Involuntary Commitment Specialist - Designated Crisis Responder (HIRING BONUS!!!)

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Involuntary Commitment Specialist - Designated Crisis Responder (HIRING BONUS!!!)

Salary

$45.03 - $57.08 Hourly

Location

Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA

Job Type

Multiple job types-career service and/or temp

Job Number

2023JKD0011

Department

DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs

Division

Behavioral Health and Recovery

Opening Date

01/26/2024

Closing Date

Continuous

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

A4 : SEIU L925-Involuntary Commit

Full- or Part-Time

Full Time

Hours/Week

40 hours/week

Summary

NEW HIRING INCENTIVE PAY

Newly hired Designated Crisis Responder may be eligible for hiring incentives up to $5000.00*.  Any employee who receives the $5000.00 one-time bonus and who separates from employment prior to the completion of their probationary period, for any reason other than by disability, medical separation, or death, shall be required to return the entire one-time bonus.

The responsibilities of the DCR include investigating cases of adults and juveniles believed to have a behavioral health disorder and to be a danger to themselves, others, property, and/or who are gravely disabled. Incumbents determine whether these persons should be involuntarily detained for treatment under RCW 71.05 and RCW 71.34 and coordinate cases through the legal system. The DCR team provides investigation services for involuntary detention on a 24-hour-a-day basis and must be able to meet with and interview patients in a variety of physical locations with difficult access, such as apartments on upper floors with no elevator service, alleys, parks, homeless camps, and under bridges. Incumbents must also be able to anticipate and respond to threats by potentially hostile or violent patients. The crisis and Commitment Services unit's mission is to provide quality care and to protect public safety while maintaining individual rights by attempting to resolve the crisis in the least restrictive manner.

Job Duties


  • Work collaboratively with community partners (i.e., hospital, evaluation and treatment facility, law enforcement, court, families, witnesses, etc.) to assist in evaluation and disposition plans for patients.
  • Make a legal decision as to whether an individual meets the statutory requirements to be taken into custody and involuntarily hospitalized under RCW 71.05 and 71.34.
  • Determine the nature and level of crisis, provide crisis intervention, assess the credibility of witnesses, coordinate with law enforcement and treatment agencies, and determine if statutory requirements are met.
  • Ensure proper preparation and filing of legal papers, prepare declarations, serve subpoenas, and notice of hearings, consult with King County Prosecuting Attorney and public defender, and testify in court if needed. If the DCR testimony is necessary to proceed in a court hearing, may be required to be available to the court on scheduled time off.
  • Maintain all aspects of the case file on time and communicate with colleagues to ensure efficiency and completeness of the record.
  • Advocate for patients to obtain appropriate treatment and continuity of care. Assist in finding less-restrictive alternatives to involuntary detention.
  • Educate patients’ families, service agencies, and the community regarding clinical issues, legal issues, and treatment alternatives.
  • Participate in training new colleagues in the field, when so assigned, as mutually agreed to by supervisor and training employee.
  • Provide shadowing opportunities for community partners approved by management to shadow the DCR, as long as it does not impede safety.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

  • Must meet and maintain the definition of a Mental Health Professional as defined in WAC 246-341- 0515.
  • Must maintain a Washington State Department of Health credential that satisfies the definition of MHP in good standing.
  • Must be able to pass initial and all subsequent King County Jail clearances.
  • Be physically able to safely enter and rapidly exit residences throughout King County. Proficiency using MS Word, Outlook, and the Internet with the ability to learn electronic record systems.
  • Participate in annual safety training and all required training.
  • Must maintain a valid, unencumbered Washington State Driver's License.
  • Knowledge of RCW 71.05 and RCW 71.34 and related WACs and the legal process of detention and commitment

Please Note: 
An offer of employment will be contingent on meeting the following conditions:
  • Possession of a valid unencumbered Washington State Driver's License at the time of hire.
  • Ability to pass a post-offer/pre-employment physical examination.
  • Ability to pass a Washington State Patrol Background Check on a post-offer/pre-employment basis.

Supplemental Information

WORK SCHEDULE: The full-time positions typically work four 9.5-hour shifts per week (0.95 FTE and this will also be used to fill temporary on-call positions). Shifts are typically 9.5 hours/day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This is a union shop and shift selections are annual and based on seniority. The selected candidates may be assigned to the night (graveyard) shift including weekends and holidays. Successful candidates must be available to testify at ITA court and attend staff meetings and/or mandatory training on scheduled days off. These positions are eligible for overtime (nonexempt) with supervisory pre-approval. Candidates must be willing to work in environments that may cause exposure to communicable diseases. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with prior supervisory pre-approval.

WORK LOCATION: 401 5th Ave, Seattle

UNION STATUS: These positions are represented by SEIU Local 925.  

WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the qualifications.

TO APPLY: To apply for this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format or would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact the recruiter Jalynn Davis via email at jalydavis@kingcounty.gov.

SELECTION PROCESS: We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans. Applications will be reviewed for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. All materials will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a series of interviews.

Forms and Materials Required
An online employment application must be completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. The employment history should go back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience).
 
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 are 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 Americans 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.
 

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 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 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.  
 
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 licensed in any of the following fields?
  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Social Worker
  • Marriage and Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Registered Nurse
  • I am not licensed in any of the above fields
02
Are you a Mental Health Professional as defined in WAC 246-341-0515?
  • Yes
  • No
03
How many years of work experience do you have with direct evaluation and treatment of persons with mental illness under the supervision of a mental health professional?
  • Less than two years
  • Two to four years
  • More than four years
04
Select what type of position you would like to be considered for:
  • Full-Time (38 hours/week; Night Shift)
  • Per Diem (On-call as needed)
  • Either Full-time or Per Diem (On call)
  • Short Term Temporary
05
Describe where you have at least two (2) years of relative experience. Please list the organization and dates.
06
Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? 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? 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. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
  • No.
07
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