Social Worker for First Steps and WIC - King County Public Health

LOCATION: Des Moines, WA

CLOSING DATE: August 27, 2020

OPPORTUNITY TYPE: Job

JOB #: 16145

POSTED: July 27, 2020

Description:

Summary

 

Public Health- Seattle & King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.
 
Public Health - Seattle and King County is looking to hire TWO (2) Social Workers to join our team!

One position for our Midway Public Health Center and one position for South Regional B team. Positions will provide services at the PH Centers, satellites, and community sites, and will also provide home/field visits. The SW provides services to low income pregnant and parenting women and their families including health education, limited behavioral health counseling and crisis intervention, care coordination and referrals to meet client/family needs. Performance of duties may be autonomous and self-directed, or provided as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

First Steps (Maternity Support Services and Infant Case Management) and WIC are integrated programs within public health. Each discipline (Public Health Nurse, Registered Dietician, Community Health Worker, and Social Worker) provides the full range of program services in addition to those specific to their discipline. WIC services include weighing and measuring adults, infants and children, asking general physical health questions, and adding required information into the WIC software program. SWs will be also be assisted in obtaining a “Medical Assistant-Registered” certification through DOH for completing finger sticks and use a HemoCue for occasional hemoglobin screenings on WIC participants.
WHO MAY APPLY:

This position is open to all internal and external qualified candidates.

 

Job Duties

 

  • Provide direct services to individuals and groups in Public Health setting in Maternity Support Services, Infant Case Management, and Women, Infant and Children’s supplemental food program, both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Provide direct services to clients including case management and care coordination, health education, counseling and referral as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Conduct comprehensive, culturally sensitive screenings and assessments of high-risk clients and families with an emphasis on prenatal and postpartum mothers and infants.
  • Provide direct behavioral health services and consultation to other disciplines and specialty clinics within Public Health as indicated and appropriate.
  • Educate staff and clients regarding mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse issues and available local resources.
  • Work collaboratively as part of a team with other disciplines in Public Health and the community.
  • Provide crisis intervention, short-term counseling and referral services to stabilize client psychosocial needs and coping skills.
  • Coordinate with supervisor regarding activity priorities according to program and site needs.
Skills/Eligibility:
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

 Master’s degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Counseling from an accredited university

  • The ability to obtain a Certified Counselor Credential or an Associate Level credential or License in Social Work or Mental Health (applicants will be considered who have obtained a temporary practice permit issued by Washington State Department of Health)
  • The ability to obtain an Medical Assistant-Registered certification through DOH and complete finger sticks and use a HemoCue for occasional hemoglobin screenings on WIC participants
  • Experience successfully providing assessments, treatment planning, case management, care coordination, crisis intervention and brief counseling independently in a health or social service setting.
  • Experience with or education in Infant and Early Childhood Development
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully apply appropriate and best practice models of care such as Motivational Interviewing, brief behavioral health interventions, group facilitation and education and consultative assistance based on a variety of client presentations
  • Demonstrated ability to educate other staff regarding mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse issues and available local resources
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to foster and maintain a variety of interpersonal relationships and to provide social work services independently with minimal immediate supervision and as part of a team.
  • Demonstrated ability to apply professional social work principles, methodology and ethics
  • Experience with use of the therapeutic relationship to foster client self-determination
  • Knowledge of human psycho-social development within the context of family, community and culture
  • Knowledge of health and social issues impacting client and community well-being.
  • Knowledge of crisis intervention principles and skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of organization to meet high volume workload demands.
  • Have ability to delivery services in an office and home/field setting.
  • Working knowledge of standard software applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
OR:

Any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the work.
 
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

 Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor preferred

  • Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
  • WIC and First Steps services (Maternity Support Services and Infant Case Management) experience highly desired
  • At least one year post graduate professional experience providing independent behavioral health counseling service in a health or social service setting
  • Specific specialized experience or advanced training in mental health, domestic violence, or substance abuse
  • Experience providing social services to high-risk maternal-child health clients of low income, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural populations.

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