Social Worker II

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Mexia, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. The Social Worker II performs and documents complex social services work including serving as a liaison between the individual, legally authorized representative and others to assure ongoing care, treatment and support through the use of person-centered practices. This position gathers information to assess the individual's support systems and service needs, including participation in interdisciplinary team meetings, as needed. This position completes an initial social history, as well as maintains appropriate updates. This position may also support the assessment of the individual's rights and capacity to make decisions and provides individual and group training to promote the exercise of rights. This position designs and provides individual and group training to promote the exercise of rights. This position assists with the coordination of admissions, transfers, transitions, and discharges, as needed. The Social Worker II works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

Knowledge of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, human growth and development, behavioral and mental health, developmental and emotional components of physical illness, social work standards for case management; facility and community resources, and the principles, methods and theories used to practice as a social worker.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally in both individual and group settings.
Skill in accountability for assigned property with limited financial responsibilities.
Ability to perform all job duties in accordance with the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners Code of Conduct, National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and in compliance with state, state center policies and procedures.
The Social Worker is required to maintain licensure in accordance with Texas Board of Social Work Examiners. LBSW, LMSW or LCSW is required.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.
Social work experience.
One year of experience working directly with persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/ Entities (LEIE).
Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Responsibilities

Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
May serve in an on-call status on a rotating schedule as required to meet operational needs of the facility.
Interviews and converses with individuals, legally authorized representatives, actively involved persons, and agencies to determine what is important to the individual and gather background information needed to assess the individual’s support systems and identify the individual’s psychosocial, economic and physical needs, with updates as appropriate.
Oversees the communication and information exchange between the individual, legally authorized representative, actively involved person and agencies, and facility or treatment providers.
Provides assistance to individuals, legally authorized representatives, and actively involved persons regarding guardianship issues, annual living options discussions, end-of-life planning, and rights in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations and state and center policies.
Oversees the coordination and completion of the rights and capacity assessment by assigned staff and reviews the documentation.
Assigns facility staff to perform admissions, transfers, transitions, discharges, and furloughs to assure access to services through the use of person-centered practices.
Coordinates the design and conducting of individual and group training to explore and promote exercise of rights, voting, citizenship, and development of decision-making, person centered thinking and self-advocacy skills.
Participates in residence and family meetings and conducts formal presentations describing facility processes.
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.