Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist - Jail Health Services

Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist

Public Health Seattle & King County is seeking two (2) Psychiatric Evaluation Specialists (PES) to provide mental status/diagnostic evaluations and related evidence-based interventions, suicide risk assessment, and mental health treatment planning for jail resident-patients within the Jail Health Services division. Incumbents will monitor resident-patients throughout their incarceration and may provide both individual and group treatment to improve the overall functioning of the resident-patient. Additionally, to assist in more streamlined continuity of care, incumbents will ensure appropriate referral to diversion or treatment and may provide testimony in court (ITA) regarding residents-patients.

The PES will make psychiatric housing decisions and refer residents to community mental health providers or into involuntary treatment, as needed. Responsibilities will also include performing chart review / triage functions, providing training on areas of expertise, consultation with other professions, community outreach and engagement, and participating in ongoing process improvement efforts within King County Public Health and Jail Health Services.

Jail Health Services (JHS) Division 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.

This recruitment will be used to create an eligibility pool to fill additional Career Service, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies that may occur over the next six months.

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.

Typical work schedule for this position is 40 hours per week which may include some evening and weekend coverage (evening coverage and weekend coverage is evenly divided amongst team members; team provides coverage daily from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm). Typically, each PES closes one shift per week, and approximately 10-12 weekend shifts per year (Saturdays primarily).

Primary work location will be based at the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) located at 500 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 and secondary location will be based at the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) located at 401 Fourth Avenue North, Kent, WA 98032.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

This position is posted as open until filled. Next review will be conducted of applications received by September 10th at 11:59 pm.