Senior Clinical Therapist - Inpatient Discharge Planning

Senior Clinical Therapist

The Riverside University Health System (RUHS), Behavioral Health Department (BH), Inpatient Discharge Planning Division, is seeking a Senior Clinical Therapist to join our Riverside office. The inpatient discharge planning program is a structured, collaborative process that begins at the time of admission and ensures a safe and coordinated transition from hospital to community-based care. The Senior Clinical Therapist will conduct biopsychosocial assessments, provide discharge planning services to secure follow up BH services and/or housing for patients leaving inpatient psychiatric facilities, provide guidance/training to multidisciplinary team and provide clinical supervision to unlicensed clinical therapists.

This position will work with Clinical Therapist, Behavioral Health Specialist, Peer Specialists, and Community Service Assistants to assist consumers with behavioral health conditions that have resulted in hospitalization step-down to receive less intense treatment in community facilities. This position will work a 9/80 schedule and will require some driving therefore a California driver's license is required.

Under direction, performs the full 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 or families with mental or emotional disorders; and performs other related duties as required.

The Senior Clinical Therapist is the lead/advanced journey level of the Clinical Therapist series. The Senior Clinical Therapist class has responsibility for providing clinical supervision, according to licensure and training, over unlicensed clinical staff. This classification is also responsible for performing, within the scope of licensure, the full range of psychotherapy and counseling services 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 moderately difficult to the most complex and include serving in a lead capacity over and providing consultative support to other mental health treatment staff.

This classification is distinguished from the class of Mental Health Services Supervisor in that the latter class is the first line supervisor responsible for the planning or implementation of specialized mental health services. The Senior Clinical Therapist is further distinguished from the Clinical Therapist II in that the former is the lead level and may provide extensive clinical supervision, according to licensure and training, over unlicensed clinical staff.

For this recruitment, the position is eligible for a 10% DTR differential that is applied to hours physically worked. At any time, this differential can be removed. The certification list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill other future Senior Clinical Therapist vacancies within Behavioral Health that may occur in the coming weeks.

RUHS Behavioral Health

Meet the Team! Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health is a leading provider of mental health and substance use services in Riverside County. With a dedicated team of professionals, including psychiatrists, clinicians, peer specialists, and paraprofessionals, RUHS-BH serves over 45,000 individuals annually.

We are committed to delivering culturally competent, evidence-based care across all ages. Our programs, including Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, and the Public Guardian's Office, address the diverse needs of our community.

At RUHS Behavioral Health, you'll join a compassionate, innovative team where your skills make a real difference. We offer opportunities for growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

If you're passionate about advancing your career while improving mental health in Riverside County, RUHS Behavioral Health is the place for you!

For more information, please visit

Examples Of Essential Duties

Provide extensive clinical supervision to unlicensed clinicians, within the scope of licensure.

Monitor fidelity and provide clinical supervision and coaching for evidence based treatment models.

Develop mental health related training curriculum and conduct training for clinical therapists and other departmental staff.

Conduct clinical and quality improvement chart audits.

Coordinate clinical decisions in response to operational demands.

Conduct clinical discussions regarding complex or difficult cases.

Act as a casework consultant to other clinical therapists and other departmental staff.

Provide guidance to volunteers and staff.

Serve as liaison with other sections, units, services, and agencies.

Participate in mental health conferences and local area committees.

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.

Perform specialized tasks including involuntary hospitalization procedures (5150) and Tarasoff assessments.

Establish and maintain effective contact with local area mental health resources, including community members, parents, schools, residential facilities, and other agencies/organizations.

Prepare reports and write correspondence.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Two years of post-license professional experience in a psychiatric or mental health setting providing direct client services which must have included: client assessment and evaluation, development and implementation of appropriate treatment plans, providing psychotherapy or mental health counseling, and providing indirect services involving information, consultation, and educational services to staff and community.

AND

License: Possession of a valid license to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage Family Therapist or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor issued by the California 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 consumer information; individual licensing law and the scope of professional practice governed by the same; laws, rules, and regulations of publicly operated health and welfare programs; principles and techniques for making psychosocial assessments.

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; provide work direction and training to staff; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals and to work as part of a multidisciplinary team; communicate the goals and objectives of the County's mental and behavioral health services to members of the community and other interested individuals; consult with and assist in the professional development and supervision of unlicensed clinical therapists, within the scope of appropriate licensure, and other mental health support staff.

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required for this position.

Supplemental Information

For questions regarding this recruitment Please contact Jeremy Holforty at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. 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