Social Worker

  • King County (WA)
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Full Time

Summary

The Department of Public Health's Community Health Services (CHS) division is recruiting for a TLT/SDA Social Worker position. The Social Worker is responsible for providing direct services to individuals and groups at the Renton Public Health Center with the First Steps - Maternity Support Services (MSS) & Infant Case Management (ICM) program. The clinic serves a culturally diverse population speaking many different languages. MSS/ICM services are focused on improving the wellbeing of pregnant, post-pregnant individuals and infants through assessment, health education limited behavioral health counseling and crisis intervention, care coordination and referrals to meet client/family needs. Performance of duties may be autonomous and self-directed or provided as part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes services of a public health nurse, social worker, registered dietitian and community health worker. The First Steps program offers home visits, clinic and video visits, and also telephone support.

Ideal candidates will exhibit excellent customer service and clinical skills, have the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with our clients from various cultures, and communicate effectively with English as a Second Language (ESL) clients with the assistance of an interpreter. Ideal candidates will demonstrate initiative, flexibility, compassion, and positive team skills.

Temporary opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary positions are "at-will" positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last 1 YEAR, with a possibility of extension. However, funding sources for this work remain uncertain and dependent upon decisions actively being made at both the federal and local levels. As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. The County and the Department continue to work to secure long term funding sources.

This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity. For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

Additional Incentives:

Public Health employees classified as Social Worker, who have a Master's Degree in Social Work shall be eligible upon approval to receive a 5.5% Master Premium above their current base pay rate on all earnings subject to QUALIFICATION AND APPROVAL as set forth in the Agreement (King County and Union).

Certification & Licensure Premium pay: upon approval and verification of State of Washington associates license (LMHCA, LMFTA, LICSWA, LMFTA, LSWAA) or recognized

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

Work schedule is Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm

Work Location

This position will be primarily located at the Renton Public Health Center (3201 NE 7th ST, Renton WA). Some field/home visiting is also an expectation of this position. May also be asked to work at other locations on an as needed basis depending on staffing and business needs.

Job Duties

General duties may include but are not limited to:

  • Provide direct services to clients including behavioral health assessment, care planning, education, counseling and referral as part of a multi-disciplinary team

  • Conduct comprehensive, culturally sensitive behavioral health assessments of high-risk patients and families, with an emphasis on prenatal and postpartum mothers of infants, children and teens

  • Provide direct services to individuals and groups in Public Health setting in both maternity support services and infant case management, both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team

  • Provide direct behavioral health services and consultation to other specialty clinics within Public Health as indicated and appropriate

  • Educate staff regarding mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse issues and available local resources

  • Provide consultation to a variety of Health Department staff and community partners

  • Work collaboratively as part of a team with other disciplines in public health and the community

  • 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

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate would possess the following skills, experience, knowledge, qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in a social service-related field and one (1) year of full-time related experience or a Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy or Counseling from an accredited university.
  • Certified Counselor Credential or an Associate Level credential or License in Social Work or Mental Health
  • Demonstrated ability to provide social work services independently with minimal immediate supervision and as part of a team.
  • Experience successfully providing behavioral health counseling independently in a health or social service setting including completing assessments, treatment planning, and crisis intervention.
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully apply appropriate and best practice models of care based on a variety of client presentations.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide short-term therapy, group therapy, and consultative assistance.
  • Demonstrated ability to educate other staff regarding mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse issues and available local resources.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to foster and maintain a variety of interpersonal relationships.
  • 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.
  • Have ability to deliver services remotely and in a home/field setting.
  • Commitment to equity and racial justice principles and demonstrated ability to serve clients with cultural humility.

Desired Candidate:

The most competitive candidates will possess:

  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor preferred
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
  • First Steps experience highly desired?
  • At least one year post graduate professional experience providing independent behavioral health counseling service in a health or social service setting
  • Specific specialized experience or advanced training in mental health, domestic violence, or substance abuse
  • Experience providing social services to high-risk maternal-child health clients of low income, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural populations.

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 "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.

Who May Apply

Any individual who meets the above requirements may apply.

Application Process

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 questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
  • Resume

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

  • The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
  • The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR ( if applicable).
  • The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. (and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
  • For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit .
  • Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
  • Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
  • Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
  • Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
  • When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
  • If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Union Membership

ProTec 17

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:

  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
  • 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 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

Do you currently possess or have the ability to obtain a Certified Counselor Credential, an Associate Level Credential, or License in Social Work or Mental Health?

  • Yes
  • No

02

Do you have a Master's degree in social work or behavioral health counseling from an accredited university?

  • Yes
  • No

03

Have you worked independently with a clients as a Social Worker.

  • Yes
  • No

04

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.

05

Do you have experience providing social services to high-risk clients of low income; multi-lingual; multi-ethnic and multi-cultural populations?

  • Yes
  • No

06

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."

07

Do you have specific specialized experience or advanced training in Mental Health, Domestic Violence, or Substance Abuse?

  • Yes
  • No

08

If you answered "yes" to the previous question please provide a brief description of your experience and/or training. If you do not have this type of experience or training type "N/A"

09

Are you aware this TLT/SDA role is for 1 year? With a possibility for extension?

  • Yes
  • No

10

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee 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 Career Service 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.

11

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

Employer King County

Address King Street Center

201 South Jackson Street

Seattle, Washington, 98104

Phone ...

Website

Job ID: 469041436
Originally Posted on: 3/13/2025

Want to find more Social Service opportunities?

Check out the 76,224 verified Social Service jobs on iHireSocialServices