Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Counselor
- Summary
The Employee Health & Safety Division within King County's Department of Human Resources (DHR) is seeking a skilled, compassionate, and culturally competent professional to work as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Counselor to serve the County's diverse workforce.
To learn more about EAP, please visit: https://www.kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/safety-claims/MLE-EAP.aspx
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
As the only county in the United States named after one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation’s history, Martin Luther King, Jr. 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 artistic and social traditions of many cultures.
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and the EAP Counselor has a strong role in advancing practices to promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all county employees.
To learn more, please visit: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx
ABOUT THE POSITION
The EAP Counselor provides culturally-sensitive and highly specialized assistance, direct support, and guidance to employees, managers, and leaders regarding the resolution of delicate and complicated personnel matters.
King County Executive recently declared racism a public health crisis and this position will provide employees with guidance and resources to address workplace issues around race, gender identity, and gender expression to support and protect the health and well-being of our diverse workforce. The person in this position will be relied on to build trusted relationships and garner positive outcomes for employees to be successful at work.
The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, experience, and confidence working in a diverse and multi-cultural work environment with the ability to effectively balance employee interests along with King County Departmental operational needs and values.
To learn more about our values, please visit: https://kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/initiatives/true-north.aspx
- Job Duties
- Works with the EAP Program Manager to establish practices that accept and respect differences as well as evaluates and improves cultural knowledge and resources to meet the needs of those utilizing EAP services.
- Conducts and performs confidential intake, assessments, EAP counseling services and/or referral to appropriate resources for employees’ personal and work-related issues.
- Provides advanced consultation, coaching, and triage services to management, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Disability Services, other King County agencies and collective bargaining unit representatives to help resolve broad, complex and politically sensitive employee issues.
- Assists with the coordination and management of services by external work-life vendor Wellspring Services EAP. Partners with Wellspring on complicated individual issues to resolve programmatic issues/complaints that may arise that affect employees and their eligible dependents; creates and maintains accurate and timely documentation of all case activity in the electronic case management system and program statistics.
- Conducts and assists with employee fitness for duty and return-to-work mental health and substance abuse evaluations. The EAP Counselor may be required to perform DOT Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) services or Non-DOT Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) assessment and services, including providing direct case management of safety sensitive employees in violation of DOT and King County substance abuse prohibitions and co-facilitate training on reasonable suspicion.
- Assists in the facilitation of discussions and mediations for resolution of individual and group conflicts.
- Provides Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) services for employees following small and large-scale traumatic events, including coordination with Wellspring as needed.
- Assists with clinical consultation to the Transit Divisions' CISM Team, and serves as a backup if needed.
- Coordinates, develops, and maintains an EAP training catalog. Coordinates and develops new trainings as needed or requested. Assists in or directly provides workshops and training to selected audiences as required.
- Assists with other EAP programmatic duties as assigned, including triage, intakes, treatment coordination, and other projects/initiatives.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Demonstrated skills dealing effectively with diverse individuals and groups in politically sensitive, emotionally charged workplace situations. Ability to understand non-dominant racial narratives and their impact in the lives and work of employees and provide effective guidance through workplace situations.
- Ability to build trust-based relationships and have candid and sincere conversations with employees about race and equity in the workplace.
- Demonstrated knowledge of effective assessment skills, short-term psychotherapy and individual and group crisis intervention techniques, psychotropic medications and community resources for treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders.
- Demonstrated ability and experience providing triage, assessment, counseling and recommendations to management and employees on a variety of issues affecting work performance.
- Outstanding customer service and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with all levels of management and employees across organizational lines.
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team, including the ability to resolve professional differences about case direction when multiple players are involved.
- Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with situations that involve workplace or domestic violence.
- Demonstrated skills necessary to accurately gather, analyze, document and present information, including timely and appropriate documentation of case records.
- Demonstrated skills to clearly and professionally communicate information, both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrated ability to multitask and produce quality products and services while under the pressure of critical timelines.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain the privacy and security of sensitive and confidential information.
- Demonstrated ability to develop, design and facilitate effective meetings, presentations and training.
- Demonstrated proficiency in the use of computer software, including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Outlook, Word, Access and PowerPoint, with a high degree of accuracy.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Master's Degree in Behavioral Health related field (MA, MS, MSW)
- Direct experience providing group therapy and/or group Critical Incident Debriefing.
- Active licensure as an associate Licensed Social Worker Associate (LICSWA), Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA) or a higher credential. If the incumbent is from out of State or currently credentialed as a Washington State Agency Affiliate Counselor, they must have the ability to be licensed in Washington State at a LICSA, LMCHA, or LMFTA level.
- Federal Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) qualification, or the ability to obtain qualification within six months to a year of employment with King County.
- A valid driver's license or the alternate ability to travel around the County in a timely manner to locations that may not be accessible by public transportation is required.
- Supplemental Information
HOW TO APPLY
This exciting opportunity is open to all applicants. King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans and those with lived experience.
Please apply online at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. An online employment application, with employment history going back at least 10 years (or more to include all relevant experience), and a cover letter summarizing how you meet the listed experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the job is required.
Confidential inquiries are welcome to Elisha Mackey at elisha.mackey@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-0193.
Union Membership
This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117/Professional & Technical.
Class Code
2441300
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Do you have a Master's Degree in a behavioral health field, such as Counseling, Psychology, and/or Social work or a related field
- Yes
- No
02Which of the following credentials do you possess? Please select all that apply.- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA)
- Licensed Social Worker Associate (LISWA)
- Agency Affiliate Counselor but have the ability to get a LMFTA, LMHCA or LISWA
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Licensed Social Worker (LICSW)
- None of the above
03How many years of experience do you have providing group therapy and/or group Critical Incident Debriefing.- None
- Less than one year
- More than one but less than two years
- More than two but less than three years
- More than three years but less than four years
- More than four years
04Describe your experience providing group therapy and/or group Critical Incident Debriefing including the types of industries where you have worked.05Do you possess the Federal Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) qualification?- Yes
- No, but I have the ability to obtain the qualification within six months of employment with King County
- No, I do not have the ability to obtain the qualification within six months of employment with King County
Required Question