Job Description:

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is accepting applications for Correctional Counselors to fill vacancies currently within detention facilities located in Banning and Murrieta. This position will provide programming and re-entry services to inmates; provide casework and counseling services to a variety of inmates; help inmates adjust to the institutional environment; to maintain order and direct the conduct of inmates in an inmate treatment program setting and counsel and assist inmates in a county correctional facility experiencing personal problems.

This is the journey-level class in the Correctional Counselor Series. Incumbents in this class are assigned caseloads of varying difficulty and are expected to work within a chain of command. Employees are assigned to work within correctional facilities within a chain of command throughout Riverside County. Incumbents may report to the Supervising Correctional Counselor for work assignments and direction.

This recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies countywide.

Meet the Team!

The law enforcement professionals of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department , with a staff of over 3,600 dedicated men and women, cover the expanse of over 7,300 square miles in southern California. The Sheriff's Department is dedicated to serving the citizens of its communities with integrity, professionalism, leadership, and loyalty and believes in service above self.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Assess inmates' criminogenic risks and needs; evaluate inmate transitional re-entry needs; create client transitional or case plans; refer inmates to county intra-agencies and community-based resources regarding eligibility for government benefits, educational, vocational, and rehabilitation programs; encourage inmates to participate in the institution's programs; evaluate individual adjustments and progress and make recommendations to supervisor(s).

• Coordinate case management with public and private agencies in recommending appropriate institutional programs and preparing inmates for eventual release; advise individuals prior to their release regarding necessary adjustments; assist inmates in identifying and obtaining social services for which they are eligible.

• Provide individual and group workshops which incorporate a variety of skill building opportunities including job search, career advice and certificate programs.

• Initiate and conduct individual, collateral, group, and family therapy sessions, including the design and implementation of individualized treatment plans; incorporate a variety of therapeutic techniques to address a wide range of issues in a correctional program environment, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress management, problems with self-esteem, crisis intervention, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting and martial or other relationship problems.

• Prepare and maintain records and reports; maintain records on inmate casework; prepare narrative and statistical reports.

• Cooperate with public and private agencies in recommending appropriate institutional programs and prepare inmates for eventual release; advise individuals prior to their release regarding necessary adjustments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including 18 semester or 27 quarter units in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, counseling, social work, education, or closely related field.

Experience: Three years of providing direct client services to individuals experiencing social adjustment, behavioral or mental health problems. This experience must have included counseling, client assessment and evaluation, and involvement in one of the following: community organization, community education/outreach, vocational placement, patient advocacy, including resource referral and liaison with service providers, or probation, parole or rehabilitation work.

Knowledge of: Individual and group counseling methods and techniques; motivational interviewing techniques; therapeutic programs; the complexity of human situations that may arise during institutional confinement; human behavior in a detention or jail environment; community resources and referral agencies.

Ability to: Follow oral and written directions; counsel inmates under adverse conditions (restrictive jail environment, crises situations, lack of privacy, time constraints); practice safety and security measures within a corrections setting; meet with inmates individually and in group settings; establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers; learn criminal justice procedures; write clear concise reports; keep updated and accurate statistical and case records.

Other Requirements

License: (Depending on Assignment) Possession of a valid California, Nevada or Arizona Driver's License.

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, the County of Riverside requires all new regular or seasonal employees to serve an initial probationary period, the duration of which is indicated 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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

What's Next?
This recruitment is open to all applicants.

Applicants who are current County of Riverside Sheriff's Department may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received

Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.

Veterans' Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. 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. See the policy here ( Download PDF reader ).

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. No late applications will be permitted. Include relevant work experience details on resume and/or application.

Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Proof of Education

All applicants are required to provide a copy of their degree or transcripts as verification of the education listed on their resume/application. 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 ( NACES ) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ).

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: http://dao.rc-hr.com/.

For questions regarding this recruitment
Contact Mary Miller at mmiller@rivco.org or 951-955-3464 for assistance.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect through the RSA Benefit Trust. The County provides a monthly Flexible Benefit Credit contribution to the RSA Benefit Trust on behalf of each RSA member as governed by the applicable RSA Memorandum of Understanding towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• 
  Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.


• 
  Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.


• 
  Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.

A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.

A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options (Nationwide or VALIC). Employees may contribute bi-weekly deduction up to the annual maximum on a pre-tax basis as governed under IRS regulations.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0< 3 years = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 700 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year. The actual dates of County holidays are set by governing MOU language.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: May use accrued Sick leave, not to exceed five (5) working days

DISABILITY: Long-term Disability benefit is offered to RSA members through the Riverside Sheriff's Association. Benefits may be payable provided the member meets the eligibility requirements.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable RSA Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding or through the Riverside Sheriff's Association. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

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