Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist
Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist
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Job Description
Summary
This position is open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Applications received by 4/7/25 will be given first consideration.
The responsibilities of the Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist (PES) include providing mental status/diagnostic evaluations and related evidencebased interventions suicide risk assessment and mental health treatment planning for jail residentpatients. The incumbent will monitor residentpatients throughout their incarceration and may provide both individual and group treatment to improve the overall functioning of the residentpatient. Additionally to assist in more streamlined continuity of care the incumbent will ensure appropriate referral to diversion or treatment and may provide testimony in court (ITA) regarding residentspatients. The PES will make psychiatric housing decisions and refer residents 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.
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 250 employees and an annual budget of over $60 million.The purpose of JHS is to assure that highquality 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.
This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.
There are 2 openings for this position.
Commitment To Equity and Social JusticeNamed after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nations 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 proequity 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 antiracist and accountable to Black Indigenous and People of Color communities.
Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills
Required:
- Masters 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 (DSM5.
- Working knowledge and past experience with evidencebased practices for mood psychotic and personality disorders.
- Working knowledge of the principles of behavior and motivation.
- Working knowledge of psychiatric medication.
- 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.
- Commitment to equity and racial justice principles and demonstrated ability to serve clients with cultural humility.
- Suiciderisk 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 residentpatients.
- Demonstrated ability to detect the signs symptoms and behavioral effects of depression mental illness and polysubstance chemical dependency.
- Demonstrated skill in gathering clinical and psychiatric data to establish a diagnosis.
- Demonstrated skill in determining a residentpatients competency to participate in legal proceedings.
- Experience working with electronic medical record systems.
Desired:- 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
- Experience working in correctional facilities and/or inpatient psychiatric hospitals.
- Demonstrated skill in gathering and interpreting court and law enforcement records pertaining to a particular residentpatients case.
- Experience working on continuous process improvement systems.
- Proficiency in a language other than English particularly Spanish Vietnamese Russian African Languages or Chinese Languages.
Supplemental Information
Forbes named King County as one of Washington States best employers.
Together with leadership and our employees were changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a differenceCome join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nations 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.
Application Process
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)
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.
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 investigationbut findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
- Preemployment Physical
- For more information on our selection process please refer to For tips on interviewing please visit 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 webbased enabled tools therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with ongoing 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.
- 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 resident 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.Work Schedule
The candidate will work 40 hours per week which may include some evening and weekend coverage (evening coverage and weekend coverage is evenly divided amongst team members; team provides coverage daily from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm). Typically each PES closes one shift per week and approximately 1012 weekend shifts per year (Saturdays primarily).
Work Location
This position will primarily located at King Correctional Facility 500 5th Ave Seattle WA 98104.
Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Union Membership
This position is represented by Local 21.
Contact
For questions about this recruitment please contact Sarah Dunkinson .
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
