Classification Counselor 2 - SCCC

State of Washington; Aberdeen (WA); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote/telework

Paid time off

Sick leave

Holidays

Retirement plan

Job summary

State of Washington Department of Corrections seeks a Classification Counselor 2 in Aberdeen, WA. The role focuses on placing incarcerated individuals in appropriate custody levels, ensuring public and staff safety while supporting community reintegration.

The position requires evaluating information, administering risk tools, and coordinating with internal and external partners. The role includes extensive documentation, court liaison, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to foster

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or higher; one year of corrections, rehabilitation, or social casework experience may substitute.
• Two years of college plus three years of experience also acceptable.
• Five years of experience in adult corrections or related field is an option.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of adult offenders and assess their needs.

Skills

Written communication

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Corrections/relevant social services experience

Tools

None

Job description

Classification Counselor 2

Full-time, Permanent

Salary Range: $6,615-$8,892/month

Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)

Aberdeen, WA

The Department of Corrections is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individuals for the position of Classification Counselor 2 at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen, Washington. This recruitment may be used to fill current and future non-permanent and permanent vacancies that may occur. If you are excited to make a difference in the lives of others and join a team that works towards a meaningful purpose, apply to be a Classification Counselor 2 at SCCC with the Department of Corrections (DOC). Stafford Creek Corrections Center is a 1,936-bed multi-custody facility located five miles west of Aberdeen, on the southern Washington Coast. There are seven living units for medium and minimum long-term custody Incarcerated Individuals and a restrictive housing unit for maximum-custody Incarcerated Individuals. SCCC was Washington State's first tobacco-free facility for both staff and Incarcerated Individuals. 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.

AGENCY PROFILE: For additional information about our agency, please visit doc.wa.gov

Benefits

• Flexible schedules
• Comprehensive compensation packages
• Benefits package
• Training and development opportunities to continue building your career with us.

Duties

We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service, committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence, while promoting innovation, engagement, and safety, leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population, our agency, and our community. The Classification Counselor 2 provides professional classification guidance with the goal of placing incarcerated individuals in the least restrictive custody designation, while meeting the need to provide the safety of the public, staff, visitors, and incarcerated. The Classification Counselor 2 further supports the agency's mission to improve public safety by collaborating with community resources and stakeholders to promote successful transition of incarcerated individuals into the community.

Duty: Manage a caseload of adult criminal offenders.

1. Investigate all information available for each arriving incarcerated individual, and determine the incarcerated individual’s documentation and programming needs.
2. Administer Risk Assessment Tools.
3. Collect information to complete facility plans, criminal history and risk management tools to determine needs.
4. Prepare and submit Incarcerated Individual Release Plan.
5. Counsel and inform incarcerated individuals regarding community resources and problems they might encounter in their transition to work release, parole, or release. Work with internal and external entities to facilitate incarcerated individuals’ re-entry into the community.
6. Enforce court ordered conditions and impose DOC conditions.
7. Participate in Risk Management multi-disciplinary teams
8. Maintain communication with incarcerated individuals to assist with attorney calls, child custody/support hearings with DSHS and courts, and family contact through crisis/emergency situations
9. Arrange translator services
10. Evaluate incarcerated individuals for early release
11. Regularly review and update incarcerated individuals’ plans and programming needs.
12. Prepare mutual re-entry plans and coordinate with other facilities for acceptance.
13. Monitor incarcerated individuals’ programming and behaviors in their transition to work release, parole, or release. Work with internal and external entities to facilitate incarcerated individual re-entry into the community.
14. Exercise sound judgment, aligned with Department policy, in decisions concerning sanctions, treatment and education referral.

Duty: Provide effective communication and documentation.

• Tasks include:
  1. Write correspondence, infractions, and incident reports.
  2. Provide clear, concise, and consistent communication with staff, offenders, and stakeholders through available resources.
  3. Complete paperwork for special visits, death bed visits, funeral outings, job referrals, End of Sentence Review packets, Extended Family Visits, marriages, psychological evaluation requests, offender to offender correspondence, and out of state and international transfers.
  4. Provide monthly reports.
  5. Participate in meetings.
  6. Testify before courts, boards, and classification or disciplinary hearings.

Duty: Navigate and maintain multiple electronic technologies and hard copy files.

• Tasks include:
• Record, access, updated and retrieve 1/1 related information from agency database. Maintain electronic and hard copy 1/1 files to accurately reflect current 1/1 status.

Duty: Perform other duties as assigned or required.

• Tasks include:
  1. Work with unit staff, as well as with other sections of the facility, to resolve inmate problems.
  2. If required, conduct/facilitate training.
  3. Conduct audits.
  4. In an emergent situation, transport offenders and perform searches and other security functions.
  5. Communicate security concerns to supervisor and other staff.
  6. Write, review, and provide input to institution policies.
  7. Serve legal documents to offenders.
  8. Serve as a professional representative of the Department to the public. Dress appropriately for the position.
  9. Effectively communicate in routine and emergent situations with internal and external stakeholders on a daily basis.
  10. Maintain positive and professional work relationships.
  11. Work collaboratively with diverse groups of staff and offenders.
  12. Staff are expected to present a neat appearance (ex. Business casual) that fits within specific working environments. For example, open-toe shoes should not be worn while working in a prison environment.

Work settings, hazards

• Perform work duties unarmed in close contact with and among large groups of confined I/l's who live in crowded spaces, who may have history of violent behavior and mental illness, and who may be aggressive and/or confrontational toward other I/l's and/or toward staff.
• Flexibility and adaptability to all policies and procedural changes.
• Walk and/or travel across outdoors on asphalt, dirt, gravel, and/or grass surfaces in all weather conditions.
• All DOC facilities and vehicles are smoke free. Ability to work in an isolated location.
• Ability to work in an area without a non-automated cooling system. May require constant computer work for long periods of time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and one (1) years of experience in adult corrections, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation or social casework.. A Master degree in in sociology, psychology, social work, criminology, or closely related field will substitute for one year of the required experience.
• OR
• Satisfactory completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) and three (3) years of experience in adult corrections, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation or social casework.
• OR
• Satisfactory completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) and one (1) year as a Classification Counselor 1 in Washington State service
• OR
• Five (5) years of experience in adult corrections, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation or social casework.

*Note: Corrections experience means the focus of the work is dealing directly with Incarcerated Individuals a majority of the time.

In addition to at least one of the above, this position requires:

• Ability to -
  1. Write clearly, factually, and concisely.
  2. Analyze and interpret data, weigh the risks, and make decisions or recommendations to address staff and offender needs.
  3. Identify and address offender behavior/needs.
  4. Organize and prioritize work.
  5. Apply conflict resolution skills.
• Observation - Observes and strategizes personal action based on environmental conditions and human behavior.
• Technology - Learns and utilizes computer-based applications in the performance of job duties.
• Stress Tolerance - Remains calm and rational while handling difficult situations to include, but not limited to, volatile, threatening or other crisis/emergency situations. Expertly intervenes in response to threats.
• Professional Standards - Knows and applies relevant law, policy, procedure, and practice. Adheres to established productivity standards and timelines. Identifies own training needs and proactively seeks training opportunities.
• Adaptability - Incorporates new information into an existing framework of understanding. Accepts change and supports the Agency through changes in law, policy and procedure.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

• Rapid problem-solving ability.
• Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback/criticism.
• Ability to work independently. Completion of Case Management Academy

Supplemental Information

Vision: Working together for safer communities.

Mission:Improving public safety by positively changing lives.

Our Commitment:To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

Our Core Values

1. Cultivate an environment of integrity and trust: Corrections values partnership and trust. We foster openness and support courageous conversations. We are committed to doing what we say we are going to do by being accountable and taking personal ownership in our actions.
2. Respectful and inclusive interactions: Corrections appreciates and values individuals by promoting an inclusive and diverse environment, which encourages safety. We respect, value, and listen to the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of our stakeholders and consider the impact on those we serve as well as each other.
3. People's safety: Corrections believes in creating an environment that values physical, mental, and emotional security and well-being. We honor those who advance safety for all.
4. Positivity in words and actions: At Corrections, we assume positive intentions and believe there is a shared desire for the best outcome. We consistently demonstrate positive behavior and always put forth our best effort.
5. Supporting people's success: Corrections is committed to our community – understanding individuals, instilling hope, embracing change, and providing opportunities.

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.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• This recruitment may be utilized to fill more than one position.
• Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates. Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
• A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.
• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application. You may request the required evaluation/documentation from wes.org and aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.
• DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
• DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Telework Details

This position may be allocated for telework. If authorized for the role, work may be performed from your home or another offsite location within the state of Washington using a reliable internet or cellular hotspot service at that time. Employees are expected to perform assigned duties in a safe manner, to take proper care all state-issued equipment, and maintain confidentiality of all information in possession while working offsite. Employees will be required to commute to a Department of Corrections facility or field office as business requires, to potentially include components of the onboarding process. Some offices will have a "drop in" area available, however, a dedicated workspace within a DOC facility will not be provided.

What We Offer

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!

PERS

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.

OR

PSERS

Many DOC jobs are covered by the Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS). If someone moves from a Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) eligible position to a PSERS eligible position, they actually retire under two different systems/plans. For more information, please contact the Department of Retirement System at: 1-800-547-6657.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email [e-mail] or call us at 360-537-2203. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.