Psychiatric Social Worker III

Recruitment #101221-MDDR03-370400

Introduction

The Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families' (The Delaware Children’s Department) primary responsibility is to provide and manage a range of services for children who have experienced abandonment, abuse, adjudication, mental illness, neglect, or substance abuse.  Our services include prevention, early intervention, assessment, treatment, permanency, and after care.

We offer desirable career opportunities, attracting and retaining proud and talented employees who are motivated to think of the child first in all that they do.  The Department is the perfect place to kick-start your career!

For more information, please visit https://kids.delaware.gov/.

Summary Statement

A class incumbent performs lead level professional social work in a psychiatric and/or institutional setting by overseeing and participating in assisting the developmental disabilities, mentally ill or emotionally disturbed to readjust and achieve a social, economic, emotional and physical balance and personal independence compatible with generally accepted norms.

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class.  Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

  • Interviews patients, clients, family members and/or persons deemed necessary to obtain the most complete case history.
     
  • Refers or assigns cases to appropriate unit or staff for effective service delivery.
     
  • Oversees the operation of a psychiatric social work unit.
     
  • Provides technical guidance to professional and para-professional staff in a psychiatric setting, and monitors subordinates to assure quality level of services.  Trains and orients new staff.
     
  • Maintains a caseload, providing therapeutic treatment to clients and families.
     
  • Provides consultation to staff to enable them to intervene in crisis situations or directly handles explosive situations.
     
  • Assists in analysis of operations, making recommendations with a view to improving division/department policy and procedures.
     
  • Participates in inter-disciplinary team conferences to formulate or evaluate a treatment plan.
     
  • Prepares narrative statistical and court reports, if necessary.  May prepare application forms for benefits or services.
     
  • Provides consultative services to state and private agencies and may participate in community projects.

Job Requirements

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Psychiatric Social Worker III
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

  1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Behavioral or Social Science or related field.
  2. Three years experience in case management which includes assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individuals human service needs. 
  3. Three years experience in providing clinical treatment, counseling or determining eligibility for services or benefits as part of a treatment team.
  4. Six months experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
  5. Six months experience in narrative report writing.

Additional Posting Information

As a condition of employment, all employees must certify that they are fully COVID-19 vaccinated by September 30, 2021; or be required to test for COVID-19 on a weekly basis starting on September 30, 2021; or request an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination(s) due to health or sincerely held religious beliefs or practices by September 30, 2021.  If hired after September 30, 2021, these certifications or requests must be completed during their initial week of employment. This will be in effect until further notice.  More information can be found here.

Conditions of Hire

Pre-employment Drug Testing:  Upon a conditional offer, you must undergo pre-employment drug testing as part of the hiring process.

Criminal background check:  A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire.  The recruiting agency may require the applicant to pay for the criminal background check as part of the conditional offer of hire.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E-Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our job seeker resources.

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position.  It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties.  For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content.   Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email.  Please keep your contact information current.  You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at Delaware State Jobs.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance. The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.