decision-making processes. Navigating through red tape and policies may be frustrating at times, particularly when dealing with high-level requests or proposals.

2. **Pace of Innovation:**
   Some employees feel that the county can be slow to adopt new technology or modern practices, which can lead to frustration for those used to faster-paced, tech-driven environments.

3. **Salary Considerations:**
   While the benefits are great, some employees feel that salaries could be more competitive, especially when compared to the private sector. This varies by position and department but can be a point of contention.

4. **Heavy Workload in Certain Areas:**
   Depending on the department, employees may find themselves balancing a heavy workload with limited resources. This can result in stress and burnout, especially in departments that deal with high public demand like social services or law enforcement.

**Conclusion:**
Overall, working for the County of San Bernardino can be a fulfilling and stable career choice, especially for those who value benefits, job security, and a chance to serve the community. However, it’s important to be aware of the challenges related to bureaucracy, slower innovation, and potentially lower salaries compared to the private sector. As with any large organization, your experience will likely depend on the specific department and role you’re in.

County of San Bernardino was a real find. It supported training, upward mobility, and provided challenging work while ensuring that I would have scheduled time to care for my ailing mother, who has subsequently passed on.
I worked there from April 2008 until December 2010. That period actually encompassed three reporting seasons. Leaving the County was a difficult thing to do, but I had an undiagnosed condition and did not want to leave the position open by applying for disability.
Co-workers in my section were very supportive and team oriented, yet we really worked independently on projects until the work was reviewed by management. Although there were staff meetings to update management and co-workers, our work was not micro managed. However, management was very professional, available, and highly qualified technically.
While working at the County, I learned the standards for compilation and review applicable to an enterprise fund entity. In addition, I became proficient in applying certain GASBs, in particular applying GASB 49 the year it was effective and explaining the accounting and disclosure requirements to responsible parties to the largest of the County's enterprise funds. Another new area was including my enterprise fund in the consolidated annual report.
Probably the most difficult part of my job at the County was communicating with people outside our department (Controller's) while under deadline pressures. It was important to be a good listener, explain my requirements clearly, and be sure to create adequate paper trails for audits. That would be for the enterprise fund as well as government agencies coordinating disaster relief. It was a challenge and required a diligent effort to keep people on point while maintaining a personal connection with them.
The most enjoyable part of my job was setting up my work, testing my ability to be more efficient each year and having completed a good set of financial reports with clear supporting workpapers. Working with Internal Audit was a great learning opportunity with very nice people. Also, talking to or listening to my supervisor talk to others. He is very smart, neat, has a good sense of humor and lots of energy. My former supervisor, another co-worker and I will meet occasionally for lunch.

The Public Health Department was poorly managed, focused more on micromanaging Extra help Contact Tracers, required hired contact tracers to move their mouse every few minutes while teleworking and monitored their activity through Skype, and required contact tracers to keep in constant contact with incompetent "leads" who are fake nice in the beginning, curse at work, talk about patients' medical histories/health information loudly in the cubicles, and seem bitter about their position/not being able to telework, so they make it uncomfortable for anyone who does telework. They also had large gatherings for orientation during a pandemic when indoor gatherings were discouraged and put people at risk. Also the hiring process is lengthy and not worth it. Required blood draw for TB, urine drug testing, fingerprinting, along with all the other paperwork and requirements. 

The "leads" or LVN case investigators in the department would make crude jokes and refer to places with numerous COVID outbreaks and deaths "COVID Centers of Excellence" and then make fun of patients needing STD/HIV counseling services right after they would get off the phone with the patient to other coworkers. SHAMEFUL. They would also try to humiliate women of color contact tracers hired for extra help positions. Toxic environment. 

Their behavior did not go unnoticed. 

Do yourself a favor and take a contact tracing job with any other county/organization, there are many other opportunities out there. Many contact tracers left for other jobs in the first round of hiring in the summer because of disrespectful treatment, no overtime pay, no sick days, no holidays, work weekends. It was a really bad experience for many people. They haven't changed. Don't risk it. 

This is the first time had ever worked in Mental Health. It is completely different from medical practices. There coding system is different and they have very very strict privacy guidelines. Our building alone was 110,000 square feet. Both adults and children programs were served in that building. In addition to alcohol and drug counseling. 

My job was  through subordinate supervisors that reported to me was, supervise the clerical staff in this building and at the other clinics that were in other parts of the County. My job was to ensure that all data entry for all of the billing was done timely and correctly.
I wrote policy and procedure for clerical staff, held staff meetings. Provided staff development training either individually or in groups. 
Supported 6 program managers and wrote business process for their programs. Attended their staff meetings. I also wrote the Clerical manual and implemented it for the clerical staff. 
 
I reviewed and approved all time sheet, comp time, wrote and/or approved work performance evaluations. I was on several committees to improve production, prepare for yearly State Audit, and participated in the Safety Committee for Disaster or Trauma.

The hardest part of my job was ensuring every clinic ran smoothly and any issues were handled professionally and in a timely manner.
The most enjoyable part of my job was observing clients begin to get well and smile again, and participate in life.

<>	Conduct and write inspection reports on Commercial, Industrial, Municipal facilities and Construction sites to ensure that they comply with the State and County regulations.  Example of facilities and/or sites of my daily inspection are: warehouses (Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Baby R Us, Target, Bath & Bath Beyond, Sport Chalet, etc.); construction sites (KB Homes, Fullmer, Watson Land, etc.)   

<>	Attend project meetings with contractors, construction’s superintendents, publics, management and the County staff. 

<>	Conduct WQMP inspection and prepare inspection reports.

<>	Collect and interpret field data, prepare technical reports and review plans: i.e. Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) and specifications.

<>	Coordinated with County Yard supervisors and engineers for storm water inspections and training.

<>	Communicated with the City’s engineers and Stormwater staff on various storm water issues or violations.  

<>	Research and assist technical staff and County engineers in various Storm and/or Water Pollution Prevention Plans.

<>	Review Local Implementation Plan (LIP) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

<>	Review the SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) Code of Commercial and Industrial facilities and recommend those facilities to obtain a General Industrial Permit if required by The Regional Water Quality Control Board.  

<>	Update and maintain Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) database

I love working with my seniors.  I have on average approximately 500-700 visits by seniors during a week.  We offer aerobics three times a week, which is lead by a qualified instructor.  I handle the registration for the class.  We offer lunch four days a week.  I create the menus and work with the lunch staff.  I even do the dishes.  I handle the inventory and shopping.  I decorate both the center and the lunch tables according to the season.  I created a travel club called Senior Adventures, which is mostly day trips around Southern California, with a once-a-year, 3 day 2 night trip to Laughlin NV. I have created Movie Day, which plays current DVD releases along with offering popcorn and beverages.  I work with the local Kiwanis club on a weekly Bingo session.  I do the grant reporting, budgeting, and all other necessary work needed to run a senior nutrition program with funds from the Department of Aging and Adult Services.

I love socializing with my seniors.  I love to grab a cue stick and play a game of pool with the men and to sit and gab with the Hook 'n' Needles group.  I know over 90% of my seniors by name and know which of my lunch regulars have special dietary needs.

I have been the Senior Center Coordinator for nine years now and have enjoyed creating a pleasant environment for the seniors.  Other County officials have told me that they would place my center in the top 5 centers in all of San Bernardino County.

San Bernardino County gives a medical subsidy if you are in a rural office such as Yucca Valley or Needles which covers just about all of the medical costs for the employees. They are given the top PPO Blue Shield insurance and all major medical procedures and doctors visits are just a copay away. 

The only issue in the rural offices, is the lack of coverage making it hard to take any time off...EVEN IF YOUR SICK. You are treated unfairly when you come back from food poisoning, as if "How dare you" approach. You are then given your workload back for the days you were out and expected to complete it as if you were never out of the office. Meanwhile your regular workload piles up. 

Kinda creates a feeling like you shouldn't ever get sick or don't even think of taking a vacation. 

Pros - you get to work from home some days and get a huge cubicle when in the office. You get to meet some really nice people to work with and customers you get to help. That part is the most rewarding. You can decorate your cubicle to the max. Lots of snack days and pot lucks and step increases. Oh yeah and you get every other Friday off.

Cons- lack of coverage if your out of the office, sometimes people who need help with cash or food stamps don't get the help they need because of their income, sometimes you get yelled at even though it's outside your ability to help some people, most coworkers are chatting for hours and then complain later that they don't have enough time to get their work done. Then you get asked to help pick up their slack. 

Overall, a good workplace.  Great opportunity for advancement.  Promoted twice in three years.  Ability to work in various departments.  Performance Education Resource Center (PERC) is a very useful tool to attend seminars, training, and classes to enhance/develop skills.  

Downside, line staff do not have the opportunity to evaluate supervisory/management staff.  There are many supervisors/managers that are not familiar with staff duties/scope of work, nor do they take the time/opportunity to learn.  

Line staff should be given "first" opportunity to promote.  An exiting staff member should be given the opportunity to train a new staff member taking over that position, thereby alleviating the burden of other line staff and manager/supervisor to train.  Cross-training of staff--even supervisors/managers--should be mandated and not an option; this will allow a continuous flow of ensuring that the goals and mission of the organization to provide the highest of quality service to clients is met.

The hardest part of the job is maintaining constant professionalism and courtesy when dealing with dissatisfied or irate clients.  The most enjoyable part of the job is when a client walks away satisfied that their issue has been resolved.

If you're looking to gain experience and skills, then working for this employer is where you'll find it.

If you are thinking about accepting a job at CFS, I would strongly urge you to reconsider. Firstly, the turnover is obscene because employees are so miserable and burnout runs rampant. Most employees have been out on stress leave at least once if they have stuck around for 2+ years (which most people don’t). One year in this job and you are completely burnt out and feel physically and emotionally depleted. You will get physically ill from all the excessive stress and will get headaches, nausea and will have no energy. You will get depressed and will be suicidal because you are always miserable. You are compensated for 1 job but have 10+. You are not a social worker but will do excessive amounts of clerical work, give clients therapy, deal with the juvenile court system which is negative on so many levels, deal with hostile clients, deal with management who lack empathy and will work you hard, get yelled at by hostile clients, have so much work to do that you think about this job when you go home and at all hours, don’t have enough time in the day to complete the excessive amount of work you were ordered to complete, and feel like you are just a number because there is absolutely no appreciation by management who will throw you under the bus in order to save themselves.   

Reviewing a request for a Team Decision Making (TDM) meeting.  Putting togather a team, conferring with social workers, supervisors and participants from the community.  I learned to be flexible, non judgemental, respectful and honest about the intent of the meeting, to be aware of different cultures, and to remain neutral and identify my own bias (if any).  I learned to respect parents who have allegations of physical/sexual abuse to a child(ren) and that people can change with the proper resources, support system and a desire to change.  I had a great management team who were fully into TDMs and respected the process and the purpose.  Management respected my role as a Facilitator and my experience as an Intake Worker (SSP) and a Carrier (SSP).  Co-Workers were a good team whom I respected and often came to me for assistance.  Co-Workers were very hard working, professional and did a good job.  The hardest part of the job was getting a team together at the last minute for an emergency TDM.  The most enjoyable part of the job was seeing a parent complete and demonstrate good parenting skills, refrain from drug/alcohol use and to be reunited with thier child(ren).

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Sheriff 23 salaries reported	$57.72 per hour
Office assistant 18 salaries reported	$22.16 per hour
Clinical therapist 23 salaries reported	$43.55 per hour
Probation officer 11 salaries reported	$44.15 per hour
Social worker 14 salaries reported	$32.61 per hour

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