Social Worker Specialist

at Larned State Hospital in Larned, Kansas, United States

Job Description

<

Laid out on a 78-acre campus, Larned State Hospital (LSH) is the largest psychiatric facility in the state serving the western two-thirds of Kansas with nearly 1,000 employees and the capacity to treat more than 450 patients daily, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. LSH is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

https://www.kdads.ks.gov/state-hospitals-and-institutions/larned-state-hospital

* Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information

This position is an integral and critical part of the treatment and discharge plan for the patients on the Psychiatric Services Program of Larned State Hospital. The mission is to provide inpatient mental health care and treatment to adult clients in the LSH catchment area; to provide inpatient evaluation, care and mental health treatment, and substance abuse services in a controlled and secure environment; to improve mental health services to the public in collaboration with community based mental health providers by providing services that include mental health awareness, education and coordinated services and; and to provide quality support services to state agencies in the surrounding area.  The Social Worker Specialist is responsible for gathering and documenting information regarding the patients treatment, progress, and discharge planning. Social Workers are the primary liaisons to families as well as the community resources, relaying information to the team in written form as well as verbally. Social workers coordinate placement for patients to ensure that patients are released to the least restrictive environment possible, without endangering safety. 

Social Work Duties:

• Make collateral contacts (i.e. courts, CMHCs, KDADs, CDDOs, and legitimately involved others) to gather and share information pertinent to the patients treatment, maintaining professional standards of confidentiality.


• Make initial contact with newly admitted patient(s) to identify and implement indicated social services.


• Develops and implements community based discharge plans in collaboration with agencies and legitimately involved others.


• Assure patients rights are provided to assigned patients and documentation is completed.


• Provide patient/family education specific to Social Services role and indicated treatment.  Educates patients regarding psychiatric disorders, treatment and self care as indicated. 


• Explain legal status to patients and families as indicated.


• The individual in this position has access to Protected Health Information (PHI) under the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA).  PHI must be safeguarded and released in accordance with the provisions of the HIPPA Privacy Regulations and state and federal law.

Documentation:

• Complete psychosocial assessments in collaboration with treatment team members.


• Document Social Services treatment course and progress in treatment in accordance with department and agency standards.


• Document family contacts and discharge planning.

Treatment Team Duties:

• Develop discharge plans in collaboration with the patient, community providers, legitimately involved others and the treatment team.


• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings to assess patients treatment progress and identify treatment needs in compliance with LSH policies and procedures and State/Federal Mandates


• Provides court testimony to fact.


• Share pertinent information vital to patient treatment and discharge.

Psychosocial Education:

• Provide supportive counseling to patients and family members as needed.


• Research best practices for psychosocial education.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Attend LSH team meetings, program meetings, and other meetings as assigned/needed.


• Participate in performance improvement projects as assigned.


• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor, Department Head, and/or Clinical/Program Director.

• License to practice social work in the State of Kansas at the time of hire.


• Licensed by the BSRB in social work (LBSW or higher).


• CPI Certification within one month of employment and maintian certification throughout employment.

Two years experience providing mental health services and two years experience working in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

• Ability to pass a KBI background and pre-employment drug test.

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: How to Apply for a Job Instructions and How to Search for a Job Instructions"

Transcripts

DD214 (if you are claiming Veterans Preference)

Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas.  Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer.  A Tax Clearance can be obtained through the Kansas Department of Revenue who reviews individual accounts for compliance with Kansas Tax Law.   

If you have a missing tax return(s) or you owe taxes to the State of Kansas, please know that the Kansas Department of Revenue will work with you.  The Kansas Department of Revenue can set you up on a payment plan to receive a Tax Clearance so you can get a job working for the State of Kansas.  The Kansas Department of Revenue can be contacted at 785-296-3199. Kansas Department of Revenue – Tax Clearance Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about claiming Veterans Preference

How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference

Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference

PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person’s eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be scanned and emailed to Gustavo.Victoriano@ks.gov, or can be mailed/delivered in person to:

ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator
Office of Personnel Services
Docking State Office Building
915 SW Harrison Ave, Suite 260
Topeka, KS 66612

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.