Assistant Chief, Clinical Social Work

County of Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Assistant Chief, Clinical Social Work is a senior management position with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, responsible for helping coordinate clinical social work services in a large county hospital. The role focuses on staff supervision, program operations, and coordination of patient services. The Assistant Chief assists in planning, organizing, and directing clinical social work services; evaluating service needs; developing goals and standards; and implementing policies and procedures for services to patients and families. The position works with hospital and medical administration, clinical care teams, and other professional staff to integrate and coordinate services. It supervises subordinate supervisory staff, supports staff development and recruitment, helps prepare the annual budget, and compiles patient workload data and reports. The Assistant Chief also represents the program and hospital in community and interagency settings and acts for the Clinical Social Work Chief III in that person’s absence. Applicants must have a Master’s Degree in Social Work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, followed by six years of professional medical or psychiatric social work experience, including two years in a supervisory, consultative, or administrative capacity in a medical setting. A valid and active California Licensed Clinical Social Worker license is required, as is a valid California Class C driver license or the ability to use alternative transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. The role is classified as Physical Class 2 – Light; duties may involve occasional lifting up to 10 pounds, bending, stooping, squatting, and considerable ambulation. Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Social Work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Six years of professional medical or psychiatric social work experience following the qualifying degree, including two years in a supervisory, consultative, or administrative capacity in a medical setting.
Valid and active Licensed Clinical Social Worker license issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Valid California Class C Driver License, or ability to use an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
Required experience and certifications/licenses must be fully met at the time of application filing.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a supervisory, consultative, or administrative capacity in a medical setting in excess of the required experience; additional examination points are awarded for this experience.

Responsibilities

Assist in planning, organizing, and directing clinical social work services.
Participate in evaluating current and future clinical social work service needs and developing goals, objectives, and standards for service delivery.
Participate in developing and implementing policies and procedures for clinical social work services to patients and families.
Work with hospital administration, medical administration, clinical care teams, and other professional staff to formulate programs, policies, and procedures that integrate and coordinate services.
Supervise and evaluate subordinate supervisory staff and serve as the first-level reviewer of performance evaluations.
Resolve employee-related issues or advise subordinate supervisors on workforce utilization, disciplinary actions, and grievances.
Develop in-service training activities to increase staff professional knowledge and skills.
Assist with and implement training activities and conduct group conferences to promote staff development and interpret policies and procedures.
Plan, with the Clinical Social Work Chief and designated staff, strategies for partnerships with schools of social work or professional affiliations to develop supervised student fieldwork programs.
Supervise the clinical social work student field instructor to ensure student experience aligns with hospital policy and the expectations of the hospital and school.
Coordinate recruitment of clinical social work personnel.
Participate in interviewing, evaluating, selecting, and assigning clinical social workers and support staff.
Assist in preparing the annual budget by drafting recommendations and justifications for new or additional positions, supplies, and equipment.
Compile patient workload data and prepare reports to monitor service levels, inform decisions, support budget and revenue projections, and promote continuous performance improvement consistent with regulatory health care agency standards.
Represent the clinical social work services program and hospital in community organizations and interagency meetings concerning health care services.
Serve as a resource to supervisory staff, community organizations, agencies, and allied health personnel on professional social work services.
Act for the Clinical Social Work Chief III in their absence.