Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist

Salary : $98,800.00 - $125,257.60 Annually

Location : Seattle, WA

Job Type : Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs / week

Job Number : 2024AO23054 - 1

Department : DPH - Public Health

Division : Jail Health Services

Opening Date : 01 / 10 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

FLSA : Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit : D1 : WSCCCE L21HD-DPH

Full- or Part-Time : Full Time

Hours / Week : 40 hours / week

Summary

This position is open until filled, and applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis (timeframe that applications will be reviewed). Applications received by 2 / 7 / 2025 will be given first consideration.

The responsibilities of the Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist (PES) include providing mental status / diagnostic evaluations and related evidence-based interventions, suicide risk assessment, and mental health treatment planning for resident-patients. The incumbent 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, the incumbent will ensure appropriate referral to diversion or treatment and may provide testimony in court (ITA) regarding inmate-patients.

The incumbent will make psychiatric housing decisions and refer resident-patients 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) 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

Work Schedule

The work hours will be 40 hours per week; primarily day shift and includes some evening and weekend coverage.

Work Location

The work associated with this position will be performed on-site

at both King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Downtown Seattle and the

Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent, depending on business needs.

Job Duties

• Conduct diagnostic assessment in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5-TR); provide evidence based individual and group therapeutic intervention based on the specific psychiatric needs of the patient(s); make referrals to other disciplines (including medical professionals).
• Detect and provide intervention for symptoms of mental illness, developmental disability, suicide-risk and depressed inmate-patients; determine need for involuntary treatment; develop a treatment plan; and provide witness testimony regarding patient's presentation and behavior.
• Assess for substance dependence, abuse, intoxication, withdrawal, and other substance-related disorders. Provide brief interventions and refer appropriately for longer term care and when acuity is present.
• Collaborate and coordinate with JHS Social Services staff to ensure continuity of care and referral to community mental health services and other resources.
• Make psychiatric housing decisions within the jail; assess need for additional intervention and mental status evaluations and provide additional intervention(s) when needed; and track patient's progression through the legal system.
• Develop mental health treatment plans; communicate and coordinate care with Psychiatric Providers and other JHS staff; act as liaison between the patient, correctional staff and courts to ensure diversion or release for appropriate treatment.
• Attend regularly scheduled team meetings to review cases and utilization of various treatment approaches.
• Provide in-service training to all health and corrections staff on various areas of expertise, including suicide prevention.
• Ongoing commitment to promoting Equity and Social Justice within Jail Health Services.
• Ongoing commitment to understanding how the intersections of patient social identities and experiences impact engagement and connection to community-based services.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Minimum :

Desired :

Supplemental Information

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 , 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

This full-time position is open to all qualified applicants

Application Process 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.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy :

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

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 :

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 Local 21

Contact For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at

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 :

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 : eligible King County employees may 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

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.

Have you earned a Master's or Doctoral Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Clinical Counseling, or a related field from an accredited university?

Please indicate certification or licensure, which you possess for the State of Washington. If you indicated other licensure / certification, please describe (Check all that apply.)

If you selected "Other" as one of your selections in question number 2, please describe. If not applicable, type N / A

Please provide a detailed description of your experience performing psychiatric assessments / mental status examinations and conducting formal diagnostic testing in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5). If you do not have this experience, then type N / A.

Please provide a detailed description of your experience working with evidence-based treatment modalities. Please include a description of the intervention type, diagnosis / disability / symptom for which the intervention was used with outcome, and population with whom the intervention was used.

Please provide your experience working with patients with serious mental illness, including assessment for developmental disability and risk of harm to self and / or others. As part of your answer, please include agency name(s), the span of time, and the scope of your responsibilities. If you do not have this experience, then type N / A.

Please provide a detailed description of your experience assessing the need for involuntary treatment. If you do not have this experience, then type N / A.

Do you have experience providing testimony in a judicial setting regarding a patient's presentation and behavior?

Do you have experience working in correctional facilities and / or psychiatric hospitals?

Are you willing and able to work at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle and the Regional Justice Center in Kent, as assigned?

Are you willing and able to work schedules which require some evening and weekend hours?

Please indicate languages other than English in which you have some degree of oral proficiency. (Please put N / A if none)

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

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 notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff

Required Question

Salary : $98,800 - $125,258