Social Worker III / Social Svcs Specialist

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•San Antonio, TX

2d•$5,747 - $7,254•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker III performs and documents highly complex social services work at the Terrell Center for Youth. The role serves as a liaison among patients, legally authorized representatives, involved persons, agencies, and treatment providers to support ongoing care, treatment, and services using person-centered practices. The position gathers information about social history, support systems, and psychosocial, economic, and physical needs, and may participate in assessing rights and decision-making capacity. It focuses on complex cases, particularly post-discharge placement and support, and works under limited supervision with considerable latitude to use initiative and independent judgment. The role designs and delivers individual and group training to promote patients’ rights, decision-making, person-centered thinking, self-advocacy, and transition. It assists with and oversees furloughs, transfers, transitions, and discharges, including coordination with patients, families or significant others (with consent), courts, local mental health authorities, and receiving facilities. The position may facilitate discharge program meetings and work groups, identify service gaps, and use available community resources. The position requires regular attendance and may involve rotating or alternate shifts, extended shifts, overtime, or changes in assignment or location during disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activation. Flexibility in work hours may be required. It is not eligible for telework, and travel may be up to 10%.

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 aspects of physical illness; intellectual and developmental disabilities; social work case management standards; facility and community resources; and social work practice 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, 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 maintain accountability for assigned property, with limited financial responsibilities.
Pass required fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks, including CANRS, Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, and LEIE.
Applicants to the Waco and Terrell Center for Youth facilities must be at least 21 years old; applicants to other state-operated facilities must be at least 18 years old.
Comply with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital immunization-related operating procedures.
Males aged 18–25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

Responsibilities

Interview individuals, legally authorized representatives, involved persons, and agencies to create and maintain social histories, identify individual priorities, gather background information, and assess support systems and psychosocial, economic, and physical needs.
Coordinate communication and information exchange among individuals, representatives, involved persons, agencies, facility staff, and treatment providers to support ongoing care and treatment; provide required notifications, participate in interdisciplinary team meetings as requested, obtain consents, and access external resources.
Counsel and assist individuals, representatives, and involved persons regarding community placement, living options, end-of-life planning, and rights in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
Oversee transfers, transitions, furloughs, and community placement discharges using person-centered practices, coordinating with patients, families or significant others with consent, courts, local mental health authorities, and providers to arrange continued treatment and services.
Coordinate discharge planning activities such as tours of discharge options, obtaining required records and documents, and arranging transfer transportation and the transfer of patient information, possessions, and medication.
Design and conduct individual and group training on rights, decision-making, person-centered thinking, and self-advocacy; develop and present curricula and training materials for patients, stakeholders, and other interested parties.
Participate in and potentially facilitate discharge program meetings and internal or external work groups; use existing resources and identify potential service gaps.
May assign and oversee the work, time, and travel of Social Worker I and II staff and social work students; may interview and hire staff, train staff, and conduct evaluations and counseling.
Maintain regular attendance and perform other assigned duties, including supporting disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activation.