DSHS CTSC Behavioral Health Specialist

Overview

DSHS CSTC – Behavior Health Specialist 3 (Emergency Response Training Specialist)
Join us in making a meaningful impact as a Behavioral Health Specialist 3 at the Child Study and Treatment Center in Lakewood, WA. In this vital role, you will deliver specialized training to direct care staff and provide intensive, therapeutic interventions to patients experiencing mental health crises. As a key member of the clinical team, you’ll contribute to patient care within the framework of the Recovery Model while supporting treatment planning through data collection, process improvement activities, and communication.

Reporting to the Hospital Accreditation and Compliance Coordinator, you’ll help ensure a safe, trauma-informed environment for both staff and patients through expert instruction and responsive care.

The Child Study and Treatment Center (CSTC) is Washington’s only state-operated psychiatric hospital for children and youth ages 5–17 with complex emotional, behavioral, and safety needs. Located in Lakewood, CSTC provides evidence-based, culturally competent care in a structured, therapeutic environment. Youth benefit from a dynamic treatment setting that includes activity-based interventions such as Expressive Arts, Adventure Therapy, Sports/Fitness, and Music, along with recreation therapy, family involvement, and year-round education.

Our team is passionate about empowering young people and their families to achieve long-term success.

• Deliver and facilitate safety and mental health emergency trainings using adult learning principles to enhance staff engagement and comprehension.
• Assess staff competency post-training, provide feedback and remedial support as needed, and document outcomes for supervisory review.
• Serve as an active member of the Behavioral Health Specialist Team, responding to behavioral crises using therapeutic intervention techniques to ensure patient and staff safety.
• Provide direct patient intervention during psychiatric emergencies, assist with crisis de-escalation, and implement least restrictive interventions when appropriate.
• Participate in process improvement activities by collecting data and/or feedback from various departments.
• Participate in clinical risk management meetings or audits for purposes of improving patient and staff safety protocols.
• Conduct structured incident debriefs, support staff in developing corrective action plans, and participate in safety committee efforts to improve facility-wide safety practices.
• Observe and report on patients’ physical, mental, and behavioral status, using communication strategies to reduce the need for restraint or seclusion.
• Support direct care teams in patient areas by conducting rounds, reporting milieu concerns, and contributing to a safe, therapeutic environment.

• Knowledge of hospital, state, and federal regulations, policies, and procedures related to patient safety and emergency response.
• Strong understanding of therapeutic communication techniques and principles of trauma-informed care.
• Proficiency in verbal de-escalation strategies and personal conflict resolution in high-stress environments.
• Familiarity with incident command systems, seclusion/restraint protocols, and structured debriefing practices.
• Physical ability to stand for extended periods, perform physical interventions, and demonstrate safe restraint application.
• Capacity to remain calm and decisive during psychiatric emergencies and effectively intervene in behavioral crises.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills with the ability to collaborate across disciplines in a fast-paced hospital setting.

• 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 education and relevant experience totaling six or more years that provides the necessary skills for success in this role

• Work schedule:
  
  11:00 AM - 9:30 PM, Sunday through Wednesday.
• Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca…