THERAPIST; MA​/MSW PRN

THERAPIST (MA/MSW) PRN – River Vista Behavioral Health

River Vista Behavioral Health is a brand‑new 128‑bed facility located along the San Joaquin River, offering advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The hospital employs over 250 staff, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff, and administrators. The Social Services Team seeks a forward‑thinking, compassionate SOCIAL WORKER (MSW) who will utilize therapeutic treatment skills and perform the following duties:

• Conduct a full biopsychosocial assessment for each patient.
• Create individualized treatment plans and brief consultations for patients and families.
• Prepare safe discharge plans with referrals for continued treatment and housing when appropriate.
• Provide therapeutic, group‑based interventions and crisis interventions to help patients achieve optimal emotional health.

Education: Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related discipline. Must be registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Experience: Minimum of one (1) year in a psychiatric health care facility, with direct experience in family and group therapies, crisis intervention, and treatment skills; strong clinical assessment skills required.

Additional Requirements: CPR certification and completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training (may be obtained during orientation).

License: Must hold state certification in social work or a related mental‑health field. Valid licenses include ACSW, AMFT, LCSW, LFMT, or RN.

• Demonstrate a professional attitude supporting facility objectives and interact with all staff, patients, and community/referral sources.
• Maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries and follow established procedures consistently.

• Respond to social‑work service requests promptly.
• Use self as a role model to promote health communication.
• Meet the social‑work needs of the patient population served.
• Contribute to the effective functioning of the patient’s program and facility‑wide activities.
• Uphold patient rights and maintain confidentiality in compliance with professional ethics.
• Identify opportunities for program improvement and participate in projects.
• Continue professional development in therapy and maintain documentation in the personnel file.
• Assist in the orientation of new colleagues and supervision of student interns.
• Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting (e.g., child abuse, psychiatric commitment).
• Represent the facility at legal hearings, submit legal hold paperwork, and liaise with the conservator’s office.

• Employ a variety of techniques to resolve patient problems.
• Use communication, interviewing, problem‑solving, and crisis intervention skills during psychotherapeutic interventions.
• Apply verbal and physical interventions in line with De‑Escalation and Handle‑with‑Care practices during emergencies.
• Follow universal precautions and report infections to the Infection Control Nurse.
• Maintain patient orientation, encourage participation, and conduct educational/therapeutic groups.
• Develop effective working relationships with patients and families, providing advocacy and collaboration.
• Communicate patient status and progress to the treatment team and community providers.
• Offer liaison and referral services to community agencies and appear in court when subpoenaed.

• Assess psychosocial and developmental functioning using case‑finding mechanisms.
• Document assessment updates for significant changes or readmissions within thirty days.
• Consult families on emotional, social, and financial aspects of care.
• Communicate with community agencies in patient assessment and service.
• Apply DSM‑V knowledge and incorporate it into treatment plans.

• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning based on assessments, meeting facility time frames.
• Ensure plans have specific, measurable goals and interventions tailored to each patient’s needs.
• Evaluate and document intervention effectiveness and patient…