Social Worker/Release Planner
- Summary
Jail Health Services, a division of Public Health Seattle & King County, is seeking multiple Social Worker (Release Planner) candidates who will bring their lived experiences as well as technical competencies to work in the two King County adult correctional facilities:
1. The King County Correctional Facility in Seattle, WA.
2. Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, WA.
This vacancy will be posted as continuous until filled, with the first review of applications to take place on November 9th 2022.The Position:The primary responsibilities of this position include the provision of comprehensive discharge planning for individuals releasing from the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC). Release Planners work to identify and collaborate with key external/internal legal, medical, mental health and social services providers to facilitate participants’ successful transition to and engagement with relevant community-based services. Focus is on those challenged with chronic/acute substance use; terminal, acute, and/or chronic disease; medically fragile; chronic/acute mental health condition; and those uniquely vulnerable within the corrections environment.
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.- Job Duties
- Perform comprehensive, culturally sensitive psycho-social assessments, make assessment of mental health and substance use disorders, identify immediate concerns that inform the development of a participant-centered release plan.
- Develop, document, and execute individualized release plans to relevant culturally and linguistically appropriate community-based providers that will serve the participant’s needs.
- Coordinate internal services through close collaboration with medical, psychiatric, nursing, dental, and pharmacy staff at KCCF/MRJC employees and the staff of other King County departments including the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and the Department of Community and Human Services).
- Provide forensic case management by closely monitoring an inmate-patients legal context to be able to anticipate release.
- Collaborate closely with defense attorneys; city/county prosecutors; probation and corrections staff to support the effective implementation of individual release plans.
- Maintain a broad working knowledge and good professional relationship with key community substance abuse treatment facilities, social and health/mental health care providers, and criminal justice and corrections personnel.
- Apply equity and social justice principles and practices, and understanding of the effects of place, race and policy and systems-based inequities on marginalized communities and populations when making decisions and recommendations.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Masters' Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Health, or Counseling from an accredited university or equivalent.
- Ability to successfully obtain agency affiliated counselor status within probationary period.
- Knowledge of specific challenges, trauma responses, behavior and needs for people experiencing legal involvement, housing instability, poverty, substance use disorder and mental health diagnoses compounded by discrimination and systemic oppression.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a full caseload of individuals with complex needs by coordinating comprehensive services.
- Ensure program referrals have been executed such as social service referrals, housing referrals, treatment referrals and health care coverage and public entitlements established.
- Working knowledge of crisis intervention techniques, including assessment for risk of suicide or harm to self or others.
- Knowledge of criteria for diagnosis and assessment of mental and substance use disorders.
- Demonstrated knowledge of community social/health care services and entitlement systems, including medical, mental health, and substance abuse resources in King County.
- Demonstrated knowledge of fundamental social work principles, methodology and ethics.
- Skill in fostering client self-determination and empowerment within the therapeutic alliance.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively participate on a multi-disciplinary team with both non-health and health staff in a multi-cultural environment to ensure the best outcomes at release.
- Ability to work effectively with non-medical or social services personnel, including members of the Court and Corrections staff.
- Ability to set and maintain appropriate professional and therapeutic boundaries.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and foster new possibilities for effective collaboration with outside providers
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, while remaining organized and detail-oriented in an often-changing environment.
- Ability to learn and effectively use electronic health record systems.
Desired Qualifications:- Social Work or Mental Health licensure or associates license (LICSW, LASW, LMHC, or recognized equivalent).
- Substance Use Professional license/training designation.
- Proficiency in a language other than English.
- Extensive direct clinical experience providing social work services for individuals involved with the criminal justice system who have complex medical, mental health and/or substance use issues.
- 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.Who May ApplyThis position is open to all qualified applicants.Work Schedule
Release Planning provides coverage Mon- Fri 7:00am- 7:00 pm with potential of weekend coverage. Alternative work schedules are considered on a case-by-case basis and based on the need of the team.The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly On-Site.Application processApplications 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.
Applicants from this job posting may be used to fill temporary or other positions in this classification for a period of up to a 6 months.
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.
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 affiliationProtec 17ContactFor more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at Alowens@kingcounty.gov
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 social work, psychology, behavioral health or counseling from an accredited university?
- Yes
- No
02Are you a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor?- Yes
- No
03If you answered no to question #2, please indicate other credential or license you possess. If you do not possess any credential or license then type N/A.04Do you have experience conducting comprehensive, culturally sensitive psycho-social assessments for individuals with complex needs that informs the development of a treatment plan?- Yes
- No
05If you answered yes to question #4, please describe your experience and the number of years or months conducting comprehensive, culturally sensitive psycho-social assessments that informs the development of a treatment plan. If you answered no, please indicate experience, which you believe to be transferable. If you do not have any experience, then type N/A.06Do you have experience coordinating services for individuals in need medical, mental health and substance use referrals who have challenges that pose barriers to placement?- Yes
- No
07If you answered yes to question #6, please describe your experience and the number of years or months coordinating services and the type of services you have coordinated. If you answered no, then please describe experience which you think is transferable. If you do not have any experience, then type N/A.08Do you have experience providing social work services for individuals with current or historical involvement with the criminal justice system?- Yes
- No
09If you answered yes to question #8, please describe your experience and the number of years providing forensic case management and for what type of needs. If you answered no, then please describe experience which you think is transferable. If you do not have any experience, then type N/A10Are 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.
11If 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 layoffRequired Question