Salary: $28.69 - $36.37 HourlyLocation : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WAJob Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)Job Number: 2024AC23211Department: DCHS - Community & Human SrvcsDivision: Behavioral Health and RecoveryOpening Date: 12/20/2024Closing Date: 1/25/2025 11:59 PM PacificFLSA: Non-ExemptBargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel GuidelinesFull- or Part-Time: Full TimeHours/Week: 40 hours/weekSummaryThe Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans and those with lived experience.The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, self-reliant and connected to community.DCHS manages a wide range of programs and services to assist the county's most vulnerable residents. The department maintains a pro-equity focus aimed at developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all county residents, regardless of race, gender identity or income. We are seeking up to 5 Social Services Specialists to join our Behavioral Health Outreach Program (BHOP) team within the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD).BHOP consists of three teams that respond to behavioral health crises that occur in assigned patrol areas within King County. The teams provide assistance and/or intervention to persons who are experiencing crisis, homelessness, and/or behavioral health issues. Interventions include community engagement, outreach, de-escalation, screening by visual inspection and brief conversation to determine the need for services and referrals for service.There are three teams within this program:•City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach: City Hall Park/King County Campus•Transit Station Outreach: Downtown light rail stations•Transit Center Outreach: Burien Transit Center and Onboard CoachesThese are Term Limited Temporary (TLT) positions that are anticipated to be 12 months in duration, but subject to change dependent on business need. If filled by a Current King County employee who has passed their initial probation, the TLT will be as a Special Duty Assignment.WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences. Interviews for this selection process will begin on or around the week of February 4, 2025.REQUIRED MATERIALS: Application Process: 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 have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. 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 question should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process, providing your most recent 7 years of applicable experience if available)
Candidates who wish to be considered for these positions must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions.Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information. 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.Additional Job InformationWORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: The applicant pool for this recruitment will be used to fill up to 6 Term-Limited (TLT) or Special Duty (SDA) positions. These positions are full-time and .80 part-time, scheduled to work 32-40 hours per week, shifts will vary dependent on operational need. Work schedules may include nights, weekends, and holidays. •City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach:o 2-3 positions availableo Hours: 8am - 4pm and 4 pm-12 amo 32 or 40 hours/weeko Possible workdays: Sunday to Thursday, Tuesday to Sunday or Friday to Monday•Transit Center Outreach:o 2-3 positions availableo Hours: 8am to 4pmo 32 hours/weeko Possible workdays: Friday-MondayThese positions meet the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and are overtime eligible with supervisory preapproval. These positions are not represented by a union.MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: These positions have been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visitHR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.Recruiter: Annette Coleman, ...@kingcounty.gov Job Duties•Patrol assigned areas on foot and provide outreach and engage with individuals in the light rail stations or on the trains.•Assist transit security in responding and engaging with individuals who are experiencing behavioral health crises.•Provide peer support and intervention services.•Offer service information and linkage to shelter, housing, behavioral health, medical and employment services.•Develop trusting relationships with individuals through respectful outreach and client centered engagement practices in order to assess their service needs and respond with appropriate referrals and linkages to resources.•Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with community partners, shelters, direct service providers and other service or resource organizations to ensure continuity of care for individuals.•Perform job responsibilities in a manner that respects and promotes individual dignity at all times even when challenged by others.•Monitor and intervene using de-escalation techniques which includes the use of least amount of physical force when physical or verbal altercations occur.•Maintain the safety and security of individuals by using visual and auditory cues that indicate whether or not individuals are stable and safe during outreach services.•Complete written reports with handwriting that is legible, grammatically correct and complete.•Enter electronic data by typing and saving data via computer to record information as needed.•Perform other related duties as assigned. Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills•The incumbents in these positions will have a personal history of recovery from mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders.•Minimum of 2 years as a peer support specialist or equivalent experience in a behavioral health setting.•Enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.•Experience serving populations impacted by extreme poverty, behavioral health conditions and mental illness from a harm reduction model of care.•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients and outside contacts from a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.•Skills in de-escalating verbal aggression, hostile or violent behavior.•Effective oral and written communication skills.•Effective problem-solving skills using conflict resolution techniques which result in positive outcomes and the ability to apply patience and common sense as needed.•Effective interpersonal skills in working with and promoting positive teamwork.•Ability to work independently and as part of a team that displays sound decision making in the absence of on-site supervisory oversight.•Current CPR card or attainable within 90 days.•Current Basic First Aid card or attainable within 90 days.•Basic knowledge of signs and symptoms of behavioral health conditions.•Valid Washington State Driver's License, or the ability to travel around the County in a timely manner.•Must be able to pass a criminal background check on a post offer/pre-employment basis.*Desired:Certified Peer Counselor Certification Supplemental InformationForbes 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.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo 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 ApplyIf 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.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:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- 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: eligible King County employees may 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
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite 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, visit our 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. 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.01 Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service 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.
02 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 notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff 03 How many years of experience do you have providing peer support services?
- Less than 1 Year
- 1 to 3 Years
- 3 to 5 Years
- Over 5 years
04 How many years of experience do you have engaging or intervening with persons who are experiencing homelessness?
- Less than 2 Years
- 2 to 4 Years
- 4 to 6 Years
- Over 6 years
05 Describe your experience working or interacting with persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness. 06 Describe your familiarity with local programs that give access to shelter, housing, behavioral health, medical and employment services. 07 Hours available to work
08 King County has transformed its work on equity and social justice from an initiative to an integrated effort that applies the principle of fair and just intentionally in all the county does to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. Please share two factors contributing to why some in our community thrive while others struggle to survive? Required Question