Social Worker III​/Social Svcs Specialist

Job Title: Social Worker III

Functional

Title:

Social Worker III / Social Services Specialist

Posting Number: 12570

Agency: Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC)

Department: Psych Security Direct Care

Location: Kerrville State Hospital, 721 Thompson Dr, Kerrville, TX

Date Posted: Jan 7, 2026

Closing Date: 02/06/2026

Salary: $5,746.66 - $7,253.83 per month

Shift: Day

Travel: Up to 10%

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Nearest Major Market: San Antonio

The Social Worker III provides highly complex social services in a forensic mental health setting, serving as a liaison among patients, legally authorized representatives, and multidisciplinary teams to facilitate ongoing care, treatment, and support. This role involves advanced assessment, rights and capacity evaluation, training development, discharge coordination, and oversight of lower-level social workers and students.

• Perform and document complex social services work, including liaising with patients, representatives, and agencies to maintain care continuity.
• Gather and assess information to identify support systems, service needs, and psychosocial, economic, and physical requirements.
• Conduct individual and group trainings on rights, decision-making, and self‑advocacy skills.
• Coordinate transitions, furloughs, transfers, and discharges, ensuring thorough communication with courts, local mental health authorities, and receiving facilities.
• Participate and facilitate interdisciplinary team meetings and discharge program meetings.
• Oversee work, time, and travel of Social Worker I and II positions and social work students, including hiring, training, and evaluation.
• Perform other duties as assigned, such as disaster response and continuity of operations activities.

• Clock in on a regular basis, honoring required shift schedules, overtime, and rotating duties.
• Conduct interviews with individuals and representatives to develop comprehensive social histories and assess needs.
• Maintain open communication across agencies, healthcare providers, and treatment participants.
• Advise on community placement options, end‑of‑life planning, and rights within legal frameworks.
• Manage participation of subordinate staff and students in training, hiring, and supervision.
• Lead discharge planning activities, coordinating with courts, local authorities, and receiving facilities.
• Design and deliver training curricula on rights and decision-making.
• Facilitate internal and external work groups and discharge program meetings.
• Support disaster response or continuity of operations as required.

• Human growth and development, behavioral and mental health, and developmental and emotional aspects of illness.
• Social work standards for case management and facility/community resources.
• State hospital discharge policies and procedures.
• Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners code of conduct and NASW code of ethics.
• Creative problem‑solving and collaborative teamwork.
• Effective written and verbal communication in individual and group settings.
• Interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, case management, mediation, counseling, referral, problem solving, supervision, consultation, and advocacy.
• Supervision of other staff and financial accountability for assigned property.

• Maintain licensure in accordance with the Texas Board of Social Work Examiners.

• Minimum licensed Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (LBSW) and two years of direct experience with mental, social, or substance use disorders.
• Or licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with one year of direct experience in the same population.
• Completion of the State Hospital internship program is required.

• Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre‑employment drug screen, and registry checks including CANRS, Nurse Aid, Medication Aide, Employee Misconduct, and LEIE.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age;
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