Corrections Specialist 4 | Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Corrections Specialist 4 | Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Full Time | Permanent

Location: Federal Way Community Corrections Office | Auburn, WA

Salary Range: $84,792- $114,072 Annually

This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees bargaining unit.

The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking a skilled and empathetic facilitator to support individuals in developing the skills needed for successful reentry and a safer community as a Corrections Specialist 4 (CS4)! As part of the Reentry Division, the goal of this position is to deliver CBI courses with fidelity helping participants recognizing patterns and thinking behaviors, practice new skills, and make choices that support lasting change.

The Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CBI) Corrections Specialist facilitates evidence-based CBI programs for incarcerated individuals, providing professional assessment, evaluation, and program delivery. Working collaboratively with DOC staff throughout the case management process, this position helps participants develop cognitive self-change skills, strengthen social abilities, improve problem-solving, and make positive behavioral changes that support successful reentry and reduce recidivism.

If you are passionate about meaningful behavior change and helping individuals build a successful path forward, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities.

A completed application packet will include:

• A cover letter regarding your interest in this position with our agency
• A detailed resume
• Three professional references

We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service and are committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence, while promoting innovation, engagement, and safety, leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population, our agency, and our community.

As a Corrections Specialist 4, some of your duties will include: 

• Providing professional delivery of all Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBIs) within the inventory of the Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) Unit to eligible participants actively under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections which could look like: 
  • Facilitating CBI groups and individualized CBI sessions
  • Reviewing and adhering to standards as outlined in the CBI Facilitators Guides
  • Screening, and assigning participants to designated Cognitive Behavioral Interventions using approved criteria and prioritization strategies
  • Scheduling classes and developing class rosters for selected eligible participants
  • Notifying participants of selection and intervention start date, schedule, and location
  • Notifying the Fidelity Unit of the intervention start date, schedule, and location
  • Preparing lesson plans for the delivery of interventions
  • Delivering intervention to participants according to lesson plan
  • Observing and monitoring individual participation and provide feedback on the lesson by providing reinforcements and additional coaching as necessary
  • Identifying and setting appropriate behavioral targets to increase or decrease identified participants behaviors
  • Scheduling and facilitating make-up sessions as necessary and in accordance with intervention and Facilitator Guide requirements
  • Assessing participant progress to determine intervention advancement
  • Hosting graduation events to acknowledge participants’ achievements in completing the intervention
  • Completing participant orientations to the intervention
• Sharing with stakeholders the status of the ongoing Cognitive Behavioral Intervention.
• Participating in and complete all scheduled training/coaching sessions for Cognitive Behavioral Interventions
• Documenting individual participation
• Other duties as assigned by Reentry Division

What we need (required qualifications):

• A Bachelor’s degree from a college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education.

       AND

• Three years as a Community Corrections Officer within the Washington State Department of Corrections 

OR

• Three years of professional case management* experience in adult or juvenile corrections or closely related field which includes at least three of the following:
  • Making field visits
  • Writing reports
  • Assessing cases and making recommendations
  • Referring people to appropriate resources
  • Presenting cases in court or hearings

        AND

• Six months experience facilitating CBI programs or professional experience in training or teaching equivalent to three full-time years.

OR

• An Associate’s degree from a college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education.

       AND

• Five years as a Community Corrections Officer within the Washington State Department of Corrections 

OR

• Five years of professional case management* experience in adult or juvenile corrections or closely related field which includes at least three of the following:
  • Making field visits
  • Writing reports
  • Assessing cases and making recommendations
  • Referring people to appropriate resources
  • Presenting cases in court or hearings

       AND

• Six months experience facilitating CBI programs or professional experience in training or teaching equivalent to three full-time years.

OR

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalency

AND 

• Seven (7) years of professional case management* experience in adult or juvenile corrections or closely related field which includes at least three of the following:
  • Making field visits
  • Writing reports
  • Assessing cases and making recommendations
  • Referring people to appropriate resources
  • Presenting cases in court or hearings

AND

• Six months experience facilitating CBI programs or professional experience in training or teaching equivalent to three full-time years

* Professional case management includes activities such as: assessment of risk factors; designing, monitoring, and/or facilitating treatment plans; determining and making referrals to appropriate (chemical dependency, substance abuse, family counseling, job training assistance, etc.); maintaining official records and tracking client progress/compliance; and assisting individuals who are unable to independently access support systems or community resources such as those providing food, clothing, or monetary assistance and shelter.

** A Master’s degree in sociology, social work, psychology, criminology, or closely related field will substitute for one year of the required professional case management experience.

In addition to the above, this position requires demonstrated competency in the following areas (competency may be gained through education, experience, or a combination thereof):

• Facilitator Skills - Demonstrates empathy, facilitation/teaching techniques, understanding of group processes and interpersonal interactions, and the ability to control a group of individual participants through non-coercive means.
• Community Relationships - Participates in the formation and maintenance of successful relationships with criminal justice partners and community resources.
• Observation - Observes and strategizes personal response based on environmental conditions and human behavior.
• Stress Tolerance - Remains calm and rational while handling difficult situations to include, but not limited to: volatile, threatening, or other crisis/emergency situations.
• Professional Standards - Knows and applies community corrections related law, policy, procedure, and practice. Adheres to productivity standards and timelines established by law and policy. Identifies own training needs and proactively seeks training opportunities.
• Adaptability - Incorporates new information into an existing framework of understanding. Accepts change and supports the Agency through changes in law, policy, and procedure.
• Computer Skills – Must have working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Possess and maintain a vehicle operator’s license valid in the state of Washington
• Maintain confidentiality of information obtained through job performance as protected by agency policy or state or federal law.

What will make your application stand out (preferred qualifications): 

• Familiarity with DOC Offender Management Network Information (OMNI) or similar databases
• Experience delivering programs or interventions in group settings to incarcerated or supervised individuals