Entry Level Social Behavioral Science Jobs in Riverside, CA

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Beginning July of 2026, all Behavioral Health Plans in California will be required to implement High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) to fidelity under the Full Service Partnership (FSP) program. All FSPs for children and youth must align with the principles, values, and standards of the HFW model.

HFW provides a comprehensive, holistic, evidence-based, child/youth and family-driven process for responding when children and youth experience significant mental health or behavioral challenges, including children and youth involved in multiple child/youth serving systems. HFW is a team-based and family-centered evidence-based practice that includes an "anything necessary" approach to care for children and youth with the most intensive mental health or behavioral challenges.

The HFW model combines a team-based case management and facilitation approach with individualized and community-based mental health services and supports tailored to meet the individualized needs of the child/youth and family.

POSITION SUMMARY:

South Coast Community Services takes pride in providing our staff with competitive compensation, opportunities for professional growth, access to evidence-based practices, clinical autonomy, and the support of an experienced multidisciplinary team. Clinicians in our High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) program provide comprehensive, family-driven, team-based behavioral health services to children, youth, young adults, and their families with complex behavioral health needs. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, developing individualized care plans, providing individual and family therapy, crisis intervention, safety planning, care coordination, and consultation to multidisciplinary Wraparound teams. Clinicians work closely with HFW Facilitators, Family Specialists, Parent/Caregiver Partners, Youth Peer Support Specialists, schools, child welfare, probation, county behavioral health, and other natural and community supports to help families achieve their goals while maintaining youth safely in their homes and communities. Clinicians participate in Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, contribute to ongoing treatment planning, and participate in an on-call rotation to support youth and families during crises. This position is eligible for bonuses and merit increases throughout the accumulation of clinical hours, attainment of licensure, and continued experience following licensure.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Clinician I - Education/Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field required.
• Less than 1500 hours completed towards licensure.

Clinician II - Education/Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field required.
• At least 1500 completed hours towards licensure.

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
• Valid CA driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.
• Completion of CPR/First Aid within the first thirty (30) days of employment

Clinician III - Education/Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field required.
• Licensed with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as an LCSW/LMFT/LPCC.
• Completion of CPR/First Aid within the first thirty (30) days of employment.

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Licensed with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as an LCSW/LMFT/LPCC
• Valid CA driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.
• Completion of CPR/First Aid within the first thirty (30) days of employment.

Clinician IV - Education/Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field required.
• Two Years of relevant experience post licensure.
• Completion of CPR/First Aid within the first thirty (30) days of employment.

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Licensed with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as an LCSW/LMFT/LPCC
• Valid CA driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.
• Completion of CPR/First Aid within the first thirty (30) days of employment.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Utilize a trauma-informed approach when working with children and their families.
• Provide individual and/or family therapy, formulate diagnoses and complete clinical assessments and treatment plans.
• Acquire and apply up-to date knowledge of evidenced based interventions and methodologies.
• Administer measures such as the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 and utilize results to inform treatment.
• Utilize Whole Person Care model when treatment planning to maximize client empowerment.
• Comply with all HIPAA and SCCS confidentiality standards.
• Adhere to all relevant standards and regulations for productivity, timeliness, and documentation.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with outside agencies to ensure clients’ treatment goals are met and in compliance with court-orders.
• Attend all required meetings, such as Children and Family Team meetings.
• Effectively collaborate with the program’s multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive and cohesive care.
• Skillfully manage crisis situations and utilize de-escalation techniques as appropriate.
• Clinicians will have the opportunity to provide psychotherapy to commercially insured clients for an additional stipend through South Coast’s Hope Healing Connection Program.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Assessment, Diagnosis & Goal Planning

• Meeting expectations in the Assessment, Diagnosis, & Goal Planning competency involves proficiency in conducting comprehensive assessments, as applicable, to identify mental health concerns, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, behavioral disorders, etc. utilizing standardized assessment tools where appropriate. Ability to develop individualized treatment goals tailored to the unique needs of each client.

Clinical Intervention

• Meeting expectations in the Clinical Intervention competency involves the ability to effectively apply therapeutic techniques and interventions to address the mental health needs of clients. This includes utilizing evidence-based practices tailored to the individual client's presenting concerns, strengths, and preferences.

Crisis Intervention and Safety Planning

• Meeting expectations in Crisis and Safety Planning encompasses responding effectively to crisis situations, including suicidal ideation, self-harm, and acute psychiatric symptoms within designated timeframes, by implementing safety protocols and accessing appropriate resources. Develop comprehensive safety plans in collaboration with clients and their support systems to manage crisis situations and prevent harm.

Productivity & Service Billing

• Meeting expectations in Productivity and Service Billing skills focus on the ability to hit program productivity expectations on a monthly basis.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Organizational Core Competencies: Reflect foundational skills desirable for professionals engaging in the practice, education, and research of social services. The Organizational Core Competencies are integrated into curricula for education and training; provide a reference for developing social service courses, and serve as a baseline for sets of discipline-specific competencies.

Attendance and Reliability

• Meeting expectations in the Attendance and Reliability competency encompasses consistent and punctual attendance and a dependable approach to fulfilling professional responsibilities. This is further demonstrated by adhering to scheduled shifts, appointments, meetings, and other work-related obligations, minimizing unscheduled absences, and adjusting work schedule to accommodate program need.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Meeting expectations in the Collaboration and Teamwork competency includes working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, case managers, educators, outside agency providers, and other SCCS departments to coordinate care and provide integrated services. This skill is also demonstrated by communicating effectively with clients' families and caregivers, involving them in treatment planning and facilitating their understanding of mental health issues and interventions.

Interpersonal Communication Skills

• Meeting expectations in Interpersonal Communication Skills focuses on establishing rapport quickly, assessing and addressing client’s needs, soliciting and using input from team members and outside agencies, communicating data and information, and facilitating communications among outside agencies and other stakeholders. Communications are clear, concise, respectful, effective, and timely. Exhibits ability to monitor tone, facial expression, and body language in all professional interactions.

Quality of Care

• Quality of Care encompasses the ability to consistently deliver work and client care of exceptional quality while ensuring precision, thoroughness, and adherence to established standards and procedures. This competency is essential in maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of organizational processes and services and ensuring clients and customers are receiving the best level of care and customer service possible.

Accuracy and Quality Improvement

• Meeting expectations in Accuracy and Quality Improvement includes upholding status of a single signer (40% or lower return rate for three consecutive months) by completing accurate documentation with minimal errors. Learning and correctly using Bells AI and its features for progress note completion. Actively participate in departmental and agency-wide quality improvement activities. (For programs who have not yet rolled out Single Signer, the metric will be a return rate of 40% or lower).

Efficiency, Time Management, and Organization

• Meeting Expectations in Efficiency, Time Management and Organizational skills encompass the ability to take responsibility for one’s performance by spending time appropriately distributed to ensure that both internal and external client needs are met. Organizes and prioritizes assignments to ensure that newly emerging, urgent issues are resolved, while not losing sight of longer-term goals. Documentation efficiency skills encompass the ability to submit accurate and complete progress notes or other documentation within 3 days. Crisis notes to be submitted within 24 hours. Regularly using collaborative documentation with clients.

Cultural Competency

• Meeting expectations in Cultural Competency encompasses awareness of personal cultural biases and assumptions, as well as the cultural backgrounds of clients. Staff respect and value the diversity of their clients and colleagues, including their beliefs, values, traditions, and customs. They recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health and tailor their interventions accordingly.

Professional Development

• Meeting expectations in Professional Development consists of demonstrating commitment to continuous learning, skills improvement, and ability to adapt to changes in standards of practice in the field. Participate in both required and voluntary trainings that contribute to professional growth.

Alignment to SCCS Principles and Values

• Meeting expectations in this category consists of upholding integrity, respecting others, maintaining a positive attitude, and being empathetic towards both colleagues, clients and customers.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to drive a motor vehicle without restrictions, often in heavy traffic and frequently long distances (one hour or more) to ensure safe transport to client settings and to safely transport clients to appointments as needed.
• Senses of vision, hearing and smell sufficient to regularly operate a motor vehicle, to visualize threats in the environment or risks to clients, and to operate safely in the field.
• Required to occasionally lift and carry 10-20 pounds.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, climb stairs (1 or more flights) and walk while in route to and during family visits.
• Regularly required to sit and use computer in office settings.

EOE, INCLUDING DISABILITY/VETS We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under California law.

Management reserves the right to add, change, delete or rescind duties or responsibilities of positions within the job classification at any time.