Psychiatric Social Worker Ii

DEFINITION

Performs a wide variety of professional social work services in connection with the treatment of clients in need of mental health services.

Positions allocable to this journey‑level class are assigned to community mental health facilities, psychiatric hospital wards, outpatient mental health clinics, and specialized mental health treatment programs and work under the general supervision of a higher level psychiatric social worker position, supervisory mental health position, or a psychiatrist. Within agency guidelines and professional standards, incumbents function independently to formulate differential diagnoses concerning the nature of the mental illness, in order to develop an effective intervention and to determine the appropriate psychotherapeutic methods to be utilized.

Positions at this level are characterized primarily by assignments that require the incumbents to consistently and effectively apply a wide variety of psychotherapeutic techniques and methods in the treatment of clients with a wide range of mental illnesses. Such psychotherapeutic methods include group, family, individual and conjoint therapy, clinical case management, and crisis intervention. Positions allocable to this class also provide mental health consultation services to other health disciplines and to community agencies, and participate in social work student affiliate programs for training professional social work students.

Duties and responsibilities of this position require the application of professional skills and possession of extensive knowledge pertaining to the principles, practices, and theory of psychiatric social work. Training‑related duties and responsibilities require the application of basic leadership and training principles to provide program direction for both graduate students and unlicensed clinical staff.

Interviews individuals, their families and/or significant others to obtain a family, social, employment, medical, substance abuse and mental health treatment history.

Assesses client functioning in his/her environmental setting.

Develops a Client Care Coordination Plan (CCCP) designed to resolve or cope with the mental or emotional problem, which may include individual, group, family or marital counseling, case management, and/or referral to another treatment source such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a vocational or rehabilitation counselor, or another agency.

Determines the duration of therapy, priorities of the problems to be dealt with, therapy methods to be used, and necessity of modifying treatment goals at successive intervals during the treatment process.

Provides psychotherapy to individuals, groups, families, and significant others.

Provides case management services to secure resources for clients, families and significant others to achieve treatment goals.

Assists clients, families, and significant others by discussing their reactions and attitudes concerning mental health problems and co‑occurring substance abuse disorders; explains need for treatment; and encourages all concerned parties to work together cooperatively to resolve the problem and minimize the stresses that impact social functioning.

Works with families and significant others toward gaining their acceptance of and participation in treatment recommendations.

Interviews persons seeking psychiatric assistance on an emergency basis and utilizes crisis intervention techniques to prevent hospitalization and to aid the person in dealing with the emotional crisis.

Serves as a member of a mental health emergency intervention team and/or a joint law enforcement/mental health emergency intervention team by evaluating the behavior of persons to determine if they are, as a result of a mental disorder, dangerous to themselves, others, or gravely disabled.

Initiates procedure on application for immediate 72‑hour detention at a hospital facility and, depending upon the apparent seriousness of the situation, schedules an appointment for evaluation and treatment at a Mental Health Clinic or makes referral to another community treatment agency.

Participates in multidisciplinary team conferences to…