Mental Health Evaluation Specialist - Corrections Bureau

Salary: $43.48 - $55.58 Hourly

Location : Pierce County, WA

Job Type: Civil Service

Job Number: CS25-05

Department: Sheriff - Corrections

Opening Date: 09/04/2025

Closing Date: Continuous

Description

About the Sheriff's Office:

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office has over 302 commissioned corrections personnel who maintain the safety of the community by supervising approximately 1100 inmates in two facilities as well as providing for the movement between the Pierce County Corrections Detention Center and the courts.

The Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center Mental Health Department provides services to people with mental illness who are incarcerated in the correctional facility. This position is exciting, challenging, multifaceted and rewarding.

Why it's a great opportunity:The Pierce County Sheriff's Office prides itself on upholding our Core Values: Courage, Compassion, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility. Pierce County Sheriff's Office employees are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism to serve citizens and help make Pierce County one of the best places to live and work in the beautiful Great Northwest.

Employees in this classification are responsible for the evaluation and risk assessments of mentally ill inmates at Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center. Incumbents work closely as an integrated team with correctional staff and the medical department to oversee and ensure that appropriate care is given within the detention facility and/or available upon release or transfer to another facility.

Employees have the choice of working either five 8-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts. Work is performed during day shift. Weekend and paid on-call hours may be required. On-call is at least 1 night per week and consists of being on call from 6:00pm to 8:00am.

The Mental Health Manager is an approved supervisor who can supervise hours toward a Licensed Mental Health Counselor license for those that have a Licensed Mental Health Associates.

Position Summary

Triage and prioritize referrals for mental health care according to emergent level of need.

Provide risk assessment and brief crisis stabilization services.

Work with outside agencies on release planning and follow up in the community.

Determine appropriate housing needs, within the Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center (PCDCC) for those with a mental disorder or developmental/ intellectual disability and upon release or transfer.

Assess the involvement and extent of substance use and make appropriate referrals.

Assess for the need for psychiatric medication and make referrals to the provider.

Make involuntary treatment referrals when needed prior to the release of the inmate.

Participate in rotating call assignment to assure 24-hour mental health coverage.

Coordinate care with multi-disciplinary team of treatment professionals within the PCDCC and work with provider liaisons/case managers to ensure proper treatment of mentally ill inmates.

Identify system concerns and assist in developing appropriate intervention.

Provide education to medical and corrections staff as necessary to facilitate cross system coordination.

Work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.

For additional information, please refer to the class description -

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY

Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work or related field from an accredited college or university.

Possess and maintain current license or associate license in Washington State as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Advanced Social Worker or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. License must be in good standing with no license restrictions or probationary status.

Two years experience providing psychosocial/mental health services and/or crisis intervention services in an adult mental health setting required.

Must be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident or deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) recipient, and ability to speak, read and write the English language as required by RCW 41.14.100.

Ability to successfully complete a Pierce County Sheriff's Office background investigation, which may include a medical physical, behavioral assessment and polygraph, is required prior to hire.

As a condition of continued employment, employees with an associate license must obtain and maintain full licensure within the six year period as required by the Washington State law.

As a condition of continued employment, employees with an associate license must obtain and maintain agency affiliated counselor designation.

Supplemental Information

ASSESSMENT PROCESS for MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION SPECIALIST

After you have submitted your application and it has been determined that you meet the requirements for the position, Civil Service staff will review your application.

Applicant's job-related experience, education and training will be evaluated and scored and will comprise 100% of the score used for establishing the Civil Service register of eligible individuals.

Prior to appointment, a thorough background investigation will be conducted consisting of, but not limited to: personal history statement, personal interviews, employment check, professional and personal reference checks, job specific interviews, criminal and credit checks, neighborhood check, polygraph examination and a drug screen.

Veteran's preference will be granted in accordance with RCW 41.04. If you are eligible to have veteran's scoring criteria applied to your assessment score, you must submit a copy of Copy 4 of your DD214 with your application.

Candidates will be referred from the register to fill vacant positions occurring within one (1) year from the date the name is placed on the register.

All Sheriff Department employees serve a one (1) year probationary period.

If you have a question about this opportunity, please email Civil Service at PCCivilServiceand specify the Job Number and Title.

If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.

Individuals needing accommodation in the application or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at, at least two days prior to the need.

ATTENTION: All communication from Pierce County Civil Service is sent by email using the email address listed on your application. This may include communication that contains confidential or private information such as exam results and reasons for removal, etc. You are responsible for keeping your email address updated.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a great place people are proud to call home?

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

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. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our, and a County Book Club.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and,, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)

After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.

Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:

During years 1-3, 12 Days

During years 4-7, 16 Days

During years 8-13, 20 Days

During years 14-18, 23 Days

During years 19, 24 Days

During years 20, 25 Days

During years 21, 26 Days

During years 22, 27 Days

During years 23, 28 Days

During years 24, 29 Days

During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days

A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.

Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.

Military Leave:

Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.

Holidays:

Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:

New Year's Day - January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January

President's Day - Third Monday in February

Memorial Day - Last Monday in May

Juneteenth - June 19

Independence Day - July 4

Labor Day - First Monday in September

Veteran's Day - November 11

Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after

Christmas Day - December 25

Personal Holidays:

Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.

Furlough:

Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.

Sick Leave:

Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.

Insurance Benefits:

Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation:

Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program 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 Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Miscellaneous Benefits:

Please visit website for more information.

Telework/Remote Options:

Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy

**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.

01

Do you have a Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work or related field from an accredited college or university?

Yes

No

02

Do you possess and maintain current license or associate license in Washington State as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Advanced Social Worker or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker? License must be in good standing with no license restrictions or probationary status.

Yes

No

03

Do you have two years experience providing psychosocial/mental health services and/or crisis intervention services in an adult mental health setting?

Yes

No

04

Are you a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident or DACA recipient required by RCW 41.14.100.00?

Yes

No

05

CERTIFICATION OF STANDARDS - Mental Health Evaluation Specialist - Corrections READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY. Your certification will be verified during the course of the background investigation and polygraph examination. INCONSISTENT INFORMATION OR DISHONEST CERTIFICATIONS WILL BE GROUNDS FOR REJECTING YOUR APPLICATION. INCONSISTENT INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED DECEPTION. Pierce County Sheriff's Office - Standards on Illegal Drug Possession *No marijuana use since the register is certified; and *No use of all other illegal drugs within the past three (3) years; and *Any use of all other illegal drugs must not have exceeded four (4) times total in the past ten (10) years; and *No use of illegal drugs by free-basing or needle injection (excluding steroids); and *No illegal use of steroids within three (3) years; and **No cultivation, manufacture, production, distribution, transportation of marijuana for profit or pattern of criminal behavior for five (5) years; and; *No cultivation, manufacture, production, distribution, transportation of all other illegal drugs for profit or pattern of criminal behavior for ten (10) years; and *Prescription drug misuse will be looked at on a case by case basis. It is understood that many candidates have experimented on a limited basis with illegal controlled substances in their past, and this behavior may not be an accurate indication of future performance with PCSO. Possession of any controlled substance outside the above standard, that occurred more than ten (10) years prior to applying, will be considered, upon request of the candidate. Pierce County Sheriff's Office Background Standards *No Adult Felony Convictions; *No Adult Domestic Violence Statute Convictions; *No non-traffic misdemeanor convictions within three (3) years; *Juvenile Convictions will be carefully reviewed; *No Pattern of Criminal Behavior. *No Criminal Driving Convictions within 36 months preceding the date of this application. **PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION** * I am a US Citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA recipient as required by the RCW. * I can speak, read and write the English language so as to be easily understood, as required by the RCW. * I have a high school diploma or GED. * I am willing to undergo a thorough medical examination and psychological evaluation, if required. * I am willing to undergo a polygraph examination. * I am willing to undergo a pre-offer drug screening UA. * I am able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, the essential functions of the position (Please see "Essential Functions" section of announcement). * I have not been removed for cause from an employment register for any position in the Pierce County Sheriff's Office during the past 12 months from the date of this application. NOTE: If you have committed illegal actions, whether or not you were caught, these actions may be grounds for disqualification. If you have questions regarding this issue, you may contact the Civil Service Commission Office or the Pierce County Sheriff's Office Background Unit. Do you certify that you meet the standards