Jail Health Psychiatrist

King County Auburn, WA Full-time Health Care Provider

Posted on November 21, 2022

Summary

Jail Health Services, a division of Public Health Seattle & King County, is seeking a Jail Psychiatrist to join our team!

The responsibilities of this Psychiatrist position for Jail Health Services include providing primary mental health care services to psychiatric patients according to established department policies and procedures and local, state, and federal standards. The incumbent will provide psychiatric consultation, patient assessments, treatment plans, and information to patients and families for specialized health care programs within King County correctional facilities.

Current Positions for Jail Health Psychiatrist:

Psychiatrist; King County Correctional Facilities, Seattle and/or Kent. The FTE for this position is flexible and negotiable, with hours ranging from 0.5 FTE to 1.0 FTE (including a full benefits package). This Career Service and is FLSA non-exempt and therefore is eligible for overtime.

About Jail Health Services

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.

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:

As the only jurisdiction in the world 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.

We have 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 vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations throughout King County to provide excellent customer service to a broad range of cultures, in accordance with the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan.

Work Schedule

The work days and hours may vary with team coverage of weekday day and evening shifts as well as weekend and holiday day shifts.

This position requires flexibility to accommodate different work schedules and work locations. Regular remote work may be required; Public Health will provide the new hires with a computer laptop, however, other tools necessary to successfully work remotely will not be provided. You will need to have sufficient equipment and an internet connection to work remotely.

Work Location

King County Correctional Facility 500 Fifth Ave., Seattle 98104 (primary) and Regional Justice Center 620 W. James St. Kent, WA, 98032.

Job Duties

Provide psychiatric consultation and direct client care, including patient assessments, analyze patient conditions and validate documented findings for treatment plans.
Provide general psychiatric and psychopharmacological services to inmates; participate as a clinical on-call resource on a rotating basis.
Work as member of a treatment team along with Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and/or Psychiatric Evaluation Specialists to complete timely admission requirements.
Develop, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, clinical treatment plans for the diagnosis, treatment and referral of voluntary and involuntary patients.
Provide consultation to medical providers and medical staff.
Provide care and service to inmates in psychiatric emergencies, including life-support measures and stabilization functions; assess patient progress and make recommendations.
Conduct individual and/or group therapy sessions in accordance with generally accepted principles of the American Psychiatric Association.
Review and implement clinical practices and psychiatric treatment guidelines for compliance with governing standards.
Assist with civil commitment process for inmates who meet detention criteria.
Participate in internal and external committees to maintain appropriate standards of care within correctional facilities.
Provide clinical care in substance abuse and dependency treatment, particularly involving medical treatments.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Washington State medical license in good standing.
Board certified or board eligible
Federal Drug Enforcement certificate.
Working knowledge in the practice of psychiatry and mental health.
Working knowledge of patient recovery and resiliency.
Working knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in psychiatric medicine, in concurrence with American Psychiatric Association guidelines.
Skill in using current office software programs including word processing, spreadsheet, database and email applications.
Skill in communicating effectively with team members and inmates.
Skill in working with diverse populations.
Skill in testifying clearly and concisely at public hearings, courts of law, and at inquests in a professional, neutral, and convincing manner.
Skill in maintaining effective working relationships with medical and corrections staff, and inmates in a correctional facility setting.
Ability to make expert diagnoses, interpretations and recommendations on a consultative basis.
Ability to travel throughout King County in a timely manner.

Desirable Qualifications:

Experience working in a correctional health setting.
Bilingual applicants desired.

Supplemental Information

Forbes recently 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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.

As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:

submit 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.

People are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccination approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.

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.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed after the job posting closes. The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line or paper application
Supplemental questionnaire responses
Resume
Cover Letter

Please do not use "see resume" in your application or answers to supplemental questions as these will be considered incomplete.

Please do not copy and paste your entire resume, or copy and paste your entire job history, as your answers to the supplemental questions as these will be considered incomplete.

You may attach multiple documents if you wish:

Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
Attach multiple documents/files in the resume attachment section.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the standard information in the application. Providing information only in a resume will not be considered a complete application.

Your application materials must validate your answers to the supplemental questions. If your answers cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the process.

The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation. In the event the job classification requires an exam; an offer of employment will be contingent on passing a pre-employment physical exam and must maintain security clearance.

Supplemental Information

This selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, testing and interviewing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs/applying.aspx

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.

Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.

Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.

If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Documentation of current BLS CPR certification with AED training required at time of hire. CPR/AED Heartsaver courses do not meet this requirement.
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.
Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
Staff may be required to play a role as a first responder in the event of a Public Health emergency.

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 affiliation

Non-Represented

Contact

For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at alowens@kingcounty.gov.

We are trying to improve our Jail Health Psychiatrist recruitment. If you have decided NOT to apply for this position. Please click on this link to tell us why.

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

For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

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.

Do you possess current board certification in psychiatry?

Have you ever been subject to review, challenges, and/or disciplinary action, formal or informal, by an ethics committee, licensing board, medical disciplinary board or related professional association?

Have you ever been involved, as a health service provider, in a malpractice claim or suit?

Have you ever had your license to practice nursing in any jurisdiction revoked, denied, suspended, reduced, or relinquished?

Do you have knowledge of any action pending before any licensing board(s) which could affect your license or ability to practice?

Do you have any experience working in a correctional facility?

Do you have any experience using electronic health record systems?

Please indicate Microsoft Office programs and other computer tools with which you are familiar with and are comfortable using.

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
No.

If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

Required Question