Jail Health Services (JHS), a division of Public Health | Seattle & King County, is seeking a driven, dynamic, and inspirational leader to oversee our Psychiatric Services section in our practice!
 
The Psychiatric Services Manager will provide leadership and oversight of all psychiatric programs within JHS, including providing guidance, vision, and direction to best serve our patients. This position is pivotal in building a work environment that promotes equity and social justice, employee engagement, inclusiveness, teamwork, continuous improvement, and connection across the psychiatric services programs and teams. This oversight role will also be responsible for setting and meeting service standards, accreditation requirements, and improving mental health systems and processes for one of the jail’s most vulnerable populations. The Psychiatric Services Team works to honor program participant self-determination and autonomy while working within the criminal legal and public health systems.
 
The Psychiatric Services Team is comprised of Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, and Psychiatric Evaluation Specialists who work collaboratively with all other Jail Health Services staff across the practice to provide mental health services to patients. The team operates within the King County adult jails and they collaborate with multiple partners including the Department of King County Adult and Juvenile Detention, criminal justice organizations, and other government and community healthcare organizations.
 
JHS is on a journey striving toward becoming an anti-racist practice and need a psychiatric services leader able to support us in getting there. We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Brown, and Indigenous People of Color. This position requires advocacy within institutions founded in systemic racism, identifying and reducing barriers to care while pushing for systemic change.

About Jail Health Services:
JHS provides needed health and social services to the people incarcerated in the King County jails – King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle, WA and Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent, WA. The primary services we provide include medical, dental, mental health, social and release planning services, treatment of substance use disorders, and pharmaceutical services. Our team shares a commitment to respectfully caring for and engaging participants in a culturally responsive manner, meeting them where they are, using holistic and strengths-based approaches, and trauma informed care to foster their health and mental wellbeing and reduce recidivism. Our division includes over 230 employees and an annual budget of approximately $60 million.
 
The purpose of JHS is to assure that high-quality health and human services are available to the people incarcerated in the King County adult correctional facilities: the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent. The JHS vision is “Opening doors to healthier, happier lives”, and the mission is “To assess and stabilize serious health problems for the detained persons of the King County Correctional Facility and the Maleng Regional Justice Center with a focus on transition from jail”.
 
Staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, JHS provides a broad range of health care to all individuals booked into the jails. For patients with serious mental health or medical conditions, special housing units (psychiatric and infirmary) along with a higher level of services and medical monitoring are provided. Since the patient population varies both in numbers as well as in acuity of health conditions, staffing is adapted and flexed to meet the constantly changing needs of the population.
 
JHS staff manage the complex health needs of underserved people many of whom come to the facility without access to care in the community and with decompensated acute and chronic health conditions.
The UW Psychiatry Residency Training program is one of the largest in the United States. Jail Health Services is uniquely connected to the University of Washington Psychiatry Residency Training program through 3rd and 4th year resident training electives as well as a jail moonlighting position. Some jail staff psychiatrists hold positions with UW as Assistant Clinical Professors, assuring residents learn directly about the barriers to care in the jail setting, while promoting recovery and justice for those at the intersection of poverty, race, incarceration and mental illness.
Jail Health Services is a division of the broader Public Health – Seattle & King County, which partners closely with the University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center to provide needed care and treatment to the community. Harborview Medical Center is the only trauma center in Washington State for Level 1 care – the highest level of comprehensive care for major injuries. JHS partners closely with Harborview and specialty services to ensure jail patients receive the quality of care and treatment needed.
 
Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
 
The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
 
We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.
 
To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx 
Who May Apply: 
This full-time position is open to all qualified applicants.
 
Work Location:
The primary work locations are at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle and Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.This position will work primarily onsite in the jails, but may telecommute periodically.

Work Schedule:
The normal work week is Monday through Friday, with some evening, night, and weekend work as necessary.

• Lead and oversee the ongoing evolution of psychiatric services within Jail Health Services by designing systems, providing direction, determining priorities, and co-creating plans to be responsive to patient needs. This includes the assessment and assignment of various psychiatric services bodies of work, the distribution of the work, and the appropriate classifications to perform the work.
• Participate in JHS healthcare delivery and cultural transformation. Collaborate with the JHS Medical Director, Social Services Manager and Nursing Services Manager to set clinical priorities, develop policy and protocols, and provide direction for the design and evaluation of transformative psychiatric services programs. 
• Ensure all psychiatric services staff engage in culturally responsive services to patients in our care using human-centered, anti-racist, and trauma-informed approaches for the delivery of services.
• Promote the hiring of racially, ethnically and culturally diverse team members. 
• Directly supervise the Psychiatric Services Team including hiring/separation actions, performance feedback and reviews, providing and advocating for skill development, as well as setting and reviewing expectations of the team. Clinical supervision of Psychiatric Evaluation Staff and coordination with Managing Psychiatrist role to oversee clinical practices of Psych Provider (Psychiatrist and Psych ARNP) staff. Oversee and assure clinical quality standards and expectations are set and monitored through a clinical performance review process, as well as manage and monitor staff behaviors and expectations to meet all JHS and PH policies, guidelines, and expectations to create and maintain a healthy work environment.
• Ongoing commitment to understanding how the intersections of patient social identities and experiences impact engagement and connection to community-based services. 
• Organize and facilitate staff development activities such as clinical practice updates, case rounds, clinical skill development, community resources/partners updates, and law updates. Provide in-service mental health services training for all jail staff, as needed.
• Establish trusted partnerships with key community-based organizations, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO), defense attorneys, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, the King County Executive Team, and other divisions of King County Public Health. Identify and foster new possibilities for effective collaboration with community-based providers and program partners. 
• Represent the JHS psychiatric services practice perspective to community health care partners and other organizations. Participate in the negotiation of partnership contracts and agreements.
• Serve on the JHS Leadership and Clinical Leadership Teams as the expert on psychiatric services programs and programmatic changes within Jail Health Services. 
• Provide clinical and technical oversight, case consultation, coaching, and troubleshooting to the staff in the psychiatric services unit to create a cohesive, skilled, and supported team.
• Assist with development, implementation, and management of clinical practice guidelines and clinical performance reviews.
• Along with the JHS Leadership Team, monitor and ensure compliance with National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards, regulatory requirements, and legally mandated training requirements for psychiatric services. Ensure compliance with applicable laws and statutes in the provision of psychiatric services at JHS. Lead or sponsor projects and practice changes in alignment with established healthcare standards and/or regulatory requirements.
• Develop/monitor QA/QI projects for psychiatric services. Determine appropriate metrics and data gathering strategies. Interpret data, produce reports, and oversee practice in alignment with the strategic direction and vision of the division.
• Monitor and participate in requirements related to grant funds and programs growth in psychiatric services. Requires close partnership with finance section of Division.

• PhD or PsyD in Psychology from an accredited university with a current license in good standing. 
• Documentation of current BLS CPR certification with AED training required at time of hire. CPR/AED Heart saver courses do not meet this requirement. 
• Ongoing commitment to learning, understanding, and effective application of anti-racist practices when working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
• Ongoing commitment to learning, understanding and effective application of culturally humble practices when working with marginalized identities.
• Experience leading psychiatric programs and teams with a participant-and family-centered, anti-racist, strengths-based, and trauma-informed lens and approach. 
• Ability to co-create a compelling vision for psychiatric services and align team members around a strategic plan to work toward stated goals. Strength in fostering teamwork across different disciplines and programs to break down silos and build alignment.
• Five years or more of progressive management experience in a large governmental or private organization, with a well-developed, broad range of administrative, clinical, negotiation, facilitation, and management skills.
• Applied Knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM 5) of Mental Health Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association.
• Experience with adults (age 18 and older) presenting with complex needs requiring multiple system involvement for resolution.
• Deep knowledge of specific challenges, trauma responses, behavior and needs for people experiencing legal involvement, housing instability, poverty, substance use disorder and mental health diagnoses compounded by discrimination and systemic oppression.
• Skill in communicating and coaching effectively, engaging in or learning to have difficult crucial conversations with staff, humbly, from a place of learning, and give/receive timely feedback. Uphold staff to the values of respect and cultural humility.
• Skill in motivating and inspiring others, commitment to quality work under various conditions, positive perspective, and commitment to teambuilding.
• Experience and ability to lead, manage, and coach others through complex Human Resource issues and challenges. Knowledge or experience in working within a highly unionized workplace or similar environment.
• Effectively and respectfully communicating with others (e.g., stakeholders), engaging in difficult crucial conversations to facilitate shared learning. 
• Expertise in change management practices, e.g., restorative justice practices, and mindful of various perspectives and experiences to bring others through change together. Skill in fostering participant self-determination, autonomy and rapport building with harder to reach people; ability to develop those skills in others.
• Knowledge of and experience with crisis intervention techniques, including assessment for risk of suicide or harm to self or others. 
• Skill in data collection, analysis, reporting, and data-driven decision making for psychiatric services programs and participant outcomes.
• Ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships across multi-disciplinary teams; ability to resolve conflict between individuals and groups.
• Knowledge of community providers, resources, and criteria for providing services.
• Knowledge of regulations, laws, and standards related to mental health services including requirements related to licensure and scope of work.
• Experience effectively using electronic health record systems. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Proficiency in a language other than English, including American Sign Language.
• Additional education or certification relevant to this work. 
• Experience working within a correctional facility and/or with individuals involved in the carceral system.
• Experience, knowledge, and/or specialized training in LGBTQIA healthcare, including transgender and/or gender affirming health care and treatment. 
• Experience rolling out new programming within King County or a similar large city/county government that serves adults experiencing co-occurring disorders, legal involvement and/or significant trauma. 

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Application Process:
Applications will be reviewed after the job posting closes. The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:
 

1. NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line or paper application 
2. Supplemental questionnaire responses
3. Resume
4. Letter of interest

Please do not use "see resume" in your application or answers to supplemental questions as these will be considered incomplete.
 
Please do not copy and paste your entire resume, or copy and paste your entire job history, as your answers to the supplemental questions as these will be considered incomplete.
 
You may attach multiple documents if you wish:
 

• Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
• Attach multiple documents/files in the resume attachment section. 

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the standard information in the application. Providing information only in a resume will not be considered a complete application.
 
Your application materials must validate your answers to the supplemental questions. If your answers cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the process.
 
The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation. In the event the job classification requires an exam; an offer of employment will be contingent on passing a pre-employment physical exam and must maintain security clearance.
 
Supplemental Information:
This selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, testing and interviewing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs/applying.aspx 
 
Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
 
Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
 
Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
 
Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
 
Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.
 
If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.
 
Applicants from this job posting may be used to fill temporary or other positions in this classification for a period of up to a 6 months.

Additional Information:
Public Health - Jail Health Services follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including, but not limited to, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in, or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:
 

• Sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution. 
• Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or, 
• Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

Additionally, PREA standards require that the department consider any incidents of sexual harassment involving an inmate or detainee in determining whether or not to hire or promote anyone.
 
The above is in compliance with PREA and its implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 115, Subpart A, Section 115.17, Hiring and Promotion Decisions.
 
Union affiliation:
Non-Represented
 
Contact:
For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at alowens@kingcounty.gov.