Salary: $8,460.00 - $11,383.00 Monthly
Location : Walla Walla County - Walla Walla, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Non-Permanent
Job Number:Department: Dept. of Corrections
Division: HS - WSP
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 7/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionPsychiatric Social Worker 3WA State Penitentiary, Walla Walla, WAMonthly Salary Range: $8,460 to $11,383Shift: Mon. - Fri. 7:45 am - 4:15pm (non-perm)
WA State Penitentiary is looking for a Psychiatric Social Worker 3.
The purpose of the PSW3 position is to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to provide medical, behavioral health and substance use disorder transition planning services. This position directly supports the Department's mission to improve public safety by assessing transition needs of incarcerated individuals.
preparing for release, coordinating, and advocating for needed services, providing resources, and developing Continuity of Care Plans that assist patients with significant physical and/or mental disorders in their transition back to the community.
PSW services are grounded in DOC agency core values of cultivating an environment of integrity and trust and respectful and inclusive interactions. Continuity of Care helps patients succeed, which reduces recidivism. This approach contributes to prison and community safety and supports the DOC commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Respect.
Continuity of Care strives to promote/maintain the medical/mental health stability achieved while incarcerated and encourages community support to the released patients, with the goals of successful community reentry and reduction of recidivism. This position, in collaboration with the facility Health Services reentry team, focuses on the Department's Strategic Goal of Continuity of Care Planning for Health Services patients.
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."
DutiesConduct release planning for incarcerated individuals who have need for follow-up medical and mental health care. - Work with classification staff, medical provider(s) and/or mental health primary therapist(s) to identify transitional needs for incarcerated individuals and assist with identification of community resources as needed.
- Complete Reentry Needs Assessment, healthcare related reentry facilitation and a Health Services Reentry Plans for all eligible patients.
- Conduct reentry groups and forums in both outpatient and residential settings. May include groups that facilitate successful transitions.
- Set follow-up medical and mental health services in the community as needed for patient community transition.
- Assist staff with contacting and coordinating services with other agencies including Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and DSHS Home and Community Services (HCS).
- When known, coordinate care with the Managed Care Organization (MCO) regarding healthcare needs of releasing individual.
- Attend Multidisciplinary Facility Risk Management Team (MDT/FRMT) meetings when it relates specifically to releasing planning.
- Participate in case conferences with the primary therapist, psychiatric provider, primary care provider, Reentry/Discharge Nurse and/or pharmacy as needed in preparation for release.
- Coordinate EMP (Extraordinary Medical Placement) referrals. If approved, provider continuity of care planning.
- Provide education about Narcan administration as assigned to identified individuals prior to prison release and coordinate with Reentry Care Navigator.
- Facilitate Durable Medical Equipment (DME) necessary for immediate support at release.
- Document all contacts with patients per policy, via Health Services reentry forms.
- Responds to kites and other correspondence requests related to release planning in a timely manner, typically within five business days.
- Inputs daily OMNI encounters (electronic) for all face-to-face meetings with incarcerated individuals; all release planning tasks completed are documented in OMNI and OMNI-HS.
Facilitate Affordable Care Act (ACA), Transitions Outreach ABD Program. (TOAP) / Expedited Medical Eligibility (EME) and/ or Reentry Community Services Program (RCS - P) services prior to release.- Meet with incarcerated individuals prior to their release to offer assistance in completion of all documentation needed for the ACA application process.
- Complete the EME application for identified offenders (both residential and outpatient), request Behavioral Health Discharge Summary from Psychologist 4 or assigned primary therapist and follow TOAP procedures.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and assist as needed for the RCS cases.
- Understand the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) process and communicate resource information.
- Coordinate with DSHS Home and Community Services including setting up on-site visits when applicable.
- Participate in networking and information sharing with various community stakeholders, such as community corrections, community mental health, housing and care representatives and human services case managers.
Other transition and continuity of care duties as assigned.- Support medical and mental health staff by coordinating medical surrogacy/legal guardianship when needed.
- Facilitate DCR evaluations.
- Participate in Coordinate Quality Improvement Process (CQIP) as assigned.
QualificationsRequired qualifications:- Must be able to obtain and maintain status as a Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor** through the Washington State Department of Health or possess a current, valid WA Social Work license.
- In addition, SW licensure/ credential must be maintained in good standing at all times in order to perform SW duties. Each SW is responsible for adhering to the legal, educational and ethical requirements for maintaining their professional credentials.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:- A master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the IS Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and one to two years of post-graduate experience providing professional case management services, discharge/release planning and/or professional counseling services (i.e. individual/group, crisis intervention, psychoeducational) to adults with severe and persistent mental illness, criminal/violent behavior and/or chemical dependency issues.
- Licensed Social Worker (independent or associate) in good standing at all times, OR Master of Social Work, from a program whose accreditation is recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the ability to obtain/maintain status of a LAAC, OR Bachelor of Social Work, with a masters in a closely related field, and the ability to obtain/maintain status as a LAAC.
- Current valid Washington State social worker license.
- 3 to 4 years' experience providing professional case management services, discharge/release planning and or professional counseling services (i.e. individual group, crisis intervention, psychoeducational) to adults with severe and persistent mental health illness criminal violent behavior and chemical dependency issues.
What We Offer: As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are off
