Social Services Professional- Pathways Mobile Team

Salary: $40.24 - $51.01 Hourly
Location : Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2025AO24200
Department: DPH - Public Health
Division: Community Health Services
Opening Date: 04/22/2025
Closing Date: 5/12/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: C9A : PROTEC17-DPH, DCHS-Health Prof
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week

Summary

Public Health Seattle & King County's Pathways Program at Downtown Public Health Center is looking for a Social Service Professional who brings experience working with adults with opioid use disorder (OUD), complex social, medical, and?mental health conditions and experiencing homelessness, providing care using a harm reduction approach. The Pathways Program is co-located at Downtown Public Health with the Robert Clewis Center (RCC) - Needle Exchange Program, Downtown Family Medicine primary care clinic, and other Downtown Public Health Center programs. Pathways is an innovative program that uses a harm reduction approach to help address the opioid epidemic and provides low barrier access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), primarily buprenorphine. The SSP will work as part of the Pathways mobile team providing services in the field in the Seattle area. The SSP works as part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing resources and referrals to other care systems, perform outreach and engagement activities, and provide support to patients, as well as supporting other team members as needed. The SSP will provide health education related to OUD, injection drug use, homelessness, and other disease risk factors.
Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

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 region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all - in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.
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Work Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
Work Location

Based out of the Downtown Public Health Center in Seattle (2124 4th Ave, 4th floor, Seattle, WA 98121), with daily travel to provide services within Seattle city limits. On occasion or as needed, the position may be deployed to other Public Health Centers and service sites throughout King County.
Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Job Duties

• Work in partnership with Public Health Nurse as part of Pathways mobile team, providing MOUD services out in the field, which will include encampments, other locations frequented by people experiencing homelessness, and permanent supportive housing sites.
• Work with Public Health Nurse to securely transport medications, including buprenorphine, between the downtown public health pharmacy and patients in the field; duties include driving a King County fleet vehicle.
• Conduct outreach and connect with patients in the community to provide linkage to community resources.
• Will act as a patient liaison between Pathways clinic and other programs such as street medicine and Robert Clewis center Needle exchange program.
• Conduct outreach follow ups for enrolled Pathways patients and document appropriately in EHR (EPIC)
• Provide individualized harm reduction counseling to help initiate and maintain behavior change to reduce risk of opioid overdose, death, and other drug use related harms.
• Create and maintain education and resources handouts for patients and for interdisciplinary team.
• Facilitate referral and enrollment of Pathways patients to other Public Health programs and outside organizations.
• Coordinate and follow up on referrals to housing and other services that affect overall health and risk of overdose.
• Develop and maintain expert knowledge of Medicaid, other health insurance coverage and public funding options for MOUD, other substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and health care services.
• May provide cross coverage in the Pathways clinic providing similar functions as described above. -Other duties as assigned

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Ideal Candidate:

• Demonstrated knowledge of theories and practices related to health promotion.
• Demonstrated skill in delivering harm reduction interventions to people who use drugs.
• Demonstrated current knowledge of:
  • (a) MOUD
  • (b) harm reduction concepts and principles;
  • (c) local SUD treatment, health care and criminal justice systems and resources.
• Prior experience from work or personal lived experience with substance use, substance use disorder, people experiencing homelessness and/or other vulnerable populations.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information in a culturally appropriate, consistently respectful, and non-judgmental manner to people.
• Skill and comfort making cold contacts to engage potential new patients in outreach settings.
• Demonstrated skill to set and maintain clear, professional, respectful boundaries and interactions with clients and fellow staff members.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently following established protocols and policies, and ability to take initiative and be motivated to engage with patients and community.
• Ability to lift and move boxes weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Valid Washington state driver's license.

Desired Candidate:

• Demonstrated skill in using the electronic health record,
• EPIC.
• Ability to use de-escalation skills.
• Lived experience with drug use, substance use disorder, and or homelessness

Supplemental Information
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 , 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.
Who May Apply

This position is opened to all qualified applicants.
Application Process

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR ( if applicable).
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. (and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to For tips on interviewing, please visit
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Union Membership

Protec 17
Contact

For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at
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

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

Which of the following best describes your experience providing health and harm reduction education and information to individuals who use drugs?

• I am an expert at providing harm reduction information and skills-building training in both group and one-on-one settings to individuals who use drugs on a variety of health-related topics. Professional service workers as well as individuals who use drugs often seek me out for my skills and experience in this area
• I am good at providing harm reduction information and health education to individuals who use drugs, and I regularly engage colleagues, mentors, and drug users to increase my skills and knowledge in this area.
• I have some knowledge and/or experience of harm reduction and health education for individuals who use drugs and want to learn more.
• I have NO knowledge and/or experience regarding health education and harm reduction individuals who use drugs.

02

From the list below, check ALL the topics that you have experience discussing in educational or outreach encounters.

• HIV
• Hepatitis
• STDs
• Opioid overdose risks and prevention
• Abscess care and prevention
• Safer injecting practices
• Safer sex
• Methadone
• Emotional and/or mental health issues
• Buprenorphine
• Safe handling & disposal of used injection equipment
• Making referrals to health or social services
• Naloxone
• None of the above

03

Do you have experience providing services to individuals who use drugs using a harm reduction approach?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered yes to question #3, please describe your experience working with individuals who use drugs using a harm reduction approach. Include the setting(s) where you gained this experience, what kind of work you did, why you view this work as harm reduction, and your years of experience. If you answered no, then put N/A.
05

Are you familiar with principles of trauma informed care and are you committed to applying them to your work?

• Yes
• No

06

If you answered yes to question #5, please describe your experience
07

Do you have a valid Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

08

This position requires CPR/BLS certification for healthcare providers prior to hire. If you have this certification, please upload it to your application. Select from the following choices:

• I DO have a CPR/BLS for healthcare providers and I DID attach it to my application materials.
• I DO have a CPR/BLS certification but I DID NOT attach it to my application materials but WILL be able to provide it prior to hire.
• I DO NOT have a CPR/BLS for healthcare providers certification but I WILL be able to obtain one prior to hire.
• I DO NOT have a CPR/BLS certification and I WILL NOT be able to obtain one prior to hire.

09

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo 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.

10

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 notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
Required Question