Social Services Specialist

Social Services Specialist

Salary

$65,333.84 - $82,814.58 Annually

Location

Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA

Job Type

Term-Ltd

Job Number

2026AL27453

Department

DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs

Division

Behavioral Health and Recovery

Opening Date

08/07/2026

Closing Date

8/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Full- or Part-Time

Full Time

Hours/Week

40 hours/week

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Summary

King Countys Department of Community and Human Services (OCHS) 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 three 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 three teams within this program:

• City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach: City Hall Park/King County Campus
• Sound Transit Outreach: Downtown Light Rail Stations
• KC Metro Outreach: Burien Transit Center

This recruitment is to fill up to six (6) Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions. We are looking to fill up to four (4) full-time positions (TLT/SDA), and two (2) .8 positions (TLT/SDA). The Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions are anticipated to end 12 months after start date. If filled by a King County employee who has passed their initial probation, the TLT will be as a Special Duty Assignment (SDA).

Job Duties

To be considered minimally qualified applicant must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skills 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.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:

• The incumbents in these positions will have a personal history of recovery from mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders.
• Experience as a peer support specialist or equivalent experience.
• High School diploma, GED or five 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 serving populations impacted by 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.
• Skills in de-escalating verbal aggression, hostile or violent behavior.
• 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 days.
• Basic knowledge of signs and symptoms of behavioral health conditions.
• Valid Drivers 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

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

• 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.
• 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. These positions mees the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and are overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval.
• These positions are not represented by a union.
• Classification: Social Service Specialist

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 September 9, 2026. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Larsen, alarsen@kingcounty.gov.

This selection process will fill our current vacancy but also create a pool of qualified candidates should additional Social Services Specialist positions open up within the next 6 months.

Supplemental Information

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nations 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 Alicia Larsen at alarsenh@kingcounty.gov.

King Countys 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 persons 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.

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.

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:

• 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
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• 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
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

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.

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.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01

Are you applying to this position as an eligible Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? 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?

• 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.
• No.

02

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

03

How many years of experience do you have providing peer support services?

• Less than 1 year or I do not have this experience, but I am willing to learn.
• 1 year of experience
• 2 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 4 or more years of experience

04

How many years of experience do you have serving populations impacted by poverty, behavioral health conditions, and mental illness from a harm reduction model of care?

• Less than 1 year or I do not have this experience, but I am willing to learn.
• 1 year of experience
• 2 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 4 or more years of experience

05

Describe your experience, including number of years, working or interacting with persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness. Please include employers and dates worked. If you do not have this experience type N/A.

06

How many years of experience do you have defusing verbally aggressive, hostile, or potentially violent behavior using conflict resolution techniques?

• Less than 1 year or I do not have this experience, but I am willing to learn.
• 1 year of experience
• 2 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 4 or more years of experience

07

Briefly provide an example where you had to diffuse verbal aggression, hostile or violent behavior and how you handled the situations and the outcome. If you do not have this experience, please type N/A

08

Briefly share what it means to you to work with and promote positive teamwork.

09

Describe your familiarity with local programs that give to access shelter, housing, behavioral health, medical, and employment services. If you do not have this knowledge, please type N/A.

10

King County has transformed its work on equity and social justice from an initiative to an integrated effort that applies the principle of "fair and just" intentionally in all the county does in order to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. What is the most important equity or social justice issue to you?

Required Question

Employer King County

Address King Street Center

201 South Jackson Street

Seattle, Washington, 98104

Phone 206-477-3404

Website http://www.kingcounty.gov/