PSYCHIATRIC CASEWORKER 2

About the role

The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is recruiting for a Psychiatric Caseworker II in Las Vegas, Nevada. This role is located at Desert Willow Treatment Center (DWTC) in Las Vegas.

Responsibilities

• Interview clients for psychosocial rehabilitation program placement; determine needs in terms of training and assign to appropriate groups/classes; prepare written evaluation of client and a service/care coordination plan for each service; enter progress notes; and advise clients of their service related rights and responsibilities.
• Develop treatment plans and participate in the development of service/care coordination plans by attending multidisciplinary team meetings in which client goals are determined and appropriate strategies and plans are developed and modified as necessary; integrate and analyze information from all available sources and systems; coordinate and integrate services among members of multidisciplinary teams and client support systems; monitor treatment plans and evaluate effectiveness; document quality of care and ensure information is available to other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Provide on-going individual and family management and education regarding issues of daily living, coping skills and employment; provide information to clients’ family members or other caretakers regarding clients’ rights and actions necessary to obtain optimal benefits of active treatment; assist clients, family members, and care providers in understanding the nature and treatment of clients’ illness or condition.
• Develop and implement discharge plans; prepare required documentation; schedule appointments such as in the medication clinic; obtain information from clinical professionals concerning clients; make referrals to appropriate clinician; refer to community resources and make housing referrals.
• Write client housing contracts according to established procedures; monitor supported housing arrangements; monitor delivery of services and quality of care to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
• Monitor follow-up services specified in the treatment plan including attendance at medication clinics, day treatment programs, outpatient appointments, vocational/rehabilitation services and housing arrangements to reduce the incidence of readmission; arrange and provide transportation for clients to various appointments and community assistance services issuing bus tokens or using State vehicles as necessary; assist clients with court appearances.
• Locate, coordinate, and develop resources to meet clients’ needs; develop, implement, and monitor programs to assist clients in developing daily living skills such as preparing a budget, obtaining public transportation attending self-help groups, shopping for food and clothing, and developing reminders to take medication at prescribed times.
• Conduct classes and provide individual skill training for clients; compile or develop relevant materials and curriculum; evaluate client’s baseline status and progress using objective assessment measurements.
• Adhere to all regulatory standards for documentation, charts, and progress notes; document client contacts and progress in case records; write required reports at established intervals; complete billing forms and other documentation according to established policy and procedure.
• Attend staff, committee, task force and other scheduled meetings to discuss and provide input concerning critical client issues and problems; attend and participate in in-service training, workshops, seminars, and continuing education programs to enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities related to job performance; may provide in-service training to other staff related to de-escalation, management of aggressive behaviors, wraparound case management delivery model, and other topics.
• Provide crisis intervention to include appropriate behavioral and environmental controls for clients who may be hostile, combative, aggressive, or assaultive; follow established protocols and policy to protect clients, staff, family, and others potentially at risk due to client behavior or family dynamics; engage in client restraint if needed.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of lower level professional, technical, and paraprofessional staff, university students, and interns as assigned.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

  Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, or closely related human services field and two years of experience in a mental health or intellectual disabilities setting, one year of which must have included professional casework experience providing psychosocial rehabilitation services for a caseload consisting predominantly of individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities; OR one year of experience as a Psychiatric Caseworker I in Nevada State Service; OR an equivalent combination of education at or above the Bachelor's degree and experience as described above.

  Qualifications

  • Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques; documenting client progress; assessing client needs and resources available; case management practices and procedures; laws governing abuse and neglect of clients; treatment planning and implementation; educating clients and their families on issues of daily living, coping skills and employment.
  • General knowledge of: psychotropic medications and common side effects; behavior modification techniques to include contingency management and cognitive behavior interventions.

  Skills

  • Ability to make appropriate referrals to community resources and health care providers; develop contracts for services and monitor services provided; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with clients, staff, community resource providers, community agency staff and the public; monitor follow up services according to the service/care coordination plan.

  Benefits

  Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP). Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year. Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year. Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year. Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication. Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program. No Nevada state income tax. Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment. Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have reached 10 years of service are eligible for longevity payments.