Salary : $71,801.60 - $117,915.20 Annually
Location : Indio
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: 26-79761-04JH
Department: Behavioral Health
Division: MH Detention - Riverside
Opening Date: 11/10/2026
Closing Date: 11/17/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.
Clinical Therapist I/II - Detention
Indio Location
John J. Benoit Detention Center
The Riverside University Health System - Behavioral Health Detention Services is currently looking to fill Clinical Therapist I/II - Detention positions at our Indio Adult jail (John J. Benoit Detention Center). Under supervision, this position performs a range of therapeutic assignments related to the field of mental or behavioral health services and psychiatric social work, which includes the design and implementation of personalized treatment plans, individual and group psychotherapy, evaluations and investigations, and professional counseling, as applicable by professional licensing law, in order to meet the needs of consumers with mental or emotional disorders; and performs other related duties as required.
The shift for this position is night shift 12-hour shift 7:00AM to 7:30PM Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and every other Saturday 8 hours from 7:00PM to 3:30AM or 11:00pm to 7:30AM.
The first month is training day shift Monday - Friday
Incumbent are also required to complete a level one Sheriff background clearance.
About Detention Behavioral Health Services
A mental health response team is available to address life threatening situations such as suicidal ideation or attempts in the jails. All referred individuals receive a mental health evaluation to determine the presence of a psychiatric problem and identify the services needed. Medication services are provided as needed along with follow up mental health referrals for outpatient services.
In addition to the base pay, Clinical Therapists assigned to DETENTION positions receive an hourly differential of 20%. This differential applies to all hours worked, which is any regular or overtime hours worked up to 80 hours per pay period (it does not apply to the use of leave balances). Please note this differential is temporary and can be removed at any time.Incumbents in this classification are eligible to receive a forensic mental health differential of 8.3%.
Bilingual Spanish is preferred and may be eligible for an added differential.
The certification list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill other future Clinical Therapist vacancies within Behavioral Health that may occur in the coming weeks throughout the county.
The Clinical Therapist I is the unlicensed entry level of the Clinical Therapist series. This series includes the Marriage and Family Therapist Registered Intern (MFTI), the Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW), and the Professional Clinical Counselor Registered Intern (PCCI). Through education and supervised clinical experience on the job, incumbents in this classification develop advanced diagnostic and treatment skills while gaining qualifying experience for which state licensure is required.
The Clinical Therapist I is required to obtain a license issued by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist within six years from the date of hire. Incumbents placed in this classification prior to September 18, 2014 may obtain licensure within eight years from the date of hire. The Clinical Therapist I is a natural progression underfill for the class of Clinical Therapist II. Incumbents will promote to Clinical Therapist II after obtaining a satisfactory performance evaluation and upon providing proof of licensure.
The Clinical Therapist II is the journey and licensed level of the Clinical Therapist series. Positions in this class include the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The Clinical Therapist II class has responsibility for performing, within the scope of licensure, a full range of psychotherapy and counseling for individual consumers, couples, families, and groups exhibiting a variety of mental health and related disorders in a clinic or institutional setting. Assignments range from average difficulty to very complex and may include serving in a lead capacity over other mental health treatment staff.
The Clinical Therapist II is distinguished from the Senior Clinical Therapist in that the latter is the lead level classification, responsible for the most complex assignments or providing extensive clinical supervision over unlicensed clinicians.
RUHS - Behavioral Health
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Interview consumers, relatives, and other involved persons to gather personal and social data relevant to assessing mental or emotional disorders.
• Develop service plans with consumers; evaluate psychological, economic, vocational, educational, physical, health, socialization, and housing needs.
• Coordinate with other staff members (psychiatrists, psychologists, and other program staff) and community agencies in carrying out and designing treatment or rehabilitation plans.
• Assist consumers and other concerned individuals in understanding the nature of major psychological illnesses and their psychosocial effects.
• Assist consumers and their families in understanding and choosing options of mental health treatment.
• Initiate and conduct individual, collateral, group, and family therapy sessions.
• Establish and maintain effective contact with local area mental health resources, including community members, parents, schools, residential facilities, and other agencies/organizations.
• Perform specialized tasks including involuntary hospitalization procedures (5150) and Tarasoff assessments.
• Participate in mental health conferences and local area committees.
• Prepare reports and write correspondence.
• May provide guidance to volunteers and staff.
• Act as a casework consultant to other clinical therapists and other departmental staff.
• Licensed level, within the scope of licensure, may provide clinical supervision to unlicensed clinicians.
• Coordinate clinical decisions in response to operational demands.
• Conduct clinical discussions regarding complex or difficult cases.
• Respond to emergencies, within licensure, which may occur on the unit.
• Coordinate the flow of information and clinical data to ensure continuity in treatment or shift.
• Serve as liaison with other sections, units, services, and agencies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in clinical or counseling psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or a closely related behavioral science field.
Certificate: Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Associate Clinical Social Worker, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor issued by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Knowledge of: Psychological aspects of physical and emotional disturbances and mental deficiencies; characteristics of emotional and mental disorders including their effect on the individual in the community; mental health local community resources and community support systems; principles of clinical interviewing and methods of recording patient information.
Ability to: Effectively apply the principles and techniques of clinical therapy, including a variety of treatment modalities; analyze consumer behavior and apply treatment or counseling techniques in a coordinated care social rehabilitation environment; speak and write effectively; provide crisis intervention; prepare clear and concise reports and interpret data; work effectively with a multicultural consumer and family population with diverse backgrounds and needs; establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, their families, other staff members, and mental health organizations/ agencies.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment.)
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required for this position.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
For questions regarding this recruitment
Please contact Jeremy Holforty at (951) 955-5558 or Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations
The County of Riverside offers a variety of alternative work schedules, dependent upon department operations and needs. Certain assignments may involve overtime, standby/on-call shifts, and/or travel; however, scheduling, shift assignments, overtime work, standby/on-call duty, and travel obligations are subject to management approval, operational needs, and/or may be modified or discontinued at any time. Applicants should contact the assigned recruiter for additional information regarding the schedule, overtime and standby/on-call expectations, and travel obligations.
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
