Social Services Practitioner III - Psych Testing

About the role

The County of Riverside – RUHS Psych Testing Unit is seeking a Social Service Practitioner III to provide direct patient care in a hospital setting, offering clinical assessments, crisis intervention, legal hold processes, care planning, and discharge coordination.

The Social Service Practitioner III will also assist patients with accessing community resources and funding options, maintain accurate and timely documentation, and utilize basic computer applications such as Microsoft Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments, initiate and complete legal holds and advisements in accordance with state regulations, and develop individualized care plans while actively participating in team-based discussions.
• Provide counseling and support to patients and families, coordinate discharge planning to ensure safe transitions of care, and assist patients in accessing community resources and funding options.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, collaborate closely with hospital staff to promote a safe and supportive environment, and utilize Microsoft Excel, Word, and basic computer applications for documentation and reporting.
• Carry a caseload of difficult social service cases, assess client problems, and develop treatment plans.
• Lead self-care, well-being, and educational courses for community participants and/or staff.
• Complete case studies, develop intensive treatment plans, and act as a casework consultant to staff members without professional training.
• Function at a highly skilled level in areas such as counseling, protective services, medical social work, family services, community organization, and adoptive services.
• Take part in staff development programs to increase knowledge of social work processes and augment personal technical competence.
• Provide therapeutic marital, family interrelationship, and adoptive parent counseling.
• Investigate and provide services to clients where their physical or emotional welfare is involved.
• Maintain casework records, prepare reports, and correspondences.
• Conduct field visits to carry out service plans, observe and assess client needs, and provide information and social work services.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social or behavioral sciences, social/human services.
• Current license or associate license in a mental health discipline (e.g., A/LCSW, A/LMFT, A/LPCC).
• Experience in mental health care, including legal holds and involuntary detention procedures.
• Strong clinical judgment and crisis intervention skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and team collaboration abilities.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office and general computer literacy.

Qualifications

Knowledge of principles and techniques of social casework, individual and group behavior, social casework objectives, principles and methods, socioeconomic and cultural factors, physical and mental illnesses, and community organizations.

Ability to establish rapport with clients and their families, effectively apply casework knowledge and skills, evaluate personal and psychological factors, work constructively within an agency and community setting, and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.

Work Environment

Hospital-based setting with regular patient and staff interaction, fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment requiring compassion, professionalism, and adaptability.

Schedule

5 days with an 8-hour shift (5/8hr) - Wednesday - Sunday, 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Benefits

Opportunities for growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact, mileage reimbursement when using a personal vehicle for County business.

Skills

• Counseling
• Protective services
• Medical social work
• Family services
• Community organization
• Adoptive services
• Microsoft Office
• Basic computer applications