STT - BHOP OnCall Social Services Specialist

The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

Our Behavioral Health and Recovery Division is looking for people to join the Behavioral Health Outreach Program (BHOP) team! The Behavioral Health Outreach Program consists of two teams that respond to behavioral health crises that occur in assigned patrol areas within King County. The teams provide assistance and/or intervention to people who are experiencing crisis, homelessness, and/or behavioral health issues. Interventions include community engagement, outreach, de-escalation, screening by visual inspection and brief conversation to determine the need for services, and referrals for service.

There are two teams within this program:

• Sound Transit Outreach: Downtown Light Rail Stations
• KC Metro Outreach: Aurora Village, Eastgate, and Burien Transit Centers

We are recruiting for up to 8 on-call, Short-Term Temporary (STT) positions. These positions are not benefits eligible. To be considered minimally qualified, applicants must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skill and ability to:

• Patrol assigned areas on foot and provide outreach and engage with individuals in the light rail stations or on the trains.

• Assist transit security in responding and engaging with individuals who are experiencing behavioral health crises

• Provide crisis intervention/counseling to individuals.

• Offer service information and linkage to shelter, housing, behavioral health, medical, and employment services.

• Provide information and education about health/behavioral health issues.

• Serve as liaison to and represent the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division within community groups.

• Develop trusting relationships with individuals through respectful outreach and client centered engagement practices in order to assess their service needs and respond with appropriate referrals and linkages to resources.

• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with community partners, shelters, direct service providers, and other service or resource organizations to ensure continuity of care for individuals.

• Perform job responsibilities in a manner that respects and promotes individual dignity at all times even when challenged by others.

• Monitor and intervene using de-escalation techniques which includes the use of least amount of physical force when physical or verbal altercations occur.

• Maintain the safety and security of individuals by using visual and auditory cues that indicate whether or not individuals are stable and safe during outreach services.

• Complete paper written reports with handwriting that is legible, grammatically correct and complete.

• Enter electronic data by typing and saving data via computer to record information as needed.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• The incumbents in these positions will have a personal history of recovery from mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders.

• Minimum of 2 years as a peer support specialist or equivalent experience.

• High School diploma, GED or two years equivalent education and work experience in a behavioral health setting.

• Enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

• Experience (2+ years) serving populations impacted by extreme poverty, behavioral health conditions, and mental illness from a harm reduction model of care.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, and outside contacts from a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.

• Demonstrated skills (2+ years) to effectively de-escalate conflict and manage verbally aggressive, hostile, or potentially violent situations.

• Effective oral and written communication skills.

• Effective problem-solving skills using conflict resolution techniques which result in positive outcomes, and the ability to apply patience and common sense as needed.

• Effective interpersonal skills in working with and promoting positive teamwork.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team that displays sound decision making in the absence of on-site supervisory oversight.

• Current CPR card or attainable within 90 days.

• Current Basic First Aid card or attainable within 90 day

• Basic knowledge of signs and symptoms of behavioral health conditions.

• Valid Washington State Driver's License, or the ability to travel around the County in a timely manner.

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check on a post offer/pre-employment basis.

Desired: Peer Support Counselor Certification 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. Application Process If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Eugene Sanchez at [email protected]. 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. The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. Please Note: This selection process may also be used to create a pool of candidates for current and future career service, term-limited temporary, and special duty opportunities. The pool will be active for 6 months. WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around the week of December 7, 2026.

WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: These positions are scheduled to work On-Call on a Short-Term Temporary basis. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval. This position is not represented by a union.

• These positions work on site at various locations throughout the county.
• These positions may work between the hours of 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM.
• Classification: Social Service Specialist

MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us. King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.