Behavioral Health Treatment Liaison - PN67 - HQ

Posting number: HS-HQ-2026-06826

Department: Dept. of Corrections

Division: HS - HQ

Job classification: WMS BAND 2

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Corrections, Mental Health

Summary

The Behavioral Health Treatment Liaison is a temporary project position that supports the mission, vision, and values of the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) and advances Health Services’ quality improvement, patient safety, and regulatory compliance initiatives. This position is established to support statewide implementation of Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5388 and serves as a key member of the Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) Regulatory Compliance team.

Under the direction of the Director of Quality for Health Services and in collaboration with the Behavioral Health Agency Regulatory Compliance Director, this position assists in the implementation of SSB 5388 by supporting the development and operationalization of correctional behavioral health standards and interpretive guidelines. The position collaborates extensively with DOC leadership, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), multidisciplinary clinical teams, and facility leadership to promote consistent implementation of behavioral health standards across all Washington State correctional facilities.

The Behavioral Health Treatment Liaison assists with planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating all phases of the SSB 5388 implementation project, including mock audits, implementation activities, monitoring processes, quality improvement initiatives, and ongoing compliance efforts. Responsibilities include conducting research and regulatory analysis; assisting with development of policies, procedures, educational resources, implementation tools, audit instruments, tracking systems, and performance monitoring processes; and supporting statewide readiness for monitoring oversight.

The position develops and delivers educational programs, training materials, implementation guidance, and consultation to clinical staff, facility leadership, and other stakeholders regarding behavioral health standards, implementation expectations, and compliance requirements. The Behavioral Health Treatment Liaison serves as a resource and subject matter expert by interpreting standards and clinical expectations, identifying implementation barriers, recommending process improvements, and supporting corrective action planning when needed.

This position serves as the Department’s subject matter expert for correctional mental health services and evidence-based addiction treatment. The MH Behavioral Health Treatment Liaison provides clinical consultation and guidance regarding mental healthcare service standards, treatment expectations, regulatory requirements, and best practices to support consistent implementation of SSB 5388 across all WA state DOC facilities. The MH Behavioral Health Treatment Liaison supports development and refinement of statewide mental health treatment standards designed to ensure the delivery of safe, timely, clinically appropriate, evidence-based behavioral health services for incarcerated individuals. The position promotes consistency in behavioral health practice by ensuring implementation activities aligned with the DOC Health Plan, applicable federal and state laws, Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Revised Code of Washington (RCW), nationally recognized correctional healthcare standards, accepted standards of clinical practice, and departmental policies.

The position collaborates closely with the Behavioral Health Agency Regulatory Compliance Director, the Substance Abuse Recovery Unit (SARU) Treatment Liaison, facility behavioral health leadership, Quality Improvement staff, Health Services administration, operational leadership, and DOH partners to ensure successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the SSB 5388 behavioral health standards. This position also supports ongoing collaboration with DOH during implementation and future monitoring activities and serves as a resource for behavioral health standards interpretation, technical assistance, and continuous quality improvement throughout the project lifecycle.

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." 

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