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 (BHRD) has up to 6 On-Call/Short-Term Temporary opportunities for Chemical Dependency Program Screener's on the Emergency Service Patrol (ESP) team.
The ESP team provides assistance and/or intervention to people who are or appear to be incapacitated and/or intoxicated in the street or other public areas. Interventions include screening by visual inspection and brief conversation to determine the need for detox or other medical services. Incumbents pick up and transport clients to and from designated facilities and to areas of choice for the person being assisted.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:
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Basic knowledge of signs and symptoms of substance abuse.
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Skill in detecting signs of intoxication and other substance use.
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Experience working, engaging or intervening with persons who are in active addiction.
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Skill in defusing verbal aggression, hostile or violent behavior.
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Effective oral and written communication skills. May require skill testing to demonstrate effective communication skills.
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Effective problem-solving skills using conflict resolution techniques, which result in positive outcomes, and the ability to apply patience and common sense as needed.
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Effective interpersonal skills in working with and promoting positive teamwork.
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Ability to sit in a restricted driving position in the van for an hour or more without stopping and stretching.
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Ability to lift an average person weighing 150 pounds from the ground into the van without assistance.
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team that displays sound decision-making in the absence of onsite supervisory oversight.
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Current CPR/ First Aid card or ability to attain within 90 days of hire.
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Current certificate of completion of a Defensive Driving Course or the ability to obtain a King County Defensive Driving Training card within 90 days of hire.
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Possession of a valid, unencumbered driver's license at the time of hire. Must provide DOL Driver’s abstract.
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Ability to pass a post-offer/pre-employment physical examination.
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Ability to pass a post-offer/pre-employment Washington State Patrol Background Check
Desired Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
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Experience driving a large Ford Transit passenger van or similar
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Knowledge of the Seattle downtown intersections.
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Knowledge of specific areas in which public inebriates and other substance users congregate in downtown Seattle.
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Familiarity with 12 Step Programs, or other recovery models, including Stages of Change and its application to the Emergency Services Patrol (ESP) mission.
ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:
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This position has been designated 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.
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The base onsite location for these positions is Chinook, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
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These positions are scheduled to work On-Call on a Short-Term Temporary basis. These positions meet the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and are overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval.
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This position is represented by L117-JUA-Chem Dependency Screener (T2J).
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Classification: Chemical Dependency Program Screener
WHO MAY APPLY:
THIS POSTING HAS BEEN REOPENED TO SECURE ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES. IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPLIED, YOU DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY .
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 September 7, 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,
[email protected].
This selection process will fill our current vacancy but also create a pool of qualified candidates should additional positions open up within the next 6 months.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
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.
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.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
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.
To Apply
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.
