Classification Counselor 2
State of Washington
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
State of Washington’s Department of Corrections seeks a Classification Counselor 2 for Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. The role is full-time and permanent, involving casework, risk assessment, release planning, and community transition support.
Ideal candidates have extensive corrections experience or relevant degree background, with preferred bachelor’s or higher in related fields. Detailed duties include counseling, risk management, and inter-department collaboration for
Qualifications
- Five years of experience in adult corrections*, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation, or social casework.
- Two years of college level credits (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) and three years of experience in those fields.
- One year as a Classification Counselor 1 in Washington State service plus two years of college credits.
- Bachelor's degree in sociology, psychology, social work, criminology, or related field with one year of social service or corrections experience; master's may substitute.
- Corrections work focuses on direct work with incarcerated individuals.
Responsibilities
- Investigating information for each incarcerated individual to determine documentation and programming needs.
- Administering risk assessment tools.
- Participating in risk management teams.
- Completing release plans and approving low risk release plans.
- Counseling incarcerated individuals regarding community resources during transition.
- Working with unit staff and other sections to resolve problems.
- Enforcing court-ordered conditions and DOC conditions.
- Collecting information to complete facility plans and risk assessments.
- Maintaining communication to assist with attorney calls and family contact.
- Preparing mutual agreement plans and coordinating with other facilities.
Education
Job description
Walla Walla, Washington
The Department of Corrections is seeking highly motivated and qualified individuals to fill a Full-Time, Permanent Classification Counselor 2 position at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP).
Walla Walla, Washington
The Washington State Penitentiary is staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether the work is inside a prison, in community corrections, or in an administrative office, the Washington State Department of Corrections professional staff experience a high degree of personal satisfaction knowing they are creating environments in which all incarcerated individuals can learn to make choices that contribute to a safer society.
The Department of Corrections (DOC), as a partner in the criminal justice system, enhances public safety, administers criminal sanctions and programs in accordance with the law and provides leadership for the future of corrections in Washington State.
The Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) is comprised of 4 Close Custody Units, 3 Special Housing Units, 2 Intensive Management Units, 2 Medium Units, 2 Minimum Housing Units and a Health Service Building. In all, WSP houses approximately 2,000 Incarcerated Individuals and employs approximately 1,100 staff.
DOC is an organization that respects individuals for their unique qualities and strives to create a safe environment for individual uniqueness.
- Investigating all information available for each Incarcerated Individual arriving to determine his documentation and programming needs.
- Administering Risk Assessment Tools.
- Participating in Risk Management teams.
- Completing Incarcerated Individual Release Plans, verifying transition plans and approving low risk release plans.
- Counseling and informing Incarcerated Individuals regarding community resources and problems they might encounter in their transition to work release, parole, or release.
- Working with unit staff as well as with other sections of the facility to resolve Incarcerated Individual problems.
- Enforcing court ordered conditions and imposing DOC conditions.
- Collecting information to complete facility plans, criminal history and risk management tools to determine needs.
- Maintaining communication with Incarcerated Individuals to assist with attorney calls, child custody/support hearings with DSHS and courts, and family contact through crisis/emergency situations.
- Completing paperwork for special visits, death bed visits, funeral outings, job referrals, End of Sentence Review packets, EFV's, marriages, psych evaluation requests, incarcerated individual to incarcerated individual correspondence, and out of state and international transfers.
- Evaluating Incarcerated Individuals for early release. Testifying before courts, boards and/or classification or disciplinary hearings.
- Regularly reviewing and updating Incarcerated Individual plans and programming needs.
- Working with internal and external entities to facilitate Incarcerated Individuals re-entry into the community.
- Preparing Mutual Agreement Plans and coordinate with other facilities for acceptance.
- Five years of experience in adult corrections*, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation, or social casework.
- Satisfactory completion of two years of college level credit classes** (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) and three years of experience in adult corrections*, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation, or social casework.
- One year as a Classification Counselor 1 in Washington State service to include, at a minimum satisfactory completion of two years of college level credit classes** (60 semester or 90 quarter credits).
- A bachelor's degree in sociology, psychology, social work, criminology, or closely related field from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or foreign equivalent, and one year of social service or corrections experience*. A master's degree in sociology, psychology, social work, criminology, or closely related field will substitute for the year of required experience.
- Note: Corrections experience is defined as the focus of the work is dealing directly with incarcerated individuals a majority of the time.
- Note: The Washington State Department of Corrections defines college level credits as 100 level and above classes.
DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.
As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation. Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:
- Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
- Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
- 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
- 12 paid holidays a year
- Generous retirement plan
- Flex Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Assistance
- Deferred Compensation and so much more!
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre‑tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro‑rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full‑time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Full‑time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part‑time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Full‑time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357‑31‑165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full‑time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part‑time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357‑31‑165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro‑rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave, and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357‑58‑175, an employer may authorize a lump‑sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357‑31‑165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
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