<p>Summary</p> <p>The Central Employee Services Division (CESD) within the Department of Human Resources (DHR) seeks a skilled, compassionate, and culturally competent Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Counselor to serve the County's diverse workforce.</p> <p>The EAP Counselor will provide culturally sensitive and highly specialized assistance, direct support, and guidance to employees, managers, human resource professionals, and leaders regarding the resolution of delicate and complicated personnel matters. Employee Assistance is an employer program.</p> <p>The King County Executive declared racism a public health crisis, and this position provides employees with guidance and resources to address workplace issues surrounding race, gender identity, gender expression, and support to protect the health and well-being of our diverse workforce.</p> <p>The person in this position will be relied on to build trusted relationships and garner positive outcomes for managers and employees to be successful at work; whether remote, hybrid, or in the workplace. The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, experience and confidence working in a diverse and multi-cultural work environment with the ability to effectively balance employee interests, manager interests, and departmental operational needs and values.</p> <p>To learn more about EAP, please visit: https://www.kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/safety-claims/MLE-EAP.aspx</p> <p>Commitment to Equity, Racial & Social Justice</p> <p>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 diverse region that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures.</p> <p>Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. The EAP Counselor will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work.</p> <p>To learn more, please visit: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx</p> <p>Job Duties</p> <ul> <li>Work with the EAP Program Manager to establish practices that accept and respect differences, as well as evaluate and improve cultural knowledge and resources to meet the needs of those utilizing EAP services. </li><li>Conduct and perform confidential intake, assessments, EAP counseling services, and/or referral to appropriate resources for employees' personal and work-related issues both virtually and in-person. </li><li>Provide advanced consultation, coaching, and triage services to management, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Disability Services, other King County agencies, and collective bargaining unit representatives to help resolve broad, complex, and politically sensitive employee issues. </li><li>Assist with the coordination and management of services by external Making Life Easier (MLE) vendor, Curalinc EAP. Partner with Curalinc on complicated individual issues to resolve programmatic issues/complaints that affect employees and their eligible dependents. </li><li>Assist in educating employees regarding services via presentations or in-person tabling events as requested by a department, and includes with other CESD partners at benefit fairs. </li><li>Create and maintain accurate and timely documentation of all case activity in the electronic case management system. </li><li>Assist with employee fitness-for-duty and return-to-work mental health and substance abuse evaluations. This may include direct case management of safety sensitive employees. </li><li>Availability for on-call rotation - nights, weekends, and holidays to provide crisis intervention as needed. This responsibility is rotated through all EAP staff on a weekly basis. </li><li>Provide Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) services for employees post small and large-scale traumatic events, including coordination with Curalinc as needed. </li><li>Coordinate, develop, and maintain an EAP training catalog. Coordinate and develop new trainings as needed or requested. Assist or directly provide workshops and training both virtually and in-person to selected audiences as required. </li><li>Assist with other EAP programmatic duties as assigned, including triage, intakes, treatment coordination, trainings, and other projects/initiatives. </li></ul> <p>Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills</p> <ul> <li>Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans. </li><li>Skilled in dealing effectively with diverse individuals and groups in politically sensitive, emotionally charged workplace situations. Ability to understand non-dominant racial narratives and the impact on the lives and work of employees. Provide effective guidance in workplace situations. </li><li>Ability to build trust-based relationships and have candid and sincere conversations with employees about race and equity in the workplace. </li><li>Knowledge of effective assessment skills; psychotherapy, and individual and group crisis intervention techniques; psychotropic medications; and community resources for treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders. </li><li>Ability and experience providing triage, assessment, counseling, and recommendations to management and employees on a variety of issues affecting work performance. </li><li>Outstanding customer service and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with all levels of management and employees across organizational lines. </li><li>Aptitude to work both independently and as part of a team, including the ability to resolve professional differences about case direction when multiple players are involved. </li><li>Ability to deal effectively with situations that involve workplace and/or domestic violence. </li><li>Skills necessary to accurately gather, analyze, document, and present information, including timely and appropriate documentation of case records. </li><li>Skills to communicate information clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing to diverse audiences. </li><li>Ability to multitask and produce quality services while under the pressure of critical timelines. </li><li>Ability to maintain the privacy and security of sensitive and confidential information. </li><li>Ability to develop, design, and facilitate effective meetings, presentations, and trainings. </li><li>Intermediate level proficiency with computer software, including case management software, Microsoft Edge, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with a high degree of accuracy. </li><li>Proficiency in Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other instructional platforms to facilitate online in real time. </li></ul> <p>Necessary Special Requirements:</p> <ul> <li>Master's degree in behavioral health related field: Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Social Work. </li><li>Direct experience providing group therapy and/or group Critical Incident Debriefings. </li><li>Active licensure as a Licensed Social Worker Associate (LICSWA), Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA), or a higher credential. If the incumbent is from out of state or currently credentialed as a Washington State Agency Affiliate Counselor, they must have the ability to be licensed in Washington State at a LICSWA, LMHCA, LMFTA level, or full licensure within six months of employment with King County. Washington State Mental Health Counselor Probationary License will not be accepted as King County EAP does not meet the criteria of a Behavioral Health Agency per the Department of Health, and this credential does not allow for independent practice. </li><li>A valid driver's license or the alternate ability to travel around the County on time to locations that may not be accessible by public transportation is required. </li><li>Able to work in an on-call status on a rotating basis - available after hours, nightly, during the weekend, and on holidays. </li></ul> <p>Other Position Information</p> <p>This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime and requires hybrid work. Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday, comprising a 40-hour workweek, normally 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117/Professional & Technical and is classified as a Project/Program Manager III; class code: 2441300.</p> <p>Teleworking Requirement</p> <p>The work associated with this position will be performed predominately through a hybrid work structure of onsite and remote work. Onsite presence will vary based on business and operational need. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.</p> <p>Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and if working from home, must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.</p> <p>Supplemental Information</p> <p>Who May Apply</p> <p>This recruitment is open to King County employees and the public and will be used to fill one career service position.</p> <p>Selection Process</p> <p>Applications will be reviewed as received, and they will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. All materials will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a series of interviews.</p> <p>Forms and Materials Required</p> <ul> <li>An online employment application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. The employment history should go back at least 7 years if you have 7 years of employment or more to include all relevant experience. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. All relevant experience must be included in the application. </li><li>A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing how you meet the required experience, qualifications, knowledge, and job skills. In addition, please share why you are interested in this position. This is a required application material. If a cover letter is not received, your application will be incomplete and will not be considered. </li></ul> <p>For more information, contact:</p> <p>Jen Montoya, Senior HR Analyst</p> <p>Jen.Montoya@kingcounty.gov</p> <p>Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer</p> <p>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.</p> <p>To Apply</p> <p>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.</p> <p>King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:</p> <ul> <li>Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents </li><li>Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents </li><li>Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan </li><li>Transportation program and ORCA transit pass </li><li>12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays </li><li>Generous vacation and paid sick leave </li><li>Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves </li><li>Flexible Spending Account </li><li>Wellness programs </li><li>Onsite activity centers </li><li>Employee Giving Program </li><li>Employee assistance programs </li><li>Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position </li><li>Training and career development programs </li></ul> <p>For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.</p> <p>This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.</p> <p>NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.</p> <p>For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.</p> <p>01</p> <p>Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?</p> <ul> <li>Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one. </li><li>No. </li></ul> <p>02</p> <p>If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff</p> <p>03</p> <p>Do you have a Master's degree in a behavioral health field, such as Counseling, Psychology, and/or Social Work or a related field?</p> <ul> <li>Yes </li><li>No </li></ul> <p>04</p> <p>Which of the following credentials do you possess? Please select all that apply.</p> <ul> <li>Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA) </li><li>Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) </li><li>Licensed Social Worker Associate (LICSWA) </li><li>Agency Affiliate Counselor but have the ability to get a LMFTA, LMHCA or LISWA, or full licensure within six months of employment with King County. </li><li>Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) </li><li>Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) </li><li>Licensed Social Worker (LICSW) </li><li>None of the above </li></ul> <p>05</p> <p>How many years of experience do you have providing group therapy and/or group Critical Incident Debriefing.</p> <ul> <li>None </li><li>Less than one year </li><li>More than one but less than two years </li><li>More than two but less than three years </li><li>More than three years but less than four years </li><li>More than four years </li></ul> <p>06</p> <p>Describe your experience providing group therapy and/or group Critical Incident Debriefing including the types of industries where you have worked.</p> <p>Required Question</p> <p>Employer King County</p> <p>Address King Street Center</p> <p>201 South Jackson Street</p> <p>Seattle, Washington, 98104</p> <p>Phone 206-477-3404</p> <p>Website http://www.kingcounty.gov/</p>