WHO MAY APPLY: Open to the public.
We are seeking three (3) Mental Health Professionals (MHP) to join the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) Co-Response Team! The KCSO Co-Response team is dedicated to providing crisis response services across King County. We are growing and looking for MHPs to help connect individuals to appropriate law enforcement, emergency medical response, and social service resources.
In partnership with the KCSO deputies, you will co-respond to calls for service that have an intersection with public safety and crisis response. The KCSO MHP will accompany deputies on patrol to assist individuals with mental health, substance use, housing insecurity, and other social service needs.
Co-Response includes considerable public contact, crisis triage and de-escalation. You will apply knowledge of behavioral health to crisis situations and provide appropriate recovery referrals for substance use and other social services. This position will work closely with programs assisting community members with housing, job training, behavioral health, and other social service resources.
- Co-respond with deputies to calls for service involving behavioral health issues, social services deficits, and intersection with public safety/crisis response
- Provide emergency crisis care, triage assessment, and service referrals.
- Determine appropriate service delivery agencies, follow up on service connections, and evaluate and modify recovery service referrals as needed.
- Document all recovery referral methods, including direct services, community member-related activities, and follow-up contact; initiate, respond to, and maintain written and oral contact with appropriate parties.
- Participate in an advisory capacity for case management and case consultation with representatives from internal and external agencies.
- Serve as an advocate for community members in obtaining appropriate recovery services and continuity of care.
- Identify and establish working relationships with community resources, establish referral protocols, and act as liaison between clients and those resources as needed.
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling psychology, or related field. Upcoming graduates are encouraged to apply.
- Mental Health Professional as defined in WAC 275-55-100.
- Licensure (associate or full) as a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, mental health professional, licensed mental health counselor and/or mental health specialist, or related credential.
- Proven empathetic approach and skills that will help foster trust and build connections with those who require assistance, ensuring they feel understood and valued
- Effective, clear, and empathetic communication skills.
- Strong crisis management skills in de-escalating tense situations and promoting a safe environment while maintaing a calm and composed demeanor.
- Ability to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and communities in and around King County.
- Knowledge of psychotherapy theory and techniques and psychopharmacology.
- Knowledge of public mental health systems, veterans’ mental health systems, Involuntary Treatment Act, and other related social service providers.
- Knowledge and experience in direct treatment of mental/behavioral health issues.
- Ability to demonstrate effective verbal, written and presentation skills.
- Skill in detecting the signs, symptoms, and behaviors of depression, neurodivergence, mental illness, other behavioral health issues, and substance use.
- Skill in navigating and engaging with conflicting perspectives.
- Skill in aiding people in crisis to engage with services.
- Skill in advising and referrals for recovery planning involving several providers/services.
- Skill in clinical counseling.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience below is preferred, but NOT required:
- Experience partnering with law enforcement
- Experience in treatment of mental health issues, substance use issues and/or social service deficits
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Ability to stand and walk for long durations (hours) of time (Primarily with Sound and Metro-but other places as well)
- Ability to work in inclement weather, hot, cold, rain for long durations (hours) of time
- Ability to navigate, climb and descend several flights of stairs for emergencies in building when elevators are unavailable or for safety reasons
- Ability to bend, twist, sit, stand, and be on knees while responding to calls for service (example, aiding in CPR and use of an AED on the ground)
- Ability to navigate small spaces like cramped apartments, hoarded homes, confined spaces such as the passenger seat of patrol cars with computer stands and other equipment that is present
- Ability to run or jog in sort durations/distances, should safety needs arise
- Ability to exit and enter a patrol vehicle in emergency or evacuation situations and to ride in a patrol vehicle between 30-40 hours a week
- Ability to lift and carry 30-50 lbs for bursts of time. Ex-gear such as body armor, small children if we are assisting CPS or in other crisis situations
- Ability to participate in the full range of care under fire and/or stop the bleed training and implementation of training in the field
- Ability to navigate through rough and uneven terrain such as brambles, the woods, inclines, hills, and be able to navigate over short fences, retaining walls under 3-4 feet tall (this happens when going to encampments or down paths in parks or larger properties)
KCSO AUTO DISQUALIFIERS
Candidates who have one or more automatically disqualifying factors in their background may be disqualified. Review the list of disqualifiers prior to completing the application at KCSO Automatically Disqualifying Behaviors.
WORK SCHEDULE This position is based on 40 hours (weekdays, approximately 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). Hours may vary based on business need, and may include some occasional early morning, evening, and weekend hours. This position is based at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle but may require travel to worksites throughout King County. Some hybrid in-person/remote work may be available.
TO APPLY:
Application materials will be reviewed upon closing of the job announcement, and evaluated for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates will be invited to an interview, tentatively scheduled to occur in August.
UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is represented by the Public Safety Employees Union (PSEU).
QUESTIONS:
Michelle Kobuki, Human Resource Analyst, Civil Service
michelle.kobuki@kingcounty.gov
206-477-4740