Psychiatric Social Worker

SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITES OF THE POSITION

• Conducts advanced level psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and clinical interventions for group and individual services.
• Performs initial diagnostic evaluation noting behavioral symptoms, which may indicate organic and/or mental disorders in adults and children and in interpersonal/family dysfunctions related to child and adult patients.
• Determines and develops appropriate clinical treatment and service plans.
• Conducts individual, group and family counseling/therapy/support sessions for patients toward the goal of achieving more adequate, satisfying and productive life adjustments in the community and provide case management/linkage services as appropriate.
• Participates in developing individual and group treatment plans utilizing a variety of psychotherapeutic, psychosocial and psycho educational modalities that meet the standards set by the Behavioral Health/State Quality Assurance Standard.
• Makes consumer referrals and coordinates discharge plans.
• Assesses progress of consumers on a selected basis and proposes modifications to rehabilitation plans in order to meet the service plan goals agreed upon by the patient, youth or family.
• Prepares and maintains psychosocial assessments for use in diagnostic evaluations and patient progress and desired outcomes.
• May assist in providing clinical supervision to unlicensed interns if the Psychiatric Social Worker has completed the BBS approved Supervisory Training course.
• Collects, coordinates and evaluates additional medical and psychosocial data such as treatment plans, behavioral patterns and family relationships.
• Analyzes factors which exert an adverse effect upon health problems, treatment, or recovery, or which may contribute to or are responsible for mental illness or affect the potential for rehabilitation.
• Work as a psychiatric team member with other treatment disciplines.
• Provides consultation and education services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Pursuant to the California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5751.2 (a) possess Licensure as a Clinical Social Worker or Licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California issued by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners.

AND

• In accordance with HIPAA, incumbent must have applied for or have a National Provider Identifier (NPI).

AND

• Comply with California licensure requirements as outlined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

EXAMPLES OF EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/TRAINING: 

The skills necessary may be acquired through various types of education, training, and/or experience, typically: Education: Possession of a Master’s Degree from an accredited School of Social Work and licensure as a Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or Professional Clinical Counselor in the State of California issued by the State Board of Behavioral Science Examiners (BBSE).

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

A combination of experience, education, and/or training which substantially demonstrates the following knowledge, skills and abilities is required: Thorough  Knowledge of:

• Current philosophy, principles, and evidence based practices for services to consumers with serious mental illness or severe emotional disturbance.
• Individual, group and family psychodynamics as they relate to adults or children.
• Psychiatric diagnostic methods and terminology.
• Personality and human development from infancy through adulthood.
• Public Mental Health Policy and Welfare and Institutions Codes that provides guidelines for human and health services systems in the County.
• Community resources available to consumers for linkage.

Skill and Ability to: 

• Provide treatment to adults, children or adolescents with various mental disabilities ranging from serious mental illness to dysfunctional behavior patterns including victims of sexual and physical abuse.
• Provide services utilizing evidence based practice skills.
• Lead treatment planning meetings for clinical staff.
• In conjunction with the consumer, develop realistic, attainable and measurable service plans and facilitate their attainment.
• Evaluate the degree of community functioning and/or emotional distress of consumers.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing and able to complete work using electronic format.
• Ensure time sensitive documentation submitted with established guidelines.
• Provide consultation and mentor staff on best practices.
• Provide consultation and technical assistance to agencies, schools and other organizations.
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.