What are the responsibilities and job description for the Behavioral Health Outreach Program - Peer (Social Services Specialist) position at King County?
The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) 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, veterans and those with lived experience.
The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, self-reliant and connected to community.
DCHS manages a wide range of programs and services to assist the county's most vulnerable residents. The department maintains a pro-equity focus aimed at developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all county residents, regardless of race, gender identity or income. We are seeking up to 5 Social Services Specialists to join our Behavioral Health Outreach Program (BHOP) team within the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD).
BHOP consists of three teams that respond to behavioral health crises that occur in assigned patrol areas within King County. The teams provide assistance and/or intervention to persons who are experiencing crisis, homelessness, and/or behavioral health issues. Interventions include community engagement, outreach, de-escalation, screening by visual inspection and brief conversation to determine the need for services and referrals for service.
There are three teams within this program:
• City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach: City Hall Park/King County Campus
• Transit Station Outreach: Downtown light rail stations
• Transit Center Outreach: Burien Transit Center and Onboard Coaches
These are Term Limited Temporary (TLT) positions that are anticipated to be 12 months in duration, but subject to change dependent on business need. If filled by a Current King County employee who has passed their initial probation, the TLT will be as a Special Duty Assignment.
WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The Department of Community and Human Services 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, veterans, and those with lived experiences. Interviews for this selection process will begin on or around the week of February 4, 2025.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Application Process: 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 have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. 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 question should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process, providing your most recent 7 years of applicable experience if available)
Candidates who wish to be considered for these positions must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions.
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information. 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.
Additional Job Information
WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: The applicant pool for this recruitment will be used to fill up to 6 Term-Limited (TLT) or Special Duty (SDA) positions. These positions are full-time and .80 part-time, scheduled to work 32-40 hours per week, shifts will vary dependent on operational need. Work schedules may include nights, weekends, and holidays.• City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach:
o 2-3 positions available
o Hours: 8am - 4pm and 4 pm-12 am
o 32 or 40 hours/week
o Possible workdays: Sunday to Thursday, Tuesday to Sunday or Friday to Monday
• Transit Center Outreach:
o 2-3 positions available
o Hours: 8am to 4pm
o 32 hours/week
o Possible workdays: Friday-Monday
These positions meet the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and are overtime eligible with supervisory preapproval. These positions are not represented by a union.
MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: These positions have been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit
HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.
Recruiter: Annette Coleman, ancoleman@kingcounty.gov• Patrol assigned areas on foot and provide outreach and engage with individuals in the light rail stations or on the trains.
• Assist transit security in responding and engaging with individuals who are experiencing behavioral health crises.
• Provide peer support and intervention services.
• Offer service information and linkage to shelter, housing, behavioral health, medical and employment services.
• Develop trusting relationships with individuals through respectful outreach and client centered engagement practices in order to assess their service needs and respond with appropriate referrals and linkages to resources.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with community partners, shelters, direct service providers and other service or resource organizations to ensure continuity of care for individuals.
• Perform job responsibilities in a manner that respects and promotes individual dignity at all times even when challenged by others.
• Monitor and intervene using de-escalation techniques which includes the use of least amount of physical force when physical or verbal altercations occur.
• Maintain the safety and security of individuals by using visual and auditory cues that indicate whether or not individuals are stable and safe during outreach services.
• Complete written reports with handwriting that is legible, grammatically correct and complete.
• Enter electronic data by typing and saving data via computer to record information as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.• The incumbents in these positions will have a personal history of recovery from mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders.
• Minimum of 2 years as a peer support specialist or equivalent experience in a behavioral health setting.
• Enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.
• Experience serving populations impacted by extreme poverty, behavioral health conditions and mental illness from a harm reduction model of care.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients and outside contacts from a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Skills in de-escalating verbal aggression, hostile or violent behavior.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Effective problem-solving skills using conflict resolution techniques which result in positive outcomes and the ability to apply patience and common sense as needed.
• Effective interpersonal skills in working with and promoting positive teamwork.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team that displays sound decision making in the absence of on-site supervisory oversight.
• Current CPR card or attainable within 90 days.
• Current Basic First Aid card or attainable within 90 days.
• Basic knowledge of signs and symptoms of behavioral health conditions.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License, or the ability to travel around the County in a timely manner.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check on a post offer/pre-employment basis.
*Desired:
Certified Peer Counselor Certification
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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.
Salary : $29 - $36
