Jail Health Services Division of Public Health - Seattle & King County is seeking a full-time Career Service Social Services Professional to join our Diversion team! Our team includes a Program Manager IV who oversees the Diversion Program. The Diversion Program consists of three pre and post filing diversion programs, a new pilot called Seattle Therapeutic Alternative Diversion (STAD) which is a partnership with Seattle City Attorney’s Office, City of Seattle Human Services Division, and King County Public Health – Jail Health Services and serves individuals referred on eligible misdemeanor charges age 25 and older. Therapeutic Alternative Diversion (TAD) is out of King County District Court and Community Diversion Program (CDP) is a part of King County Superior Court. TAD and CDP are a collaboration between the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, King County Executive Teams, and King County Public Health – Jail Health Services. Direct services are provided by our Diversion Care Coordinators serving Seattle & King County’s legally involved community members who have been referred to STAD, TAD, or CDP. The goal of these programs is to divert those referred to these programs into community-based services rather than continued involvement in the mainstream legal system. Our team values collaboration, compassionate, client-centered, trauma-informed care models and aims to reduce systemic barriers to ensure desired service needs are met for those we work with.

Public Health – Seattle and King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.

Make a Difference!

• Perform screening, complete risk and needs assessments and provide service connections with individuals who have been referred to CDP or TAD.
• Collaborate as part of the Diversion Team and be responsible for short-term case management/care coordination of CDP or TAD participants.
• Work to identify and collaborate with both contracted and non-contracted community-based providers including those related to peer support, substance use, housing, medical, mental health, and other social service providers to facilitate participants’ successful transition to and engagement with relevant community-based services.
• Collaborate with the CDP or TAD participants and assist in reducing barriers to care, access to client service needs, and brief intervention/stabilization for those experiencing crisis.

** Depending on candidate education, this position may be classified as a Social Worker or Social Services Professional. Both classifications are at pay grade 53 on the Squared Salary Table. **

Background

Jail Health Services (JHS)

JHS provides needed health and social services to the incarcerated population located in the King County jails – King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle, WA and Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent, WA. The primary services we provide include medical, dental, mental health, social and release planning services, treatment of substance use disorders, and pharmaceutical services. We care about the patients we serve and their health outcomes. Our Division includes over 230 employees and a bi-annual budget of over $80 million.

The purpose of JHS is to assure that high-quality health and human services are available to the incarcerated population in the King County adult correctional facilities: the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent. The JHS vision is Opening doors to healthier, happier lives, and the mission is To assess and stabilize serious health problems for the detained population of the King County Correctional Facility and the Maleng Regional Justice Center with a focus on transition from jail.

Staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, JHS provides a broad range of health care to all individuals booked into the jails. For patients with serious mental health or medical conditions, special housing units (psychiatric and infirmary) along with a higher level of services and medical monitoring are provided. Since the patient population varies both in numbers as well as in acuity of health conditions, staffing is adapted and flexed to meet the constantly changing needs of the population.

JHS staff manage the complex health needs of underserved populations many of whom come to the facility without access to care in the community and with decompensated acute and chronic health conditions.

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional career service, term limited temporary (TLT), short-term temporary (STT), or special duty assignment (SDA) vacancies over the next 6 months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

The typical work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Work will be performed onsite at the Chinook Building with the potential for one telework day per week after successful completion of probationary period and depending on client and program needs.

Work Location

The primary work location is at the Chinook Building, located at 401 5th Ave Seattle WA, 98104.

Provide Intake and Needs Assessments

• Performs risk and needs assessment, psycho-social assessments, screen for mental health and substance use disorders, identify immediate concerns and needs that inform the development of a service plan and connection to community-based providers.
• Provide emotional support, trauma-informed care, and/or assessment for suicidal ideation to participants in crisis.

Refer Patients to Community Resources

• Ensure referrals have been made to relevant culturally appropriate, community-based providers that will serve the participant’s needs.
• For out-of-custody participants, ensuring the individual is being assisted with navigating various entitlement processes, housing, and access to treatment.
• For in-custody participants, coordinate internal services through close collaboration with medical, psychiatric, nursing, dental, and pharmacy staff at the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF), Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC), and the staff of other King County departments (including the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) and the Department of Community and Human Services).
• Identify and foster new possibilities for effective collaboration with community-based providers.

Maintain Continuity of Care

• Provide supportive guidance to improve the potential for service engagement.
• Assist community-based service providers to establish, re-establish or maintain services with their clients.
• Provide forensic case management by closely monitoring a participant’s legal context to support the implementation of the service plan and completion of the program.
• Collaborate closely with defense attorneys as needed, city/county prosecutors and community-based providers as authorized by the CDP or TAD participant to support the effective completion of the program.
• Maintain a broad working knowledge and good working relationship with key community-based providers, defense attorneys, city/county prosecutors and DAJD or other corrections personnel when relevant.
• Serve on workgroups and committees working to assure appropriate standards of client care by centering client needs and programmatic concerns within the Jail Health Services Department.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):

• Bachelor’s Degree in a social science AND at least two (2) years recent, relevant work experience. Qualifying work experience may substitute year for year of education.
• Recent experience with adults presenting with multiple and complex challenges requiring multiple system involvement for resolution.

Working Knowledge of:

• Specific challenges, trauma responses, behavior and needs for those experiencing legal involvement, housing instability, poverty, substance use disorder and mental health diagnoses compounded by discrimination and oppression.
• Protocols and methodology for assessment, evaluation and documenting physical, psychological, and mental development.
• Client centered, trauma informed, cultural humility care practices.
• Crisis intervention techniques, including assessment for risk of suicide or harm to self or others.
• Medical, mental health, and substance use conditions, related terminology, and their treatment.
• Utilizing quality assurance and data collection techniques.

Demonstrated Ability to:

• Perform effective assessment and treatment planning utilizing brief interviewing techniques, motivational interviewing, and stages of change model.
• Foster client self-determination within the therapeutic alliance.
• Maintain ongoing commitment to learning, understanding, and effective application of anti-racist practices when working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
• Educate on reduction strategies to increase safety with clients who engage in high-risk behavior.
• Provide screening, recovery, or recovery-related service connection for clients with substance use disorders, including referral and linkage to inpatient, outpatient and/or medication assisted treatment.
• Provide social services for individuals with current or historical involvement with the criminal legal system.
• Set and maintain appropriate professional and therapeutic boundaries.
• Manage multiple tasks, while remaining organized and detail-oriented in an often-changing environment.
• Travel throughout King County in a timely manner.

Skills in:

• Using personal computers, Microsoft Word, Excel, database programs, Internet, and Outlook.
• Learning and effectively using electronic health record systems.
• Managing a full caseload of complex clients by coordinating comprehensive services for identified emergent needs and coordinating care in the community.
• Effectively engaging patients in a therapeutic relationship and working with them by telephone as well as in person.
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Participating in a multi-disciplinary team with internal service planning and execution of service plan and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

License/Certifications:

• Must possess a Washington State Driver’s License to drive King County Fleet Vehicles as needed to meet client and program needs.
• Must obtain Basic Life Support/CPR for Healthcare Providers prior to start date.

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired):

• Master’s degree in a social science field from an accredited university.
• Social Work or Mental Health licensure (LSWAIC, LASW, LMHC, or recognized equivalent).
• Substance Use Professional certification.
• Proficiency in a language other than English.
• Working understanding of the criminal legal system.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

This full-time vacancy is open to all qualified applicants.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume or curriculum vitae (outlining relevant experience)

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

If you are the successful candidate for the position(s), as a condition of your employment, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to work in the medical clinic(s) outlined in this job posting prior to your start date. To ensure this condition is met, prior to your start date, the county will send you a conditional offer letter requesting you to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Additional Information
Public Health - Jail Health Services follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including, but not limited to, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in, or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:

• Sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution.
• Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or,
• Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

Additionally, PREA standards require that the department consider any incidents of sexual harassment involving an inmate or detainee in determining whether or not to hire or promote anyone.

The above is in compliance with PREA and its implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 115, Subpart A, Section 115.17, Hiring and Promotion Decisions.

Union Membership

This position is represented by PROTEC17 labor union.

Contact

For more information about the application process, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at sduckworth@kingcounty.gov .