Summary

This job involves creating and delivering training programs on mental health topics like suicide prevention and managing mental illness in prisons, while also consulting with teams to improve how staff support incarcerated people.

It's a great fit for someone with a background in psychology who enjoys teaching, collaborating with others, and making a real difference in reducing suicides in correctional settings.

The role focuses on updating training materials and educating both staff and inmates to handle mental health challenges effectively.

Key Requirements

Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (LAAC) or ability to apply for it within 30 days of hire
Master’s degree in psychology or related field (preferred)
Experience developing and managing mental health training curricula, including suicide prevention and working with mentally ill incarcerated individuals
Experience facilitating training sessions and training instructors (train-the-trainer)
Experience conducting quality assurance audits with feedback and action plans
Experience providing consultation on suicide prevention and mental health strategies, including collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and community corrections
Higher level DOH Mental Health License (additional consideration)

Full Job Description

Psychology Associate – Mental Health Training Specialist

Tumwater, WA

Monthly Salary Range: $8,129 to $10,938

The Department of Corrections is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual for the role of Psychology Associate – Mental Health Training Specialist.

The Washington state Department of Corrections is committed to reducing or eliminating individuals who die by suicide while in prison or shortly following release from prison.

Toward this effort this position will clinically inform and help implement training efforts, across divisions, to achieve this goal.

They will utilize the most up to date training content and strategies and modify those strategies for effective implementation in a correctional setting.

This will include, through is not limited to, providing clinical consultation on the updating of all training curricula associated with suicide prevention and mental illness.

They will also help to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to educate the incarcerated population regarding suicide and how to prevent deaths.

This work will nec3essarily require inclusion of internal and external stakeholders to ensure appropriate application of death reduction efforts.

This position is committed to ensuring all staff have the knowledge and skills they need to effectively interact with and manage mentally ill incarcerated individuals who comprise and increasingly large percentage of the prison population.

Application assessment will be ongoing, and the hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.

"This recruitment could be used to fill multiple permanent or non-permanent positions."

Requirements

Mental Health Training: develop and manage all curricula to be used for training related to mental health concerns.

This includes training on topics such as suicide prevention, mental illness (in general), and working with incarcerated individuals with mental illness.

The various curricula would be responsible for training instructions in the delivery of these curricula and well as instructing the training.

This position would also conduct quality assurance audits on the delivery of materials. The position may be asked to develop specialized training for mental health, or other staff, as needed.

Consultation, providing consultation to other divisions regarding essential elements of suicide prevention and other mental health-related trainings.

This will include collaborating with the Community Corrections Division regarding particular risks and strategies specific to those people at time of, or shortly after release to the community.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (LAAC)
Must have the ability to apply for Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor license within 30 days of hire date.
Additional consideration may be given for higher level DOH Mental Health Licenses.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

Master’s degree in psychology or a related field
Experience conducting audits to include the development of feedback and action plans for staff.
Experience facilitating training.
Experience in developing training curriculum.
Experience training instructors (train the trainer).
Experience working in a collaborative fashion as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.

Additional Information

Mission: The mission of DOC is to improve public safety by positively changing lives.

Our Vision: Working together for safer communities.

Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

Our Core Values:

Cultivate an environment of integrity and trust: Corrections values partnership and trust. We foster openness and support courageous conversations. We are committed to doing what we say we are going to do by being accountable and taking personal ownership in our actions.

Respectful and inclusive interactions: Corrections appreciate and values individuals by promoting an inclusive and diverse environment, which encourages safety.

We respect, value, and listen to the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of our stakeholders and consider the impact on those we serve as well as each other.

People's safety: Corrections believe in creating an environment that values physical, mental, and emotional security and well-being. We honor those who advance safety for all.
Positivity in words and actions: At Corrections, we assume positive intentions and believe there is a shared desire for the best outcome. We consistently demonstrate positive behavior and always put forth our best effort.
Supporting people's success: Corrections is committed to our community – understanding individuals, instilling hope, embracing change, and providing opportunities.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application.

A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies.

If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.

**Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.

A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.

We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws.

A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.

Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire.

When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.

This position may be represented by a bargaining unit.

Requires respirator medical evaluation questionnaire, fit testing, training, and use of respiratory protection as required by the WA Industrial Safety & Act standards. Refer to WAC 296-842 to learn more.
Must be able to work in spaces, climb stairs, walk long distances, and frequently lift up to 30 pounds. Under rare circumstances this position may be required to lift or carry up to 50 pounds and push up to 100 pounds.

Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application.

You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.

Candidates who are offered a job with the Department of Corrections must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

(FOR RN POSITIONS) Salary is based on experience and is determined at the time a final offer of employment is made. The salary range listed in the job posting includes Steps A-U.

Step U is a longevity step and is typically gained six years after being assigned to Step T in your permanent salary range.

(FOR ALL OTHER NON WMS POSITIONS) Salary is based on experience and is determined at the time a final offer of employment is made. The salary range listed in the job posting includes Steps A-M.

Step M is a longevity step and is typically gained six years after being assigned to Step L in your permanent salary range.

DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9.

The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form.

https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

We are committed to hiring individuals who possess core diversity competencies:

Foster a positive attitude and openness toward the ever changing social and cultural makeup of the workplace.

Work effectively with people of different perspectives, abilities, disabilities, races, religions, ages, lifestyle preferences and social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Respectfully acknowledge people's differences and recognize these differences as important and valuable.
Promote inclusiveness.
Be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
Respect and value diverse backgrounds and traditions.

What We Offer:

As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority.

Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation.

Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:

Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
8 hours of paid sick leave per month
12 paid holidays a year
Generous retirement plan
Flex Spending Accounts
Dependent Care Assistance
Deferred Compensation and so much more!

Many DOC jobs are covered by the Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS).

If someone moves from a Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) eligible position to a PSERS eligible position, they actually retire under two different systems/plans.

For more information, please contact the Department of Retirement System at: 1-800-547-6657.

DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email kathey.waggoner@doc1.wa.gov or call at (509) 907-7808.

For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

✓ Fresh Listing

Psychology Associate - Mental Health Training specialist - PM79-HQ

SES Pay Grade

Job Description

Summary

Key Requirements

Full Job Description

Requirements

Qualifications

Additional Information

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