B.H. Specialist I/II/III

B.H. Specialist I/II/III

Salary

$58,822.40 - $101,337.60 Annually

Location

All Locations - San Luis Obispo County, CA

Job Type

Permanent - Hourly

Job Number

1026PM-300079-01

Department

Health Agency

Division

Health Agency - Behavioral Health

Opening Date

10/07/2026

Closing Date

10/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

Are you looking for a meaningful role serving your community? The Behavioral Health Department is seeking Behavioral Health Specialists to serve in a variety of assignments across the department. To learn more about the Behavioral Health Departments mission, services, and team, visit: Behavioral Health - County of San Luis Obispo

The B.H Specialist I/II/III class series provides a variety of outreach, prevention, evaluation, intervention, treatment, counseling, education and case management to clients of behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorders. Services may occur in the community, schools, clinics, jail, juvenile hall, and inpatient settings.

B.H. Specialist assignments may be in the following divisions:

• Justice Services Division (primary recruitment) - provides case management and co-occurring treatment support for individuals who are at risk of being incarcerated or who have already entered the criminal justice system. Current openings include working with Community Actions Teams, jail in-reach programs, and clinic services.
• Drug & Alcohol Services Division - Specialist positions support outpatient treatment and case management needs in clinics countywide. Specialists provide individual and group counseling, Medi-Cal enrollment activities, resource referral, and a wide range of other duties in support of adults with substance use disorders.
• Other Divisions may seek Behavioral Health Specialists for prevention and outreach, access and intake activities, and/or projects related to specific behavioral health populations.

To view the complete job description for B.H. Specialist I, click here.

To view the complete job description for B.H Specialist II, click here.

To view the complete job description for BH Specialist III, click here.

This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.

The Ideal Candidate

Knowledge of:

• Within scope of certification, training, and education: prevention, screening, evaluation, case management, crisis intervention, and counseling techniques
• Principles of culturally competent recovery and resiliency oriented services
• Federal, State and local regulations including confidentiality, privacy, and 42CFR
• Documentation standards and requirements
• Basic principles of individual and group behavior
• County and Community resources

Ability to:

• Effectively evaluate and provide interventions for assigned clients
• Establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation of clients, their families, and support systems
• Plan, implement, publicize, manage, and evaluate community events and group activities.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Develop and utilize community resources
• Work effectively in a demanding environment while maintaining composure and professionalism, and foster teamwork and collaboration when interacting with staff and others
• Maintain a safe and orderly work environment
• Document accurately in the Electronic Health Record

Minimum Qualifications:

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Behavioral Health Specialist I:

Either A: Bachelors degree a human social services/sciences or related health field;

Or B:Two (2) years post-secondary education in a human/social services or related health field and two (2) years experience in providing behavioral health prevention/counseling services; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience in education, recreation, social, human, or behavioral sciences or a related field;

Or C: High school diploma or equivalent AND four (4) years experience in other social service/substance use/mental health agency or related field;

Or D: Licensed Psychiatric Technician, Licensed Vocational Nurse, or Registered Nurse AND two (2) years experience in other social service/substance use/mental health agency or related field;

Or E: Current certification as a drug and alcohol treatment certificate or equivalent AND two (2) years experience in providing counseling/prevention services to persons with substance use related problems, or experience in other social service, substance use, or mental health agency services.

Behavioral Health Specialist II:

Either A: Masters degree program in a counseling or related field

Or B: Bachelors degree in a human social services/sciences or related health field, and two (2) years of experience in providing behavioral health prevention/counseling services;

Or C: Two (2) years post-secondary education in a human/social services or related health field and Four (4) years experience in providing behavioral health prevention/counseling services; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in education, recreation, social, human, or behavioral sciences or a related field;

Or D: High school diploma or equivalent and a Licensed Psychiatric Technician, Licensed Vocational Nurse, or Registered Nurse, or a drug and alcohol treatment certificate or equivalent, AND four (4) years experience in providing behavioral health prevention/counseling services;

Or E: two years of experience as a Behavioral Health Specialist I, or equivalent.

Behavioral Health Specialist III:

Either A: A Masters degree in a human social services or related behavioral or health science field and one (1) year experience in providing behavioral health prevention/counseling services;

Or B: Bachelors degree (or equivalent related credits) in education, recreation, social, human, or behavioral sciences or a related field: AND three (3) years experience in social service, substance use and/or mental health or related field;

Or C: Two (2) years post-secondary education in education, recreation, social, human, or behavioral sciences or a related field AND five (5) years experience in a social service, substance use, mental health or related field;

Or D: A Licensed Psychiatric Technician, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, or a drug and alcohol treatment certificate or equivalent AND five (5) years experience in a social service, substance use, mental health or related field.

If applicable, licensure must be held at time of application and maintained throughout employment.

How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

Your attached resume will not substitute for the completion of the application. Please complete all required fields and supplemental questions. Be advised that while use of AI is common practice, we want to see your individual style and critical thinking skills in your answers to the supplemental questions.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcome.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veterans Preference Points

If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veterans preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference

Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits

Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us.

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).

Some benefits include:

• Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
• Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
• Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
• Free visits to the employee health clinic
• Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
• Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
• A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
• Optional deferred compensation plan
• Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Paid personal, sick and vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education and Wellness Allowance
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Family Friendly workplace policies
• Flexible work schedule options
• Rideshare commuter benefits
• Pet Insurance

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:

The Countys pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:

The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).

Learning and Development

The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Supervisor/Manager academies
• Microsoft Suite courses
• Defensive Driving
• Financial management
• Retirement preparedness
• Teambuilding
• Written Communication
• Conflict Management
• Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
• Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness

Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program

Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.

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Please describe your education, professional experience, licensure, and/or certifications in behavioral health, social or human services, counseling, health services, or other closely related fields, including the type and length of your education or experience and any relevant licenses or certifications you hold.

Required Question

Employer County of San Luis Obispo

Address 1055 Monterey Street

Suite D-250

San Luis Obispo, California, 93408

Phone 805-781-5959

Website http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/