Correctional Counselor I/II - Correctional Facility

Full Job Description

Salary Level I - $64,242 - $76,762 Annually

Salary Level II - $73,324 - $87,852 Annually

NOTE: Incumbent may be appointed at the I or II level, depending on the qualifications and the needs of the department.

We are currently accepting applications to fill two (2) vacancies at All Locations throughout the County of Santa Barbara in the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

The list established will be used to fill current and future vacancies at All Locations (separate lists for different locations will not be established). Candidates must be willing to accept an assignment at any location throughout the County of Santa Barbara.

Therefore, applicants must check "All Locations" on the application and be willing to accept assignment at any location. Please note counselors will be assigned to the Main Jail in Santa Barbara and/or the new Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria.

ABOUT THE POSITION: The Sheriff's Treatment Program has been an integral part of the Santa Barbara County Jail for more than two decades and has served thousands of inmates with recovery and support services.

Like many jail programs across the state, STP has been evolving over the last several years to meet the latest research of "what works" in recidivism reduction and offender reentry.

Today, STP's mission and program structure is designed to meet the best practice recommendations of the National Institute of Corrections' (NICIC.gov) Transition from Jail to Community project and to incorporate jail programming recommendations outlined in the broad scope of Evidence-Based Decision Making and Practices (EBDM) of the Criminal Justice System.

http://info.nicic.gov/ebdm/

This evolution also impacts the job descriptions, duties and the developed skill set of the staff working in the jail programs unit.

Evidence-based programming is curriculum-driven and delivered with fidelity to the models.

Counselors are competent in stand-up delivery of material, have a solid understanding of adult learning principles, can incorporate the use of Motivational Interviewing® and client-centered communication, and understand that incarcerated individuals require a variety of services to meet many diverse needs.

Mission Statement: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Treatment Program improves long-term public safety and reduces each participant's risk of recidivism by teaching effective, evidence-based interpersonal skills that guide the development of a pro-social lifestyle and change the behaviors that lead to criminality and other risky choices.

To learn more about the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, please visit our website at www.SBSheriff.org

Sheriff's Treatment Program Classes:

• Aggression Replacement Training (ART)
• Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Employment (CBI)
• Thinking for a Change (T4C)
• Courage to Change Interactive Journals
• Reasoning and Rehabilitation (R & R)
• Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT)
• Building Healthy Life Skills: New Insights, New Choices for Healing Trauma
• Alcohol and Other Drug Education (AOD)

Highlighted County of Santa Barbara Employee Benefits:

Benefits and Wellness Plans-Medical/Dental/Vision CLICK HERE
Compensation Summary CLICK HERE
Retirement Plans: CLICK HERE
NOTE: In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.

The Ideal Candidate possess:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in related field
• Experience providing correctional and/or addiction counseling to incarcerated adults in a locked facility.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work with incarcerated individuals with a broad range of convictions, including violent crimes
• Strong presentation skills
• Demonstrated organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to situations quickly
• An empathetic and non-judgmental communication style
• Bilingual English/Spanish is desirable but not required

BACKGROUND DISQUALIFIERS:

• An admission of having committed any act amounting to a felony within five years in California, or in another state which would be classified as a felony in California
• An adult felony conviction in California, or with a conviction for an offense in another state which would be classified as a felony in California
• Currently on Probation or Parole
• Adult felony and/or misdemeanor conviction(s) may be disqualifying depending on type, number, severity, and how recent
• Conviction of/or sustained petitions for any sex crime
• Recent use and/or possession of illegal drugs; Failure to reveal prior use will be disqualifying
• Unfavorable work history
• Poor credit history
• History of committing domestic violence
• Dishonesty or failure to reveal pertinent information

Requirements

• Facilitates evidence-based curricula in housing unit day rooms, classrooms, and multi-purpose rooms.
• Provides group facilitation of cognitive behavioral curricula to educate and assist clients in recognizing and understanding the nature of the problem, to assess the need to change, acquire new skills to address the problem, and to evaluate progress.
• Organizes in-house meetings, activities, and workshops with representatives from various community-based organizations, and other treatment programs to facilitate clients’ rehabilitation and to provide information regarding available services and programs.
• Develops and implements curriculum plans, tracks and maintains attendance rosters, confers with reentry Care Manager on issues relevant to client progress, coordinates with programs manager to determine appropriate activities and skills-based learning from community-based organizations.
• Writes reports and summaries to document findings, recommendations, and client progress; completes forms and maintains client records and data according to established procedures, guidelines, and legal requirements.
• Participates in meetings with Programs Manager, fellow Correctional Counselors, reentry Care Managers and custody staff to discuss client care and progress.
• Attends conferences, trainings, and meetings to keep abreast of current and emerging developments in evidence-based curricula and other jail programs across the state.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. Completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college coursework in alcohol and drug abuse issues, counseling, criminal justice studies, psychology, sociology, substance use disorder, education and human services; OR,
   
2. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge of: the issues and trends in alcohol and drug abuse; symptoms and behavior patterns of chemically dependent and co-dependent individuals; laws and regulations governing alcohol and drug abuse; co-occurring alcohol and other drug conditions; case management practices; assessment and treatment plans; and counseling and interviewing techniques; the issues and trends evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral programs and instruction in justice-involved institutions; methods of facilitating group discussion; familiarity with classroom management.

Ability to: learn and explain the Federal and State laws and regulations regarding clients’ rights in a rehabilitation program; learn the operations, policies, and procedures regulating a County jail; interact effectively with people of diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds; exercise tact and independent judgment; speak before groups; gather, document, evaluate, and interpret data; draw logical conclusions and make recommendations; prepare and maintain client records and reports; maintain client confidentiality; and determine inmate treatment needs and make appropriate referrals to other departments/agencies.

Additional Qualifications: Selectees must register to obtain Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AOD) certification (pursuant to the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs' Counselor Certification standards) upon appointment and obtain certification within five years as a condition of continued employment; Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License is required at the time of appointment; incumbent will be required to travel throughout Santa Barbara County

Desirable Qualifications: Experience providing evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral classes to youth or adults in a locked facility.

Additional Information: Incumbents work in a locked facility with persons who may be hostile and/or aggressive and convicted of crimes, including violent crimes; Incumbents may be required to work shifts, weekends, and holidays; Appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Additional Information

SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Review Applications and Supplemental Questionnaire to determine those candidates who meet the employment standards.

Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ): Candidates will be emailed a notice to complete a Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ).

Failure to submit a PHQ by the deadline will result in disqualification from the selection process. Candidates, who successfully pass the PHQ, will be invited to the next step in the selection process.

2. Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 12 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire examination to be placed on an employment list.

An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI.

Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months.

At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

NOTE: Veteran's preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans).

To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans' hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act.

No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.

To receive veteran's preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran's Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 and any supporting materials to the Human Resources Bureau on or before the test date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process.

The preference points will be added to your final test score.

A recruiter will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment and Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting.

We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION PROCESS: The Sheriff's Office conducts a polygraph examination and in-depth background investigation.

If you feel your past may hinder your future from working for the Sheriff's Office or you are not sure how to answer the Personal History Questionnaire, please contact (805) 681-4270, so we can assist you in determining if you can continue your application process.

Appointee must successfully pass the following:

1. Polygraph Examination will measure the accuracy of information disclosed during the background investigation process.

Background Investigation includes an interview and in-depth background investigation of arrest records, personal, military, virtual character check, and employment history; inquiry of persons who know you and evaluate whether you respect the law and rights of others; are dependable and responsible; have demonstrated mature judgment in areas such as the use of drugs and intoxicants; honesty, and a safe driver.

3. Live Scan: Electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice.


Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.





APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 1/15/26 AT 5:00 PM; Online application and job bulletins can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty




Sheriff's HR Recruiter- Ms. Ryan at email cbr4686@sbsheriff.org