INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT SPECIALIST I
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
MENTAL HEALTH, CHEMICAL ABUSE AND DEPENDENCY SERVICES DIVISION
Hourly Rate Range: $26.66 - $32.58
Job Announcement: 08VB7282
OPEN:  11/19/07        CLOSE: Open Continuous

 

WHO MAY APPLY:  This temporary recruitment is open to the general public. 

WHERE TO APPLY:  Required forms and materials must be sent to Caridad Gavino, MHCADSD, 401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 0400, Seattle, WA  98104.  Contact JoEllen Watson at 206-263-9200 or joellen.watson@kingcounty.gov for further inquiries.   PLEASE NOTE: Applications not received at the location specified above may not be processed.

FORMS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED: ●A King County application form, ●current resume, and ●written responses to the supplemental questionnaire (which summarize how you meet or exceed some of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the primary job functions).  A new King County application can be downloaded from the King County web site, http://www.metrokc.gov/ohrm/jobs/, or picked up from Room 450 in the King County Administration Building, 500 4th Avenue, Seattle.

WORK LOCATION:  Primary work site:  Chinook Building at 401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 0400, Seattle.  Other work sites as necessary to perform job duties.

WORK SCHEDULE:  Temporary on-call positions are available, and the work schedule is variable, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and availability for Court on scheduled days off.  This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.

POSITION PURPOSE:  To provide prompt response to persons in crisis with a goal of stabilizing the crisis in the least restrictive way, facilitating access to mental health services, and/or performing clinical and legal investigation and evaluation for involuntary detention to psychiatric facilities.  The Crisis and Commitment section’s purpose is to provide quality care, and to protect the public safety while maintaining individual rights.

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES INCLUDE: 

• Provide crisis outreach services throughout King County. 
• Investigate allegations, gather evidence, conduct clinical evaluations, and decide, in accordance with RCW 71.05 and 71.34, if psychiatric hospitalization is needed or if referral to other resources is appropriate. 
• Prepare witness statements, serve subpoenas and legal papers, and testify at court hearings.  Complete required legal forms and written documentation of investigation activities. 
• Coordinate the processing of involuntarily committed individuals through the legal system.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

1. A master’s degree in social work, nursing, behavioral sciences, or a related field.  Licensed as a Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor or Registered Nurse preferred.
2. Mental Health Professional as defined in WAC 388-865-0150
3. At least five years of experience in the direct evaluation and treatment of persons with mental illness under the supervision of a mental health professional;
4. Must be able to work varied shifts, in a high stress environment
5. Must be physically able to enter and rapidly exit residences throughout King County; and be able to do extensive hand written documentation.
6. Skill in eliciting patient cooperation and in defusing hostile/violent behavior.
7. Skill in testifying as an expert witness.
8. Demonstrated verbal communication skills including the ability to make presentations to diverse audiences.
9. Proficient in the use of personal computers, with working knowledge of Word, email, Internet and customized database lookup.    
10. Must have the ability to hand write clear and legible file notes etc.

 

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME OF HIRE

11. Registered Counselor with Washington State, or Licensed as a Social Worker, Registered Nurse or Mental Health Counselor.
12. The possession of a valid, unencumbered Washington State driver’s license at the time of appointment.

An offer of employment will be contingent on the success of:

13. The ability to pass a pre-employment physical examination.

14. The ability to pass a Washington State Patrol Background Check per WAC or RCW 43.43.830-845.

 

UNION MEMBERSHIP:  Positions in this classification are represented by Local 925 of SEIU with membership required within 30 days of employment.

 

CLASS CODE:  1051                         SEQUENCE NUMBER: 0000

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT SPECIALIST I

 

Provide a concise written response indicating your background in each of the following areas.  Please print your last name and first initial at the top of each page you submit.

 

DESCRIBE YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, TRAINING, AND WORK EXPERIENCE RELATING TO YOUR ABILITY TO ASSESS MENTAL DISORDERS.  SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS YOUR ABILITY TO:

• Apply knowledge of mental disorders.
• Apply knowledge of behavioral indicators of alcoholism.
• Apply knowledge of behavioral indicators of drug abuse.
• Apply knowledge of indicators of an individual at risk to harm self.
• Apply knowledge of indicators of an individual at risk to harm others.

 

DESCRIBE YOUR EDUCATION BACKGROUND, TRAINING, AND WORK EXPERIENCE RELATING TO YOUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE.  SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS YOUR ABILITY TO:

• Apply knowledge of effective interviewing techniques.
• Summarize interviews, assessments, and plans.
• Accurately and thoroughly fill out forms, case reports, logs, etc.
• Give oral presentations to groups, give court testimony, etc.
• Explain complex clinical and legal issues/decisions to others.
• Use computers for basic communication (documents, email, etc)

 

DESCRIBE YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, TRAINING, AND WORK EXPERIENCE RELATING TO YOUR ABILITY TO WORK WITH MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES.  SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS YOUR ABILITY TO:

• Establish rapport with mentally ill individuals.
• Evaluate mentally ill individuals in their homes or other non-office settings.
• Perform job duties in unpleasant or potentially dangerous situations and/or settings.
• Calm agitated, angry, or distraught individuals.
• Maintain sensitivity to age, race, sexual orientation, disability of individuals.
• Support, educate, and gain cooperation of families and significant others.

 

DESCRIBE YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, TRAINING, AND WORK EXPERIENCE RELATING TO YOUR ABILITY TO WORK WITHIN LEGAL PARAMETERS INVOLVING INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS.  SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS YOUR ABILITY TO:

• Apply knowledge of involuntary commitment laws.
• Read and apply laws and legal guidelines to specific cases.
• Apply knowledge of state and local laws affecting involuntary commitments.
• Interact with members of the legal profession and/or court.