Senior Social Worker - Clinical, Lead Stabilization

The Social Worker, Senior -Clinical is a lead professional position with significant responsibility for performing complex work in the development, implementation, provision, evaluation and fiscal management of Adult Mental Health services, programs, grants, and contracts.

Client assignments of a Social Worker, Senior -Clinical may include more complex, sensitive or difficult cases than Social Workers l and ll and include the clinical supervision and sign-off of treatment plans, clinical assessments and is also responsible for the consultation, training and support to Social Workers and professionals in and outside the agency.
 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field with licensure as a Mental Health Professional (MHP) per Minnesota State Statute 245.462 subd 18 is required. Experience assessing mental health and chemical health symptoms is required. Strong skills in crisis assessment, person centered services, assertiveness, conflict management, and the ability to work independently are necessary. Experience working closely with law enforcement or corrections is highly desirable. Additional licensure as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) is highly desirable. A valid driver license with access to independent transportation is required for the positions.

CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE

Core Competencies outline essential business and professional traits necessary to perform this job.
• Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace;
• Demonstrates knowledge of social and economic problems and family systems;
• Demonstrates knowledge of interviewing techniques and skills at conducting interviews;
• Demonstrates skills in assessing danger to self and others and can safely intervene in dangerous situations;
• Demonstrates ability to translate complex information into understandable messages;
• Demonstrates ability to apply principles, techniques, ethics and practices of Social Work;
• Demonstrates  ability to follow state, federal and county relevant laws, rules, regulations and policies;
• Demonstrates ability to utilize previously acquired knowledge and skills to identify and solve complex situations;
• Demonstrates ability to seek on-going training in chemical health assessment and any training requirements of the state Department of Human Services;
• Demonstrates ability to function comfortably in and knowledgeable of legal and court proceedings; and
• Demonstrates ability to serve as a consultant to staff and reviews work of staff to assure compliance to relevant laws, rules, policies and procedures.

Provide assessment and case management services for eligible individuals or families:
• Assist clients who have a serious and persistent mental illness in obtaining financial support including Social Security benefits, child support, housing, medical care and treatment for chemical or mental health needs;
• Assess continued client eligibility for Adult Mental Health services;
• Provide pre-petition screening assessments for individuals who are in need of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization;
• Lead intensive consultations with staff and service providers for case planning, specialized programs and agency procedures;
• Provide clinical supervision to case managers as needed;
• Strive to keep clients at home through the use of other community resources and waivers funded by state and federal sources;
• Explain legal processes and county systems to client families and community partners; and
• Maintains frequent and ongoing client contact either in-person or over the phone.

Provide leadership and guidance to staff team members:
• Provide leadership, team development, direction and case consultation to unit staff;
• Collaborate frequently with team members for consultation on team cases and for review of diagnostic assessments;
• Participate in staff performance evaluations;
• Keep supervisor appraised of issues and problems;
• Assume supervisory duties when supervisor is unavailable;
• Evaluates training needs; and
• Design and provides specialized training and orientation to staff as well as service providers.

Assist with department administration:
• Assist in the preparation of program budgets, contracts and reports;
• Compile statistical information and prepare reports;
• Prepare RFPs
• Develop plans for specialized program grants;
• Design, recommend, implement and evaluate designated programs, policies and procedures
• Make recommendations for changes to make current practices more efficient;
• Analyze and interpret state/federal rules and regulations; and
• Promote culturally competent social work practices.

Raise Community awareness and support Adult Mental Health issues:
• Design and facilitate specialized training and orientation to the community;
• Represent the department in the community, at policy forums and at inter-agency meetings; and
• Coordinate and/or leads various task forces, committees and multi-disciplinary teams at the local and state level.

Perform all duties of a Social Worker II and may include management of a complex caseload.

Perform other duties as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Semi-sedentary involving office and outside field work. Lifting requirement may include lifting up to 20 pounds. Exposures may include but not be limited to disagreeable odors, communicable diseases, bodily fluids and behavior challenges. Use of general office equipment to include telephone, cell phone, pager, personal computer, laptop computer, electronic recorder, calculator, etc. Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions.

This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time.