Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist - Jail Health Services

Psychiatric Evaluation Specialists (PES)

Public Health – Seattle & King County is seeking two (2) Psychiatric Evaluation Specialists (PES) to provide mental status/diagnostic evaluations and related evidence‑based interventions, suicide risk assessment, and mental health treatment planning for jail resident‑patients within the Jail Health Services division. Incumbents will monitor resident‑patients throughout their incarceration and may provide both individual and group treatment to improve overall functioning of the resident‑patient, assist with continuity of care, and may provide testimony in court.

The PES will make psychiatric housing decisions and refer residents to community mental health providers or into involuntary treatment, as needed. Responsibilities 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) Division provides 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 division includes over 250 employees and an annual budget of over $60 million.

• Initiate psychiatric assessments; conduct formal diagnostic assessment in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM‑5); provide evidence‑based individual and group therapeutic intervention based on specific psychiatric needs of the resident‑patient; identify medical conditions and make referrals to medical professionals, chronic mental illness, developmental disability, suicide‑risk and depressed inmates; determine need for involuntary treatment; develop a treatment plan; and provide witness testimony regarding patient’s presentation and behavior.
• Assess substance dependence, abuse, intoxication, withdrawal, and other substance‑related disorders. Provide brief interventions and refer appropriately for longer‑term care.
• Conduct case management and follow‑up.
• Work with Release Planners to ensure continuity of care and referral to community mental health services.
• 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 resident‑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 resident‑patient, correctional staff and courts to ensure diversion or release for appropriate treatment.
• Lead regularly scheduled unit 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.
• Attend various community organizational meetings as representative of JHS and provide training on the operations and services of JHS.
• Review charts and evaluations performed by psychiatric hospital personnel and develop treatment plans and/or refer accordingly.
• Act as consultant to other disciplines (including the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention; DAJD) and professions on the presentation of mental illness in a correctional setting.
• Perform release interviews with resident‑patients and refer them to a Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) for additional evaluation, if necessary.

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in psychology, social work, clinical counseling, or a related field, from an accredited university.
• Independent licensure as a psychologist, mental health counselor, clinical independent social worker, marriage and family therapist or recognized alternate licensure.

• Working knowledge of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM‑5).
• Working knowledge and past experience with evidence‑based practices for mood, psychotic, and personality disorders.
• Working…