Social Worker III

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Vernon, TX

1d•$5,747 - $7,254•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker III performs and documents highly complex social services work at Vernon State Hospital, focusing on complex cases and post-discharge placement and support. The role serves as a liaison among patients, legally authorized representatives, actively involved persons, agencies, and treatment providers to help ensure ongoing care, treatment, and support through person-centered practices. The position gathers information about individuals’ social histories, support systems, and service needs, and may participate in assessing rights and decision-making capacity. It works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude to use initiative and independent judgment. The position designs and provides individual and group training to promote rights, decision-making, person-centered thinking, self-advocacy, and patient transition. It also assists with furloughs, transfers, transitions, and discharges, including coordination of post-discharge referrals and support. The role may participate in disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activities, which may involve an alternate shift or location. Additional pay may be available for work performed in maximum security locations.

Requirements

Current licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), maintained in accordance with Texas Board of Social Work Examiners requirements.
At least one year of experience working directly with individuals with mental, social, or substance use disorders.
Knowledge of human growth and development; behavioral and mental health; developmental and emotional components of physical illness; intellectual and developmental disabilities; social work case-management standards; facility and community resources; and social work principles, methods, and theories.
Knowledge of community resources that support discharge of state hospital patients with high or complex needs, and of State Hospital discharge policies and procedures.
Ability to perform duties in accordance with the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners Code of Conduct, the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, and applicable state and state-hospital policies and procedures.
Ability to collaborate creatively on behalf of patients discharging from state hospitals and communicate effectively in writing and verbally in individual and group settings.
Skills in interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, case management, mediation, counseling, information and referral, problem solving, supervision, consultation, and advocacy.
Ability to assign and supervise the work of others and account for assigned property, with limited financial responsibilities.
Pass required fingerprint criminal background, pre-employment drug, and registry checks; applicants must be at least 18 years old for a state-operated facility.
Comply with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital immunization-related procedures.
Flexibility in work hours may be required; overtime or extended hours may be required.
Males aged 18–25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

Responsibilities

Interview individuals, legally authorized representatives, actively involved persons, and agencies to create and maintain social histories and assess support systems and psychosocial, economic, and physical needs.
Coordinate communication and information exchange among individuals, representatives, involved persons, agencies, and facility or treatment providers; provide required notifications, obtain consents, participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, and access external resources as needed.
Counsel and assist individuals, representatives, and actively involved persons regarding community placement, living options, end-of-life planning, and rights under applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
Assign and oversee the work, time, and travel of Social Worker I and II staff and social work students; responsibilities may include interviewing and hiring, training, evaluations, and counseling.
Oversee transfers, transitions, furloughs, and community-placement discharges, coordinating with patients, families or significant others with consent, courts, Local Mental Health Authorities, and providers to support orderly discharge and continued services.
Coordinate discharge-option tours and communication with state and judicial systems and providers; help obtain documents needed for discharge planning and coordinate transfers within the State Hospital system, including transportation and transfer of records, possessions, and medication.
Design and conduct individual and group training on rights, decision-making, person-centered thinking, and self-advocacy; develop and present curriculum and training materials.
Participate in or facilitate discharge program meetings and internal or external work groups, use available resources, and identify potential service gaps.
Maintain regular attendance and perform other assigned duties, including possible participation in disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activities.