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Social Services Assistant-Blythe MH/SU Clinic
County of Riverside
Behavioral Health
Location
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Salary
$19.01 - $24.35
per hour
Type
Full-Time
More Social Services jobs →Closes
March 18, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves supporting social workers and professionals in a behavioral health clinic by helping clients with everyday tasks like scheduling appointments, connecting them to community resources, and providing basic emotional support without needing advanced expertise.
It's an entry-level role focused on outreach, transportation, and assisting people with mental health or substance use challenges in a compassionate way.
A good fit would be someone empathetic, organized, and comfortable working directly with diverse community members, especially if bilingual.
Key Requirements
- Ability to provide routine support in case management, including resource referrals and outreach
- Experience or willingness to assist with non-emergency transportation and reminder calls for appointments
- Comfort engaging with clients facing behavioral health or substance use issues in a non-clinical capacity
- Physical capability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, or assist with children and materials as needed
- Strong communication skills to act as a liaison between clients, county departments, and community agencies
- Bilingual skills (preferred, especially for diverse populations)
- Ability to perform basic investigative tasks, such as gathering information on missing persons
Full Job Description
The Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health Department (Blythe MH/SU Clinic) is seeking a qualified Social Services Assistant to join our team in Blythe.
Under general supervision, the Social Services Assistant provides routine support to professional staff and social workers in their case management activities. Responsibilities may include coordinating social service programs, assisting applicants and recipients, and participating in outreach services for community members. The position also serves as a liaison between clients, County departments, and community agencies, and performs related duties as assigned.
This entry-level paraprofessional role is part of the social worker classification series and reports to a designated supervisory or management position. Depending on assignment, duties may include providing routine social services and resource referrals, offering supportive counseling, assisting with placement services, observing clients, and conducting basic assessments and training. The Social Services Assistant may also perform routine investigative tasks, such as gathering information to help identify or locate missing or absent parents. Incumbents support professional staff and outreach efforts that do not require the expertise of a licensed social worker.
This classification is distinguished from the Social Services Practitioner series in that Practitioners perform professional-level case management requiring advanced assessment skills and broader knowledge of social work principles.
The position supports members by providing non-emergency transportation to clinic appointments, assisting them in connecting with community resources such as the DPSS clinic, and making reminder calls to promote follow-through with services. The role also includes working with individuals who may have behavioral health or substance-use challenges in a supportive, non-clinical capacity. Duties may involve engaging with children at their level—such as sitting, kneeling, bending, or reaching—moving materials or equipment as needed, and, when necessary for safety or assistance, supporting or carrying a child. Team members may spend extended periods standing or walking and must be able to respond quickly to safety or behavioral concerns. These functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Work schedule will be discussed during the interview. (Tentative: 9/80)
Under general supervision, the Social Services Assistant provides routine support to professional staff and social workers in their case management activities. Responsibilities may include coordinating social service programs, assisting applicants and recipients, and participating in outreach services for community members. The position also serves as a liaison between clients, County departments, and community agencies, and performs related duties as assigned.
This entry-level paraprofessional role is part of the social worker classification series and reports to a designated supervisory or management position. Depending on assignment, duties may include providing routine social services and resource referrals, offering supportive counseling, assisting with placement services, observing clients, and conducting basic assessments and training. The Social Services Assistant may also perform routine investigative tasks, such as gathering information to help identify or locate missing or absent parents. Incumbents support professional staff and outreach efforts that do not require the expertise of a licensed social worker.
This classification is distinguished from the Social Services Practitioner series in that Practitioners perform professional-level case management requiring advanced assessment skills and broader knowledge of social work principles.
The position supports members by providing non-emergency transportation to clinic appointments, assisting them in connecting with community resources such as the DPSS clinic, and making reminder calls to promote follow-through with services. The role also includes working with individuals who may have behavioral health or substance-use challenges in a supportive, non-clinical capacity. Duties may involve engaging with children at their level—such as sitting, kneeling, bending, or reaching—moving materials or equipment as needed, and, when necessary for safety or assistance, supporting or carrying a child. Team members may spend extended periods standing or walking and must be able to respond quickly to safety or behavioral concerns. These functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Work schedule will be discussed during the interview. (Tentative: 9/80)
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 www.ruhealth.org/behavioral-health
Requirements
• Make home visits to assess client family environment, including, but not limited to, determining potential or imminent risk to the health and safety of clients and/or youth residing in the household on previously assessed cases by social workers; provide assistance, answer questions, gather data from interviews with clients, physicians, public or private agencies, and/or other appropriate sources.
• Review case records to formulate basic service plans or participates with professional staff in the formulation of service plans; assist in the delivery of social service plans (e.g., resource referrals and training in work skills and parenting), and other case management related duties.
• Assist or complete on behalf of clients application forms for County program participation and/or in obtaining needed services (e.g., medical care, CalFresh, vouchers, restraining orders); advocate for clients in securing services, provide encouragement and support to clients in attaining, preserving, and following through on services.
• Assist clients in recognizing and correcting home, family, and social conditions contributing to problems; instruct clients on appropriate methods of home management, basic health, and nutrition needs; provide supportive counseling to clients.
• Assist clients in developing appropriate parenting skills, job skills and daily living skills; assist clients to resolve training barriers; teach age-appropriate responses to youth; support client's efforts in dealing with youth, including those with medical and/or emotional problems; interact with clients to gather data on progress in learning and performing basic skills.
• Act as liaison between professional staff and clients through clarifying instructions and providing information on basic social services, County programs, and available community resources; act as liaison between County departments and agencies, organizations, community groups and individuals.
• Assist clients in arranging for transportation to obtain County services and/or attend required service appointments, etc.
(e.g., mandated Court ordered services, including but not limited to, drug testing, medical, therapy), transport clients and/or youth in accordance with all California safety regulations, including the use of age-appropriate mandated safety equipment and managing assistive equipment (e.g., wheelchair, walker) for elderly or disabled clients; assist social worker in the placement of clients who are unable to care for themselves in an appropriate care or treatment facility.
• Supervise and support youth while awaiting placement; gather and inventory belongings, including medications and deliver during placement transitions; supervise youth during visitation with parents, siblings, family members, court hearings, therapy appointments, etc., in accordance with safety regulations protecting the youth, social services workers, and members of the public; document and provide feedback on the quality of the visitation.
• Write reports on client statuses, searches conducted on locating missing/absent parents/guardians for custody proceedings, and other case management related reports; prepare correspondences under the review of professional staff; maintain current electronic records of client visitation, client statuses, and other tracking and/or documentation as required in the centralized database; acts as an interpreter for non-English speaking clients when applicable.
Qualifications
OPTION I
Experience: Six months as a Community Services Assistant in any Riverside County department.
OPTION II
Experience: One year experience performing client directed services in either a social service, healthcare, mental health, or non-county (public or private) agency and/or organization.
OPTION III
Education: Completion of 15 semester or 24 quarter units from an accredited college or university preferably with course work in psychology, sociology, social welfare, social/human services, other behavioral sciences, or a related field to the assignment.
ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of: Basic public social service programs at the state and local level; basic principles of public assistance policies, laws, rules, and regulations governing public social services agencies; current issues, in the field of social services; behavioral patterns of the disadvantaged; cultural and ethnic attitudes towards community and social services; basic principles of interviewing and problem-solving methods.
Ability to: Work effectively with a wide variety of agencies, organizations, and individuals; interview, evaluate clients and recognize the relevant and significant factors pertaining to their needs; implement basic social service plans and monitor client's progress toward established goals; understand and evaluate basic psychological, cultural, and social factors affecting behavioral patterns; explain department procedures;, interpret agency programs and policies to clients, agencies, and organizations; read and interpret information obtained from computers, microfilms, and written documents; obtain information in a non-intrusive but persuasive manner; interact effectively with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
Other Requirements
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is necessary at the time of hire and must be maintained throughout employment. County vehicles may be available but are not guaranteed.
Employees may be required to use their own vehicles for field travel. Mileage reimbursement is available when using a personal vehicle for County business.
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.Additional Information
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