DSHS Fircrest - Attendant Counselor 3

About the Department

Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) Direct Support Professional - Attendant Counselor 3

Do you enjoy working closely with people in need and want to make a difference in their lives? Join our community of hard working professionals at Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center (RHC) to provide 24-hour residential and specialized care for residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Fircrest is currently seeking compassionate Direct Care Professionals who are Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) or known to some as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to provide support to developmentally disabled adults living at our facility. In this role, you are a shift charge in our Nursing Facility and will provide leadership and instruction to staff in the provision of activities of daily living, behavioral, social-emotional and recreational support needs for the residents.

Fircrest RHC is conveniently located just north of Seattle in the central location of Shoreline, WA, and has excellent access to transit lines. Also nearby are major medical & educational facilities, a variety of eateries, access to Wi-Fi while on campus, as well as an onsite Fitness Center. In addition to an exceptional benefits package, we also offer a complimentary Orca card while employed with Fircrest. You will enjoy being part of a great team and working in a residential setting on a beautiful 88-acre lot with a park-like atmosphere.

Start a career today at Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center and join our community of hard-working professionals. We offer competitive benefits, on-the-job training, meaningful work, and long-term, professional, and promotional growth opportunities.

King County employees receive 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary and are eligible to receive a free ORCA card for transportation use. Evening and Night shifts include a shift differential in addition to the standard compensation rate. Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary. 




 
Some of what you'll do:

• Implement individualized programs, plans and services that are designed to maintain skills and facilitate independence; carry out prescribed programs as daily schedules require or as written.
• As a shift charge, you'll give verbal and written feedback/coaching, monitor staff, and ensure that care is provided according to an Individual Habilitation Plan (IHP).
• Ensure care issues, environmental and other pertinent information is communicated timely and to appropriate people.
• Provide feedback to the manager for Personal Development Plan input.
• Observe, document, and report changes in individuals' physical/mental condition or unusual behaviors.
• Accompany and supervise residents ensuring the health and safety of residents to and from activities and appointments of daily living.
• Assist with medical and behavioral emergencies; provide health, safety, security, and protection from abuse or neglect.
• Responsible to guide staff and others in the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment and in following all infection control policies and procedures.
• Beyond shift charge role also work directly on the floor with clients and provide personalized care.
• Provide care for each client as described in their individualized care plans (CP) & other support plans accurately.
• Demonstrates understanding of and follows each client’s plan when assisting with activities of daily living, (ADLs) such as dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring, and assisting to eat. 
• Takes and records vital signs accurately and timely.
• Performs activities as directed by the licensed nurse according to plan and reports observations to a licensed nurse clearly and in a timely manner. 
• Is vigilant in monitoring for and reporting any instances of abuse or neglect to a higher authority and recognizes the need to have client safety and protection as paramount in their mission.
  
  

 What we are looking for:

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work with residents who exhibit challenging behavior; with a dual diagnosis or developmental disability and mental illness; with community protection issues; and with health issues.
• Strong work ethic.
• Demonstrate understanding and competence in all aspects of Therapeutic Options training in daily work assignments.
• Promote and maintain a positive reinforcing environment.
• Positive Leadership Skills.
• Able to work holidays, weekends, or extended hours with short notice.
• Experience working with intellectual disabilities is desirable.
• Individuals who are ready to develop new leadership skills and face new challenges.
• To be a valuable contributing member of a team with a voice that is appreciated & respected.
• Individuals who want to seek educational and promotional opportunities.
• Individuals who are eager to develop new personal and technical skills.

Who should apply?
Professionals who have a high school diploma or GED, AND two years of experience as an Attendant Counselor 1, equivalent or higher-level state class.

OR

High school graduation or GED AND two years of experience working with people with intellectual disabilities.

AND

Must possess and maintain a valid Washington State Nursing Assistant Certified License.

All newly hired employees will participate and complete a paid, three-week mandatory New Employee Training Session. These pieces of training typically occur Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Interested? Simply fill out our application and provide three references. That's it! We want to make this easy for you.


Questions about this opportunity? Please contact DSHS recruiter Vincent Hamilton at [email protected] and reference project number 05773.

Other Qualifications

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.
 
 
 E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. 

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays 
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. 

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave 
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. 

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.  

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave 
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of WashingtonAddress View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504 Website http://www.careers.wa.gov