Social Worker II

About the role

Under the supervision of the Specialized Health and Social Services (SHSS) program supervisor, performs complex and comprehensive public health social work and case management (CM) services for children with special health care needs and their families, high-risk pregnant women, and the general public. Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Member of the Incident Command Structure (ICS) in response to public health emergencies. Must comply with HHS, DSHS, and Texas Department of Public Safety applicable policies/procedures/standards. Employee must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Performs basic case management duties for all program areas: conducting home visits and visits to other community settings to comprehensively assess client and family's unmet social needs; completing intake, Family Needs Assessment (FNA), individualized service plan, and other relevant assessment forms; collaborating with medical providers, community partners, and other state agencies to address needs; monitoring and following up on cases; maintaining current and accurate documentation in case files and database systems.
• Medicaid Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW): Assists clients and families with accessing necessary resources and community services (e.g., Medicaid benefits and waiver programs, WIC, Early Childhood Intervention, special education services, SSI benefits, medical transportation, housing assistance, mental health services, medical and dental care, transitional services); attends Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings to address unmet educational needs.
• Personal Care Services (PCS) and Community First Choice (CFC): Conducts functional needs assessments; educates clients regarding benefits and limitations; completes the Personal Care Assessment Form (PCAF) and CFC addendum.
• Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program (CSHCN-SP): Assists eligible clients and families with locating or recruiting CSHCN-SP providers; locates alternate healthcare resources for waitlisted clients; facilitates completion of CSHCN-SP and/or emergency Medicaid applications.
• Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance (BDES) pilot project: Completes BDES evaluation form with clients and families; enters data into appropriate database within designated timeframes.
• Safe Sleep Ambassador: Educates clients regarding safe sleep practices; delivers cribette and demonstrates proper usage; provides follow up case management.
• Newborn Screening: Educates clients regarding abnormal newborn screening results to facilitate understanding and appropriate medical intervention; provides follow up case management.
• Public Health CM: Performs case management duties for other individuals/populations as assigned.
• Conducts presentations and attends community events to educate the public about available services.
• Provides training, consultation, and technical assistance to program contractors and providers.
• Actively participates in community organization functions and collaborates with other community entities to improve community health and well-being.
• Represents DSHS at Community Resources Coordination Group (CRCG), coalitions, or other relevant community meetings.
• Serves as regional expert on Medicaid services for children and high-risk pregnant women.
• May supervise interns, train peers, and participate in quality assurance reviews.
• Attends trainings relevant to licensure requirement and continued development of professional social work knowledge and skills.
• Participates in the performance evaluation process.
• Required to work other than normal business hours to respond to public health emergencies and actively participate/serve in a supporting role for disaster response/recovery/Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation—requires completion of ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 and may require alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
• Maintains compliance with DSHS Policy, Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures and Standards, and a current valid Texas Driver's License.
• Participates in regional assignments/duties/special initiatives.

Qualifications

• Current, unrestricted social work license issued by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners.
• Valid Class C Texas Driver's License.
• Application indicates a willingness to travel at least 40% of the time.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience providing medical social services to children, adults, and/or families with special health care needs.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Knowledge of: social work and case management principles and best practices; children's programs such as Medicaid, CSHCN, CPW, CPS/Foster Care, SSI, NBS, NBHS, Lead, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), and CHIP; quality assurance and technical assistance policies and procedures; community resources on local, state and national levels; cultural and socioeconomic issues related to health and disabilities.
• Skill in: use of electronic mail, internet, databases, and Microsoft Office products; conducting telephonic and in-home intake and family needs assessments; developing service plans; conflict resolution, mediation, and problem solving; planning, prioritizing, and organizing workload; providing training and technical assistance to professionals; effective decision making.
• Ability to: communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; thoroughly assess, analyze, summarize, and evaluate clients' complex educational, biological, psychological, and social needs; establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff in an interdisciplinary setting; interpret and apply program policies and procedures; submit timely work activity, travel, and time reports; maintain confidentiality; plan and manage multiple workloads and assignments to meet deadlines; follow DSHS and HHS Policies and Procedures; adhere to HHS Work Rules and the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics; provide own transportation to perform work duties; move up to 30 pounds to deliver client goods.

Additional position details

This position can be filled at either Bonham or Gainesville field office location. This position requires travel within all 49 counties covered by PHR 2/3. Employee must provide transportation for home visits, field office visits, and attendance at community meetings. Safe operation of either a state owned vehicle or personal vehicle is required and an acceptable driving record must be maintained. This position may require working hours other than 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to respond to regional public health emergencies (including disease outbreaks, biological, environmental, and weather emergencies), which may involve on-call 24-hour work for emergency situations.