Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06994

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: BHHA

Job classification: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST 3

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Health Services, Social Services, Human Services

Safety in a children's psychiatric hospital depends on staff knowing how to respond when a behavioral health crisis occurs.

As a Behavioral Health Specialist 3 at the Child Study and Treatment Center (CSTC) in Lakewood, you'll help prepare staff for those moments while also providing direct support during psychiatric emergencies.

CSTC is Washington's only state-operated psychiatric hospital for children and youth ages 5-17 with complex emotional, behavioral, and safety needs. In this role, you'll work at the intersection of staff training and patient care—teaching safety and mental health emergency response practices, assessing staff competency, and responding alongside the Behavioral Health Specialist Team when patients are in crisis.

The goal is both immediate and long-term: help staff respond safely and therapeutically while reducing the need for restrictive interventions and strengthening safety practices across the hospital.

We encourage you to apply if you can teach others while remaining ready to step into difficult situations yourself. You understand therapeutic communication and trauma-informed care, can de-escalate conflict under pressure, and are comfortable providing clear feedback when staff need additional coaching or support.

You'll also need to be prepared for the physical and emotional demands of a psychiatric hospital, including responding to behavioral emergencies and performing physical interventions when necessary.

Your first 90 days will focus on learning CSTC's emergency response practices, training expectations, patient care environment, and safety procedures while building relationships with the staff and teams you'll support.

Still reading? Here's what the role involves.

Some of What You'll Do

• Deliver safety and mental health emergency response training using adult learning principles.
• Assess staff competency, provide feedback and remedial support, and document training outcomes.
• Respond with the Behavioral Health Specialist Team during behavioral and psychiatric emergencies.
• Use therapeutic communication, verbal de-escalation, and least restrictive interventions to support patient and staff safety.
• Conduct structured incident debriefs and help staff develop corrective action plans.
• Observe and report changes in patients' physical, mental, and behavioral status.
• Conduct rounds, identify concerns within the patient milieu, and support direct care teams.
• Contribute to safety committee work and improvements to facility-wide safety practices.

Who Should Apply
You qualify through one of the following pathways:

• A bachelor's degree, preferably in sociology, psychology, or another social science, and two years of professional counseling or casework experience.

Or

• One year of experience as a Behavioral Health Specialist 2.

Or

• A combination of equivalent education and relevant experience totaling six or more years that provides the skills needed for this role.

You'll also need:

• Knowledge of therapeutic communication and trauma-informed care.
• Skill in verbal de-escalation and conflict resolution in high-stress situations.
• Familiarity with incident command systems, seclusion and restraint protocols, and structured debriefing.
• The ability to remain calm and make decisions during psychiatric emergencies.
• The physical ability to stand for extended periods, perform physical interventions, and demonstrate safe restraint application.
• The ability to work effectively with colleagues across disciplines.

Schedule and Work Location
The schedule is Sunday through Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an ORCA card for transportation needs.

Positions performed onsite at this work location at least three days per week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.

How to Apply
Submit:

• An updated resume.
  
• Proof of your highest level of education completed.
• Three professional references with contact information.

Questions?
Email recruiter Kris George at kris.george@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number 06994.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. 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 job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

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