Social Services Professional (SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Care Coordinator)

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative division within a forward-thinking county is seeking a dedicated Social Services Professional to provide essential care coordination for individuals navigating substance use disorders. This role focuses on delivering trauma-informed, patient-centered services while collaborating with community-based agencies. Join a passionate team committed to equity and social justice, working to dismantle barriers to care for justice-involved individuals. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need, ensuring they receive the support and resources necessary for recovery and reintegration into the community.

Benefits

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience with harm reduction and recovery-related services.
• Knowledge of anti-racism concepts and trauma responses.

Responsibilities

• Conduct screenings and assessments for individuals in the pre-trial court program.
• Engage with individuals using a collaborative, person-centered approach.

Skills

Substance Use Disorder Professional

Trauma-informed care

Crisis intervention

Cultural humility

Case management

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or related field

Registration as a Substance Use Disorder Professional

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Jail Health Services Division of Public Health | Seattle & King County is seeking a licensed Social Services Professional ( Substance Use Disorder Professional) to fill 1 full-time Career Service Social Services Professional (SUD Care coordinator) position. This position is anticipated to be funded through 2025 and potential for further funding is actively being explored.

In 2025, Public Health – Seattle & King County Jail Health Services Division (JHS) will commence comprehensive care coordination for individuals in the City of Seattle pre-trial court program with a focus on on-demand screenings, assessments, and referrals to appropriate substance use disorder (SUD) services and other community-based agencies. The goal of this program is to ensure justice-involved individuals experiencing SUD are connected to individually tailored community-based services, including SUD treatment. The SUD Care Coordinator provides patient-centered, trauma-informed care and engages participants referred by Seattle Municipal Court and provides care coordination and support as they connect with health and social services. This is a unique opportunity for someone who wants to be part of a new partnership with the City of Seattle and work on an existing team that works to remove barriers to accessing care in the community for legally involved individuals. These services could include SUD treatment, behavioral health, medical, and other social services. People with lived experience of substance use, incarceration, houselessness, and/or sex work; people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; and people living with HIV/AIDS and/or hepatitis C are strongly encouraged to apply. Term-limited temporary positions are at-will positions but are eligible for benefits. The funding for these positions is anticipated to last for two years. However, funding is dependent upon decisions being made at both the federal and local levels. As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. JHS is actively working to secure long-term funding for these positions.

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 high-quality 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.

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 visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm

Work Location

Services will be performed by a Jail Health Services (JHS) Care Coordinator/Assessor who will conduct SUD screenings and assessments during court business hours at the following locations:
• Community Resource Center, Seattle Municipal Court, 600 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
• Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC), 401 Fourth Avenue North, Kent, WA 98032.
• King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) at 500 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.

Services include the following components:

• Screenings and Assessments:
  • Conduct on-demand screenings and assessments for individuals in the pre-trial court program.
  • Use evidence-based tools and validated screenings to provide brief screening and intervention, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) level of care placement, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria to assess, place, and appropriately diagnosis eligible individuals referred for SUD screening and assessment.
• Person-Centered, Shared Decision Making, and Harm Reduction:
  • Implement person-centered approaches and shared decision-making practices.
• E mploy harm reduction strategies to support individuals.
• Provide tangible and material resources available in the Community Resource Center (CRC) and the community.
• Travel to different King County Locations
• Assist in making Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and Washington State Apple Health benefits appointments in support of individual's goals.
• * Care Referrals and Authorizations:
  • Refer individuals to SUD services appropriate for their level of need.
  • Obtain authorization for SUD services from Medicaid.
  • Verify Medicaid eligibility for individuals.
• * Social Determinants of Health Screenings:
  • Conduct screenings to assess social determinants of health.
  • Make referrals to other community health agencies based on screening and or assessment results.
• Text Messaging Check-Ins:
  • Provide options for individuals to opt-in to receive text messages for the purpose of checking-in and assisting in coordinating care.
• Follow-up with individuals as appropriate to check in and assist in coordinating their care.
• Engage with people who use drugs (including alcohol) using a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction and trauma-informed practice. Promote diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, patient preferred languages, health literacy, and other communications needed for participants referred to care.
• Conduct standardized screenings to identify emergent social, physical, and behavioral health needs and determine if referrals are necessary.
• Facilitate access to care, including access to community and recovery resources using standard case management practices (e.g., outreach, screening, assessment, brief-intervention, crisis counseling, and psycho-educational support services).
• Distribute harm reduction supplies and provide accurate health and safety information using established messages on safer drug use and overdose safety planning.
• Adapt health information based on clients’ priorities, cultural beliefs, and value systems using accessible realistic language to convey pertinent, complex information.

Ideal Candidate:

• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to honing your clinical skills, especially those related to cultural humility, anti-racist practices, and shared decision making. Registration as a Substance Use Disorder Professional under WAC 440-22-240.
• At least two years of recent, relevant work experience with people involved in the criminal legal system within King, Pierce, or Snohomish County with priority given to people with experience providing harm reduction and recovery-related services for participants with substance use disorders
• Demonstrated skills, experience and knowledge of anti-racism concepts and approaches.
• Knowledge of specific challenges, trauma responses, behavior and needs for people experiencing legal involvement, housing instability, poverty, substance use disorder and mental health diagnoses that are compounded by discrimination and systemic oppression.
• Demonstrated clinical skills, experience, and knowledge of the following:
  • Participant-centered concepts and approaches to case management, including outreach, screening, intake, assessment, intervention, and referral Trauma-informed care concepts, approaches, and trauma responses.
  • Recovery-oriented concepts and approaches.
  • Crisis intervention and suicide risk assessment.
  • Building and maintaining appropriate boundaries with participants.
• Familiarity with Microsoft programs such as Outlook, and the ability to use drop down menus, point and click software, and multiple screens.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to travel on a flexible schedule as needed.
• Must possess valid Washington Driver’s License to drive a county vehicle.

Forbes 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) 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.

Who May Apply

Anyone who meets the minimum qualifications and submits appropriate application materials.

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)
• 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 ( if applicable).
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation,but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.(and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://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.

Additional Information
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.

Union Membership

ProTec 17

Contact

For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at [e-mail]