Psychiatric Services Specialist

About the role

The Evansville Psychiatric Children’s Center (EPCC) is part of the State of Indiana's extensive network of agencies, providing a wide range of services to support the mental health and overall well-being of children and adolescents.

Responsibilities

• Serve as social worker and/or case manager, performing comprehensive mental health and biopsychosocial assessments including clinical interviews and pre-admission evaluations.
• Conduct admissions for new patients, ensuring completion of admission notes, ROIs (HIPAA, advanced directives, human rights), and informing patients of their Patient Rights.
• Gather necessary information to determine patient needs and establish initial treatment plans.
• Plan, implement, and monitor therapeutic techniques and interventions tailored to patients’ development and treatment needs.
• Coordinate Monthly Treatment Plan Updates (MTPUs) by scheduling meetings, facilitating multidisciplinary discussions, and updating short-term goals, interventions, and progress validations.
• Provide therapeutic group interventions to patients and document participation; participate in referring patients to appropriate therapeutic groups.
• Participate in daily morning huddles to discuss patient status with the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain a therapeutic alliance with patients and their families/caregivers.
• Aid patients in developing community living skills and obtaining needed items (clothing, patient funds for canteen, item requests from guardians).
• Manage patient logistics, including approved phone/visit lists, mail facilitation, and Leave of Absence paperwork for appointments or passes.
• Aid in completing applications for patient needs, such as SSI/SSDI, Medicaid, PASSR, and obtaining legal identification/documents.
• Maintain "real-time" documentation of interactions with patients and external stakeholders via Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and complete progress notes at required intervals.
• Consult and act as a liaison between the clinical team and external parties, including social service agencies, gatekeepers, and guardians.
• Prepare and execute discharge plans in collaboration with mental health centers, families, and representatives.
• Place patients on discharge or transfer waitlists and complete all associated pre-discharge and discharge paperwork.
• Provide updates regarding complex patient discharges to be staffed with the complex discharge committee.

Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of social work and recovery.
• Specialized knowledge of case management, assessment, and continuum of care.
• Practical knowledge of community social services agencies and the ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with them.
• Working knowledge of other treatment disciplines such as: rehabilitation therapy, psychology, dietetics, and nursing and the ability to integrate these while discharge planning.
• Working knowledge of causes, symptoms, and limitations of various mental disabilities.
• Must obtain CPR and Bridge Building certification, demonstrate ability to perform techniques, and maintain certification throughout employment.
• Associates Degree in a Human Service related field (i.e. social work, sociology, psychology, human services, or criminal justice) along with experience in the mental health field preferred.

Qualifications

• Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Skills

• Ability to articulate or demonstrate the following: Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of social work and recovery.
• Specialized knowledge of case management, assessment, and continuum of care.
• Practical knowledge of community social services agencies and the ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with them.
• Working knowledge of other treatment disciplines such as: rehabilitation therapy, psychology, dietetics, and nursing and the ability to integrate these while discharge planning.
• Working knowledge of causes, symptoms, and limitations of various mental disabilities.

Benefits

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans.
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards.
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution.
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match.
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options.
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to: 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers.
• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave.
• Cumulative 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off.
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years.
• Education Reimbursement Program.
• Group life insurance.
• Referral Bonus program.
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits.
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Free Parking for most positions.
• Free LinkedIn Learning access.

What You'll Need for Success

• Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of social work and recovery.
• Specialized knowledge of case management, assessment, and continuum of care.
• Practical knowledge of community social services agencies and the ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with them.
• Working knowledge of other treatment disciplines such as: rehabilitation therapy, psychology, dietetics, and nursing and the ability to integrate these while discharge planning.
• Working knowledge of causes, symptoms, and limitations of various mental disabilities.
• Must obtain CPR and Bridge Building certification, demonstrate ability to perform techniques, and maintain certification throughout employment.
• Associates Degree in a Human Service related field (i.e. social work, sociology, psychology, human services, or criminal justice) along with experience in the mental health field preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.