Social Worker​/Release Planner

Social Worker (Release Planners)

Empower Lives, Evoke Change:
Join Our Public Health Social Work Team Today! Jail Health Services (JHS), a division of Public Health - Seattle & King County, is actively seeking four (4) career service compassionate Social Worker (Release Planners) to join our dedicated Social Services section. Joining our dynamic, multidisciplinary healthcare team, you will play a crucial role in assisting individuals to access resources for healthier and more meaningful lives, making this position both rewarding and impactful.

In this role, you'll be deeply engaged in a harm reduction, trauma-informed, and patient-centered approach. Your key responsibilities include facilitating referrals, connecting individuals to medical care, behavioral health treatment, and various benefits and social services. Actively working to eliminate barriers, you will provide essential support such as medication, transportation, cell phones, clothing, and assistance with benefit activation upon release. This support ensures a smooth transition to community from one of two King County jails located in Seattle and Kent, WA.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (minimum):

• Master's degree in social work, psychology, or counseling from an accredited university or equivalent.
• State of Washington associates license (LMHCA, LMFTA, LICSWA, LMFTA, LSWAA) or recognized equivalent) OR ability to apply for licensed agency affiliated counselor (LAAC) within 30 days of employment.
• Two (2) years' full-time work experience (within the last 5 yrs.) in a counseling, social work, or case management capacity with adult populations experiencing severe and persistent behavioral health conditions.
• One (1) year full-time work experience (within the last 5 yrs.) providing psychosocial assessment and managing a caseload where you routinely coordinated medical, mental health, substance use, and other social services.
• One (1) year of full-time work experience (within the last 5 yrs.) in a counseling, social work, or case management capacity in King, Snohomish, or Pierce County OR ability to demonstrate knowledge of local social and behavioral health services.
• Experience working in a position where you routinely coordinated with the criminal legal system.
• Knowledge of specific challenges, trauma responses, behavior and needs for people experiencing legal involvement, housing instability, economic insecurities, substance use disorder and mental health conditions compounded by discrimination and systemic oppression.
• Pass a security clearance and/or background check to secure access to the jails.
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers, with working knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, database programs, Internet, cell phones, and Outlook, electronic health record.
• Ability to travel to various sites within Seattle-King County.

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (desired):

• Bilingual/ bicultural/ individuals with diverse backgrounds, including people with lived experience with behavioral health and recovery, incarceration, houselessness, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities.
• Experience working in a position where you routinely coordinated medical, mental health, substance use, and other social service resources in King County for Medicaid-eligible adults.
• Experience working in a position where you routinely coordinated with the criminal legal system in either King County, Pierce, or Snohomish (courts, defense attorneys, prosecution, probation, correctional institutions).

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
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement: 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