Psychiatric Social Worker I - Custody Health Services

County of Santa Clara•Santa Clara, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision, the pre-licensed Psychiatric Social Worker I provides counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and treatment services in a counseling center, clinic, or institutional setting. The position is within Custody Health Services (CHS), which provides medical, mental health, and dental care to patients in custody at four County detention facilities: Main Jail, Elmwood, Juvenile Hall, and James Ranch. CHS offers routine and urgent or emergent medical services at the adult jail facilities, care for acute and chronic illness as well as preventive and specialty care, and operates a 40-bed acute psychiatric inpatient housing unit at Main Jail. Juvenile Custody Health Services provides integrated pediatric medical, mental health, and dental care to justice-involved youth. This recruitment may fill vacancies in several Marriage and Family Therapist and Psychiatric Social Worker classifications. Applicants must be able to work in a correctional facility and pass a security background check. Some positions may require provider credentialing before appointment. Employees may need to travel to alternate work locations. County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers and must complete assigned training and return to work when ordered during an emergency.

Requirements

Possess a Master's Degree that qualifies for licensure as described in the special requirements.
Possess and maintain current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor for the duration of employment in this classification.
Comply with California licensure requirements established by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Pass a security background check to work in a correctional facility.
Be able to travel to alternate locations in the course of work.
If driving, possess a valid California driver's license before appointment and qualify for and maintain County driver authorization.
Complete assigned Disaster Service Worker training and return to work as ordered in an emergency.
Know principles of psychiatric social work and psychotherapy; counseling, case management, and other psychiatric social work techniques; social aspects of behavioral health and emotional disturbances; community behavioral health and substance use interventions; relevant community agencies and resources; physical and mental illnesses and their effects on personality; English usage; and common computer systems and applications.
Effectively apply psychiatric social work theory, case management skills, and psychotherapeutic interventions; conduct differential diagnosis; obtain and record accurate, pertinent social and personal data; use psychiatric consultation effectively; communicate orally and in writing with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures; and establish effective working relationships with colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.

Responsibilities

Provide counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and treatment services to patients or clients and their families.
Participate in evaluating problems and developing treatment plans.
Prepare social case histories, emphasizing psychosocial factors affecting the patient or client.
Cooperate with staff and community agencies to carry out treatment plans.
Participate in psychotherapy and case management programs with psychiatric treatment teams.
Explain social and emotional factors related to illness to clients, relatives, and community groups; conduct educational sessions and training events as appropriate.
Evaluate new techniques for addressing emotional and environmental problems.
Refer patients or clients to appropriate community agencies.
May participate in group therapy programs.
May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker.
Perform other related duties as required.