Clinical Social Worker (C), Adult Clinical Authorization Specialist

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Tewksbury, MA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Northeast Area (NEA) is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced, dynamic, and compassionate candidate to serve as a Clinical Social Worker (C) Clinical Service Authorization Specialist (CSAS). The selected candidate will be responsible for ensuring that DMH policies and procedures are followed in the process of conducting assessments, determining clinical eligibility for DMH services, consulting with Area clinical and administrative leadership, and overseeing the service engagement process both clinically and administratively.

Requirements

A mastery of engagement and interviewing techniques.
Knowledge of the principles, theories, practices, and techniques of developmental psychology.
Ability to develop psychosocial evaluations, to draw conclusions and make appropriate clinical recommendations.
Knowledge, experience, and attention to performing a cultural formulation interview and attending to the cultural components of a diagnostic formulation.
Experience with gathering information through questioning and observing individuals, and by examining records and documents.
The capacity to establish and maintain professional working relationships with others.
Ability to provide oral and written information in a precise, understandable manner.
Skilled at interacting with people who are under emotional and/or physical distress.
Ability to establish and maintain rapport with persons from different ethnic, racial, cultural and/or economic backgrounds.
At least two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience as a clinical social worker after earning a Master's degree in social work.
Licensure as a Licensed Certified Social Worker or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Social Work is required.
Based on assignment, travel may be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's license or the equivalent from another state.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual or multilingual fluency, with Spanish-speaking candidates preferred

Responsibilities

Interfaces with DMH Site Office staff, primarily the Site Director or Supervisory staff, to discuss availability of DMH services pending the completion of the Clinical Service Authorization process.
Coordinates the application process for Northeast Area applicants with Forensic Transition Team staff from across the state.
Prepares case presentations detailing the pertinent clinical information for review with the Area Medical Director for clinically and medically complicated applicants, forensically involved applicants, those age 65 and over, and for some young adult applicants.
Is available during the determination process to applicants, family/significant others, guardians, and treaters to provide information about the determination process, outline the information that is necessary for making a clinical decision, and to review possible services to address immediate needs.
Prepares, enters into the electronic record, and distributes written summaries for all applicants to the Site Office staff.
Identifies available alternative resources and services for applicants not determined to meet clinical eligibility and communicates those verbally and in writing to the applicant.
Conducts informal appeals and presents the findings to the Supervisor and the Area Medical Director.
Participates in the Adult Service Authorization Team meetings to share information and resources, review procedures related to Service Authorization, and problem solve as needed.
Provides information to callers regarding the Service Authorization process as well as to walk-ins.