Social Worker/Release Planner presso King County, WA

About the Department

****First consideration will be given to applicants who apply before 9/23/25

• Public Health employees classified as Social Worker shall be eligible upon approval to receive a 5.5% Master Premium above their current base pay rate on all earnings subject to QUALIFICATION AND APPROVAL as set forth in the Agreement (King County and Union).
• Certification & Licensure Premium pay: upon approval and verification of State of Washington associates license (LMHCA, LMFTA, LICSWA, LMFTA, LSWAA) or recognized equivalent) employees are eligible to receive a premium of ($50.00) per biweekly pay period while certification/licenses are current good standing. 
• Clinical supervision offered for licensure (as staffing permits).

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

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.

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 pro-equity 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 anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visithttp://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Position Duties

• Equity and Social Justice: Applying equity and social justice principles and practices and understanding of the effects of place, race and policy and systems-based oppression for people experiencing legal involvement, housing instability, economic insecurities, substance use and mental health conditions. 
• Comprehensive Assessment: Providing culturally sensitive bio-psychosocial-legal evaluation to assess the legal context in conjunction with biological, psychological, and social factors that identify immediate concerns and long-term goals informing a patient-centered release plan.
• Clinical Interviewing: Ensuring the patient feels heard, respected, and supported. Focus on both verbal and non-verbal cues amid noise and distractions. Quickly address immediate concerns while staying aware of their overall needs. Being mindful of cultural differences, even in a fast-paced setting.
• Case Management: Assessing, planning, coordinating, implementing, tracking, and evaluating the services and resources necessary to ensure successful referrals and linkages for individuals at time of release for a full caseload with complex needs.
• Multi-System Coordination: Collaborative service planning with a diverse team of legal personnel, medical, mental health, and social service providers with the goal of seamlessly ensuring care for patients at release. 
• Discharge Planning: Implementing personalized release plans to facilitate a seamless transition from custody to the community. Ensuring suitable referrals and connections to medical care, behavioral health treatment, and a range of social services based on patient-assessed needs and goals.
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records, documenting interventions, progress, and outcomes, and reporting on patient status to support effective case management in an electronic health record.

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or counseling from an accredited university or equivalent. 
• State of Washington associates license (LMHCA, LMFTA, LICSWA, LMFTA, LSWAA) or recognized equivalent) OR ability to apply for licensed agency affiliated counselor (LAAC) within 30 days of employment. 
• Two (2) years’ full-time work experience (within the last 5 yrs.) in a counseling, social work, or case management capacity with adult populations experiencing severe and persistent behavioral health conditions. 
• One (1) year full-time work experience (within the last 5 yrs.) providing psychosocial assessment and managing a caseload where you routinely coordinated medical, mental health, substance use, and other social services.
• One (1) year of full-time work experience (within the last 5 yrs.) in a counseling, social work, or case management capacity in King, Snohomish, or Pierce County OR ability to demonstrate knowledge of local social and behavioral health services. 
• Experience working in a position where you routinely coordinated with the criminal legal system. 
• Knowledge of specific challenges, trauma responses, behavior and needs for people experiencing legal involvement, housing instability, economic insecurities, substance use disorder and mental health conditions compounded by discrimination and systemic oppression. 
• Pass a security clearance and/or background check to secure access to the jails. 
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers, with working knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, database programs, Internet, cell phones, and Outlook, electronic health record.
• Ability to travel to various sites within Seattle-King County.

Desired:

• Bilingual/ bicultural/ individuals with diverse backgrounds, including people with lived experience with behavioral health and recovery, incarceration, houselessness, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities. 
• Experience working in a position where you routinely coordinated medical, mental health, substance use, and other social service resources in KING COUNTY for Medicaid-eligible adults. 
• Experience working in a position where you routinely coordinated with the criminal legal system in either King County, Pierce, or Snohomish (courts, defense attorneys, prosecution, probation, correctional institutions).

Other Qualifications

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

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.

• 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)
• Cover letter- Addressing how you meet the qualifications of the position.
• Resume

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 
• Pre-Employment Physical 
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer towww.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visithttps://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees 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 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.
• 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.

Work Environment Requirements:

• Position is based in a secure jail setting with frequent walking, stair climbing, and navigating confined areas
• Includes conducting cell-side visits through pass-through slots, often in noisy or low-privacy conditions   
• May require assisting individuals with mobility needs (e.g., pushing wheelchairs) and occasional lifting (up to 25 lbs.)
• Requires emotional resilience, sound judgment, and flexibility, with professionalism and compassion essential for success in a dynamic care environment.

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.

Work Schedule

Work Schedule:40-hour work week: Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Future program expansion may involve weekend work. This position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime. 

Work Location

You will have a primary assigned work location but will need to be available to work at either site if needed. There will also be minimal work in community locations to meet with patients

• King County Correctional Facility in Seattle at 500 5th Ave

• Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, 401 4th Ave N, Kent, WA 98032.

Union Membership

This position is represented by PROTEC 17 Labor Union. 

Contact

For questions about this posting, please contact Sarah Dunkinson, [email protected].