State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In a state agency behavioral health program as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for independently providing clinical social work services.

OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE: This class is accountable for serving as a case manager and advocate for clients that have received or need to receive behavioral health care services.

Works under the administrative supervision of a Supervising Clinician or other clinician of higher grade.

• As a member of multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews with assigned clients and families which include consideration of developmental, social and/or cultural, substance abuse, psychological, environmental and medical issues; 
• Develops treatment plans including measurable treatment objectives; 
• Provides clinical treatment services in form of triage, crisis intervention, individual, group and/or family therapy, screening and planning; 
• Advocates and develops networks of social and clinical services to assist clients in meeting identified needs; 
• Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans, documents treatment in clinical records; 
• Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies; 
• Provides clinical supervision to Licensed Master Social Workers; 
• Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients; 
• Provides forensic evaluations and court testimony as required; 
• Maintains social work treatment and standards as required; 
• May participate in research projects; 
• Performs related duties as required.

OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE: 

• Manages a caseload of consumer behavioral healthcare insurance complaints concerning coverage and/or payment; 
• Reviews and assesses medical records including psychological assessment and treatment plans, concerning but not limited to mental, emotional, behavioral and addictive disorders to determine appropriate treatment plans and eligibility for insurance benefit payment; 
• Participates in insurance appeal hearings and serves as clinical expert to defend and demonstrate that the diagnostic assessment and treatment plans are appropriate and required to address client behavioral healthcare needs;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of
  • social work methodology, casework, group work and community mobilization; 
  • family and interpersonal relationship dynamics; 
  • values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional social work; 
  • social, cultural, economic, medical, psychological and legal issues which influence attitudes and behaviors of clients and families; 
  • mental illnesses and approaches to treatment; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Ability to
  • devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs; 
  • independently apply current psychiatric treatment modalities to address client needs.

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice clinical social work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (m) through (r) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
• Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. § 1320a-7b(f).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.