Are you ready to be professionally challenged? Are you looking to be part of a dynamic team of engaged and committed professionals? Then the Health and Specialty Care System (HSCS) may be just the place for you! The HSCS is comprised of nine psychiatric hospitals located throughout the state, and one youth residential psychiatric center in Waco. The HSCS is a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. The hospitals provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. Whether in a direct-care or support role, your contribution will make a difference in the life of a Texan.

This position is based on Specialty Services (SS) geriatric unit, with an expectation of being cross-trained on the other Specialty Services units. The work of the Social Worker III (Clinical Social Worker) includes complex, senior level clinical social service functions such as frequent individual contact with patients and provision of education and psychotherapeutic sessions with individuals and groups of patients at the Austin State Hospital.

Clinical services provided include but are not limited to completing formal social assessments, liaising with patients, treatment teams, and external stakeholders, filing legal forms, coordinating necessary services, providing education and therapy sessions, coordinating and planning discharges, serving on facility and/or statewide committees, and supervision of social work interns. The Clinical Social Worker operates with significant autonomy and limited supervision allowing for expansive use of creativity and individual clinical judgment in the provision of clinical social work services to persons served at the hospital.

Essential Job Functions:
1. Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

2. Completes formal social assessments through record review and interviews with individual clients, loved ones, and other relevant stakeholders such as law enforcement, educational institutions, and health and social welfare institutions. Based on these assessments, economic, physical, and psychosocial needs of clients are identified. Social assessments are completed within 168 hours of admission to Austin State Hospital.

3.Liaises directly with patients, their loved ones, and other relevant stakeholders to maintain active communication and advocate for the needs of clients based on clinical social assessments. Works as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team responsible for planning and providing person-centered care to clients which include the development of individualized care plans.

4. When required, will file court paperwork including civil and forensic commitment forms. Will file guardianship paperwork and advocate for the appointment of a guardian when necessary. Will assist clients in completing Advanced Directives as needed. Will complete housing applications, Social Security pre-release applications, and other individualized clinical social work interventions as necessary to coordinate needed services.

5. Has frequent individual contact with patients and provides education to individuals and groups of patients at the Austin State Hospital. Directly provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Completes documentation as required reflecting the patient’s progress toward treatment goals and identifying continued needs for patient and family education and care coordination.

6. Coordinates necessary services and resources needed for discharge based on ongoing clinical assessment of clients’ individual needs. Assesses and helps to mitigate any safety concerns prior to discharge and ensures that discharge-related documentation and referrals are completed in a timely manner.

7. Serves as a subject matter expert on hospital or statewide committees and workgroups. This includes but is not limited to developing and evaluating clinical social work programs, planning, and managing budgets for these programs, as well as other necessary administrative functions associated with clinical social work programs. In the role of subject matter expert, the clinical social worker will collect, compile, and analyze data to make recommendations to upper management and provide oversight of clinical social work programs at Austin State Hospital based on the needs of the facility. Examples of topics that they will be expected to explore may include but are not limited to recommendations from staff, coverage needs in social work and related departments, unmet needs for staff training, status of various clinical social work programs, and fiscal matters relevant to the social work department.

8. When required will provide direction to social work interns.

9. Performs other duties as assigned.
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
KNOWLEDGE OF:
1.Psychiatric Disorders per the DSM-V
2.Ethical principles and the Social Worker Code of Conduct
3.Texas Administrative Code (TAC)
4.Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP)
5.Community resources
6.Crisis intervention
7.De-escalation skills
8.Person centered recovery planning,
9.How to manage aggressive behaviors in a psychiatric population.

SKILLS IN:



1.Individual and family education regarding serious mental illness
2.Interviewing skills
3.Social assessment formulation
4.Person centered recovery and continuity of care planning
5.Effective communication
6.Problem solving
7.Crisis intervention
8.Working effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team
9.Managing rapidly changing priorities and dealing with a diverse case load

ABILITY TO:

1.Serve as liaison between ASH, community resources, court system, individuals and families
2.Identify individual/family needs and develop related interventions
3.Organize and coordinate treatment issues
4.Skills and sensitivity in working with a diverse population

Registration or Licensure Requirements:
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or registered to take the Texas licensing exam with test date specified in the License/Certification section of application.

Initial Selection Criteria:
1.You have Texas LBSW/LMSW/LCSW licensure or are registered to take Texas exam

Additional Information:
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, and HHS OIG list of Excluded Individuals/Entities. ?Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.?

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare workers are considered to be at significant risk for acquiring or transmitting hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and influenza. All of these diseases are vaccine-preventable. As a result, state hospital policy requires employees be vaccinated according to their level of contact with patients. In the event you choose to not be immunized for the influenza virus, you may be required to wear a mask and take other protective measures.

MOS Code:
Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to: 68X, 67D, 73A, HM, 230X, 0149, 42SX. All active duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/JobDescriptions.aspx.

Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to Jobs at HHSC and DSHS

HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.