Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist
King County
Auburn, WA
Full-time
Health Care Provider
Posted on June 7, 2019
- Summary
- Public Health – Seattle & 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, and veterans.
The responsibilities of the Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist (PES) include providing mental status/diagnostic evaluations and related evidence-based interventions, suicide risk assessment, and mental health treatment planning for jail inmate-patients. The incumbent will monitor inmate-patient's condition throughout incarceration and may provide both individual and group treatment to improve the overall functioning of the inmate-patient. Additionally, to assist in more streamlined continuity of care, the incumbent will ensure appropriate referral to diversion or treatment and may provide representation and advocacy in court for inmate-patients. The PES will make psychiatric housing decisions and refer inmates to community mental health providers or into involuntary treatment, as needed. Responsibilities will also include performing chart review / triage functions, providing training on areas of expertise, consultation with other professions, community outreach and engagement, and participating in ongoing process improvement efforts within King County Public Health and Jail Health Services.
Who May Apply: This full-time Career Services position is open to all qualified candidates.
Work Schedule: This position will work a schedule determined by the program manager, based on need; i.e. current inmate population. The work hours will be 40 hours per week; days, evenings, and weekends.
Work Location: King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Downtown Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent.
Application Process (submit electronically):
- Job Application with completed supplemental questions.
- Resume.
- Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
- Attach multiple documents/files in the resume attachment section.
Contact: For more information about the application process, please contact Dawnette Yust at dawnette.yust@kingcounty.gov or (206) 263-8327.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES- Initiate psychiatric assessments; conduct formal diagnostic assessment in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5); provide evidence based individual and group therapeutic intervention based on the specific psychiatric needs of the inmate-patient; identify medical conditions, chronic mental illness, developmental disability, suicide-risk and depressed inmates; determine need for involuntary treatment; develop a case plan; and provide witness testimony regarding patient's condition.
- Assess substance dependence, abuse, intoxication, withdrawal, and other substance-related disorders. Provide brief interventions and refer appropriately for longer term care.
- Conduct case management and follow up. Work with Release Planners to ensure continuity of care and referral to community mental health services.
- Make psychiatric housing decisions within the jail; assess need for additional intervention and mental status evaluations and provide additional intervention(s) when needed; and track inmate-patient's progression through the legal system.
- Develop mental health treatment plans; communicate and coordinate care with Psychiatric Providers and other JHS staff; act as liaison between the inmate-patient, correctional staff and courts to ensure diversion or release for appropriate treatment.
- Lead regularly scheduled unit meetings to review cases and utilization of various treatment approaches.
- Provide in-service training to all health and corrections staff on various areas of expertise.
- Attend various community organizational meetings as representative of JHS and provide trainings on the operations and services of JHS.
- Review charts and evaluations performed by psychiatric hospital personnel and develop care plan and/or refer accordingly.
- Act as consultant to other disciplines and professions on the presentation of mental illness in a correctional setting.
- Perform release interviews with inmate-patients and refer them to a Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) for additional evaluation, if necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS- Master's or Doctoral degree in psychology, social work, clinical counseling, or a related field, from an accredited university.
- Independent licensure as a psychologist, mental health counselor, clinical independent social worker, marriage and family therapist or recognized alternate licensure.
- Working knowledge of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
- Working knowledge and past experience with evidence based practices for mood, psychotic, and personality disorders.
- Working knowledge of the principles of behavior and motivation.
- Working knowledge of psychiatric medication.
- Knowledge of the Washington State Criminal Code, rules of court procedure and legal definition of competency.
- Knowledge of community mental health resources and criteria for providing services.
- Working knowledge of personality disorders and malingering and how to differentiate these from other psychiatric disorders.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Proven ability to make effective forensic assessments.
- Suicide-risk assessment skills.
- Demonstrated ability to perform psychological and behavioral interventions.
- Demonstrated skill in defusing hostile or violent behavior.
- Demonstrated ability to perform evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of inmate-patients.
- Demonstrated ability to detect the signs, symptoms and behavioral effects of depression, mental illness and poly-substance chemical dependency.
- Demonstrated skill in gathering clinical and psychiatric data to establish a diagnosis.
- Demonstrated skill in gathering and interpreting court and law enforcement records pertaining to a particular inmate-patient's case.
- Demonstrated skill in determining an inmate-patient's competency to participate in legal proceedings.
- Proficiency in a language other than English, particularly Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, African Languages, or Chinese Languages.
- Experience working in correctional facilities or inpatient psychiatric hospitals.
- Experience working with electronic medical record systems.
- Experience working on continuous process improvement systems.
The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation and a pre-employment physical exam.
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.
Current BLS CPR certification is required for Healthcare Providers.
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 year.
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 Affiliation:
Positions in this classification are represented by the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Local #21.
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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01Have you earned a Master's or Doctoral Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Clinical Counseling, or a related field from an accredited university?
- Yes
- No
02Please indicate certification or licensure, which you possess for the State of Washington. If you indicated other licensure/certification, please describe (Check all that apply.)- Licensed Psychologist
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Licensed Mental Health Professional
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
- Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP)
- Chemical Dependency Professional Trainee (CDPt)
- Other
- None
03Please provide a detailed description of your experience performing psychiatric assessments / mental status examinations and conducting formal diagnostic testing in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-V). If you do not have this experience then type N/A.04Please provide a detailed description of your experience working with evidence based treatment modalities. Please include a description of the intervention type, diagnosis/disability/symptom for which the intervention was used with outcome, and population with whom the intervention was used.05Please provide your experience working with patients with serious mental illness, including assessment for developmental disability and risk of harm to self and/or others. As part of your answer, please include agency name(s), the span of time, and the scope of your responsibilities. If you do not have this experience then type N/A.06Please provide a detailed description of your experience assessing the need for involuntary treatment. If you do not have this experience then type N/A.07Please provide a detailed description of your experience developing / implementing treatment plans. If you do not have this experience then type N/A.08Do you have experience providing testimony in a judicial setting regarding a patient's condition?- Yes
- No
09Do you have experience working in correctional facilities and/or mental hospitals?- Yes
- No
10Do you have experience working with electronic medical record systems?- Yes
- No
11Are you willing and able to work at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle and the Regional Justice Center in Kent, as assigned?- Yes
- No
12Are you willing and able to work schedules which require evening and weekend hours?- Yes
- No
13Please indicate languages other than English in which you have some degree of oral proficiency? (Please put N/A if none)Required Question