DSHS CSTC Institution Counselor 3

Company:  State of Washington
Location: Lakewood
Closing Date: 22/10/2024
Hours: Full Time
Type: Permanent
Job Requirements / Description
Salary: $4,410.00 - $5,929.00 Monthly
Location : Pierce County - Lakewood, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number: 2024-11275
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: BHA
Opening Date: 10/15/2024
Closing Date: 10/29/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
DSHS CSTC Institution Counselor 3 - Emergency Response Training Specialist
This is an exciting opportunity for a meaningful career in an adolescent psychiatric hospital (ages 5 to 17 years old) located in Lakewood, WA where you may grow every day, enjoy the work you do, and help us in our mission to !
Here is your opportunity to use your heartfelt positive engagement skills to be part of a strong, compassionate, and collaborative team. We are looking for individual who would like to combine their passion and empathy for adolescents with our Hospital Training Department and Hospital Safety Committee inspiring a culture of safety.
In this role you will work alongside multidisciplinary treatment teams with patients who exhibit behavioral, emotional, psychiatric difficulties and/or aggressive behaviors. You will be the first line to help staff members to regulate patients. You will assist the Training Department by providing positive feedback through consulting, teaching, and modeling to improve deficient areas to promote our culture of safety.
Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.
Opportunities performed on site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
Some of what you'll do:
  • Support and help de-escalate during the crisis if required based on the situation, intervene, physically restrain and/or seclude.
  • Respond and work with staff who are on-site to use de-escalation techniques to work with a patient before the situation escalates.
  • Respond to all shows of support incidents throughout the hospital, prioritizing the use of Life and Safety through least restrictive interventions.
  • Position, transfer, and physically restrain potentially assaultive or self-harming patients.
  • Lead or support a post incident debrief Immediately after a crisis or return later to debrief.
  • Upon Administrative Leadership request, lead and create a formal debrief document.
  • Proactively gather information related to safety events to create improvement action items and a summary of the event to discuss at inter-shift meetings.
  • Proactively keeps treatment teams informed of observations of specific safety patterns or general milieu concerns.
  • Work with the Training Department to support team member development for working with dysregulated/disruptive patients.
What we are looking for:
  • Working knowledge and skills surrounding therapeutic communication, de-escalation, incident command, seclusion and restraint principles, and situational debriefings.
  • Working knowledge and experience in intervening and de-escalating in crisis or potentially dangerous situations with the ability to safety physically intervene to protect patients from harming self or others by following agency policy and procedures.
  • Proven ability to build rapport with adolescents/patients while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
  • Working knowledge and application of personal conflict resolution.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with management, peers, and patients as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position.
  • Ability to meet the training and competency requirements of Psychiatric Emergency Response Team and Violence Reduction Team programs.
Our ideal applicant will be able to work independently according to established protocols, self-motivated, initiator, problem-solver, and a collaborative individual who enjoys engaging with both patients and staff. You are thoughtful and thorough in your approach, continuously analyzing, observing, thinking outside the box, and finding solutions to challenging problems. You tolerate pressure and stress in adverse environments, multitasking, adapting, and accept responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work to meet or exceed predetermined goals and objectives, all with little need for oversight.
Who should apply?
A Bachelor's degree preferably involving major study in sociology or other social science
And
Two years of experience working with clients in a psychiatric or mental health setting
Or
Equivalent combination of education/experience
*One year of graduate training in behavioral social sciences may be substituted year for year for experience.
You must obtain and maintain an Agency Affiliated Counselor license from the Washington State Department of Health within 60 days of employment as a condition of employment; as well as Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Basic First Aid (BFA) Certifications. More information can be found
Interested in applying? Please include a current resume, cover letter, proof of education, and three professional references.
The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring an equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Questions about this opportunity? Please contact and reference job number 11275.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social & Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its program or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
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More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, are entitled to three (3) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 12-31-2022
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