Social Worker



Social Worker

Salary

$33.73 - $42.75 Hourly

Location

Seattle, WA

Job Type

Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2020DG12528

Department

DPH - Public Health

Opening Date

06/04/2021

Closing Date

8/3/2021 10:46 AM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

C9A : PROTEC17-DPH, DCHS-Health Prof

Summary

Public Health – Seattle and King County 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, and veterans.
 
Public Health - Seattle and King County is looking for a dedicated Social Worker for our Downtown Family Health Clinic at the Downtown Public Health Center. This Social Worker will work as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fast paced Family Health Clinic offering primary care services to low-income families (newborns to seniors) with medical complexity and social vulnerability, specifically homelessness.  Our multidisciplinary team includes core public health physicians, ARNPs, Swedish Family Medicine Residency, nurses, medical assistants, social worker, nutrition services, interpreters, referral coordination, a full complement of admin staff and on-site insurance enrollment assistance.  Our clinic has open-door access addressing same day needs.  We aspire to the highest level of NCQA medical home accreditation.  We value low-barrier access to high quality care for all patients and strive to reduce institutional and systemic barriers to that care.
 
The Social Worker provides behavioral health care management as a core member of the Family Health Team. The social worker is responsible for supporting and coordinating the behavioral health care needs of patients in collaboration with the healthcare team. They provide services including health education, direct counseling and crisis intervention, case management and care coordination and referral to resources to meet the patient's needs. Performance of duties may be autonomous and self-directed, or provided as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Please note that this position is being reposted. If you have already applied to it, you do not need to resubmit an application.

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nations' history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

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

Who may apply: This full-time Career Service position is open to all qualified candidates..

Work Schedule: This 1.0 FTE works 40 hours per week (schedule to be determined at point of hire, based on clinic service needs). It is non-exempt and therefore subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

WORK LOCATION: 
Downtown Public Health Center 
2124 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121

***Not able to work remotely or telecommute, PPE will be provided***

Application Process:
The following items are required to be considered for this position:
  • NEOGOV/Government Jobs online or paper. (Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.)    
  • Supplemental questions    
  • Resume    
  • A cover letter that summarizes your interest and how you meet the qualifications for this position
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.

Job Duties

  • Provide direct services to patients in Family Health Clinic including case management and care coordination, health education, counseling and referral as part of a multi-disciplinary team.    
  • Screen and assess patients for mental health and substance use disorders. Facilitate patient engagement and follow-up care.  Provide patient education about common mental health and substance use disorders and the available treatment options.    
  • Support psychotropic medication management as prescribed by medical providers, focusing on treatment adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.    
  • Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.    
  • Provide or facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to community behavioral health services as clinically indicated.    
  • Track patient follow up and clinical outcomes using a registry. Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in EHR and other required systems.    
  • Facilitate referrals for indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance use disorder treatment).    
  • Work collaboratively as part of a team with other disciplines in Public Health and the community.    
  • Provide crisis intervention, short-term counseling and referral services to stabilize client psychosocial needs and coping skills.    
  • Coordinate with supervisor regarding activity priorities according to program and site needs.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

  • Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Counseling/Behavioral Health from an accredited university    
  • At minimum must be able to obtain a credential as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor within probation period.  Probation could be extended up to one year if meeting other performance requirements.    
  • Experience with assessment and treatment planning for common mental health and/or substance use disorders.  Working knowledge of differential diagnosis of common mental health and/or substance use disorders    
  • Experience and skills in providing interventions for depression and anxiety using Trauma Informed care principals    
  • Ability to effectively engage patients in a therapeutic relationship, and ability to work with patients by telephone as well as in person.    
  • Working knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial treatments and brief behavioral interventions for common mental health disorders (e.g., motivational interviewing, problem-solving treatment, behavioral activation).    
  • Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders.    
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to foster and maintain a variety of interpersonal relationships and to provide social work services independently with minimal immediate supervision and as part of a team.    
  • Demonstrated ability to apply professional social work principles, methodology and ethics    
  • Knowledge of crisis intervention principles and skills    
  • Knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practice and understanding of the effects of health disparities and population health    
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of organization to meet high volume workload demands    
  • Working knowledge of standard software applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook    
  • Ability to travel in a timely manner within King County to locations that may have limited access to public transportation.    
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team setting.    
  • A current BLS CPR certification and AED training required by start date. CPR/AED Heartsaver courses do not meet this requirement.   
Or: 
  • Any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the work.
Desirable Qualifications: 
  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) preferred.    
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.    
  • Post graduate professional experience providing independent behavioral health services in a health or social service setting.    
  • Experience providing services to high-risk clients of low income, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural populations.

Supplemental Information

Forbes recently 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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Necessary Special Requirements:
  • The selected candidate is required to pass a background investigation.    
  • Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.    
  • Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required trainings on time.

Union Affiliation: This position is represented by Protec Local 17 Union.    

Contact: If you have questions regarding this job announcement, please contact Catherine Fitzpatrick, Human Resources Analyst via email at catherine.fitzpatrick@kingcounty.gov.

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:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • 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: King County employees are eligible to 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 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and 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 please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

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.  Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
 
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
Do you have a Master's degree in social work or behavioral health counseling from an accredited university?
  • Yes
  • No
02
Do you currently possess or have the ability to obtain a License in Social Work or Mental Health? Associate credential does not meet this criteria.
  • Yes
  • No
03
If you answered no, explain when will you be able to obtain this license and what requirements you need to complete, otherwise, please put N/A.
04
Have you worked independently as a Behavioral Health provider with minimal immediate supervision?
  • Yes
  • No
05
If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please provide a brief description of your experience working with minimal on-site supervision, including the name of the organization where you did this work. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A."
06
Do you have experience providing social services to high-risk clients of low income; multi-lingual; multi-ethnic and multi-cultural populations?
  • Yes
  • No
07
If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please provide a brief description your experience providing social services to clients of low income; multi-lingual; multi-ethnic and multi-cultural populations. If you do not have this type of experience or training, type "N/A."
08
Are you applying to this position as a Priority Placement Program Participant And Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
  • Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County AND I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND The position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
  • No.
09
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 notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

Required Question

Agency
King County
Address
King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Phone
206-477-3404