CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK SPECIALIST

DEFINITION

This is specialized professional licensed clinical social work as a highly skilled clinician involving responsibility for complex social work functions in a program for persons with mental illness, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and/or physical disabilities.

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Performs highly skilled clinical social work functions providing casework services to patients or clients exhibiting difficult or complex problems requiring intensive therapy and services.

Provides highly skilled assessments, crisis interventions, individual and group therapy, and other advanced clinical social work services for specialized client populations such as: sexually violent predators, clients with dual diagnosis, clients with a history of multiple hospitalizations, and/or clients with complex physical or behavioral problems.

Serves as the senior clinician of a major treatment unit or program with responsibility for providing highly skilled social work services of a specialized nature; provides advice and consultation to lower-level social services staff.

Acts as a liaison with parent associations and other community-based service providers; identifies and develops available social service resources in the community for residents and/or outpatients; explains treatment philosophy, programs, and goals.

Plans, develops, and implements support programs designed to facilitate the treatment of residents and/or outpatients.

Assists in coordinating the social work practicum program; participates as an instructor in staff development classes; assists in the development and implementation of the training and professional development of social services staff.

Participates in the provision of social work services in an interdisciplinary treatment team setting; serves as a social service advisor to members of the interdisciplinary team, other professional staff, clients, patients, family members, and community social service agency representatives.

Serves on designated facility committees such as program review, behavior management, board of inquiry, human rights, and research.

Acts as a facility guardianship coordinator in processing guardianships and assuring legal status of clients.

Conducts audits and reviews of the quality of the social service delivery system and makes policy and procedure improvement recommendations.

Exercises a high degree of independent skill and competence; receives supervision from a designated authority who reviews work for adherence to established policies and procedures, and attainment of goals.

Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Comprehensive knowledge of the ethical considerations involved in the practice of licensed clinical social work.

Comprehensive knowledge of methods, principles, practices, and techniques of casework, group work, client-centered advocacy, community organization, research, psychotherapy, and other clinical skills as they apply to intervention programs for persons with mental illness, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and/or physical disabilities.

Comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge of individual, group, and family behavior.

Comprehensive knowledge of individual and group therapy techniques and theories.

Comprehensive knowledge of the social, emotional, and financial effects of various mental and physical problems on patients or clients, their families, and the community.

Intermediate knowledge of various federal, state, and facility guidelines and regulations concerning care for persons with mental illness, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and/or physical disabilities.

Intermediate knowledge of available community resources and their organization, purpose, and use.

Intermediate knowledge of the legal requirements and court procedures involved in the placement of persons with mental illness, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and/or physical disabilities in facilities and community-based programs and the policies, rules, and regulations governing client services.

Ability to apply a variety of techniques and methods in the areas of assessment, planning, individual and group therapy, administration, and community organization.

Ability to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of various social work treatment practices, techniques, and procedures.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, family members, the public, and representatives of other agencies and organizations.

Ability to maintain clinical records and prepare related reports.

Ability to supervise and provide guidance to social work staff and students in compliance with all laws and regulations relating to the practice of social work.

Ability to communicate effectively.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

(The following requirements will determine merit system eligibility, experience and education ratings, and may be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers. When practical and possible, the Division of Personnel will accept substitution of experience and education on a year-for-year basis.)

One or more years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

Possession of a current license to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Missouri; and,

One or more years of licensed clinical social work experience.

(24 Post-Master's degree earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in Social Work may substitute for the required experience.)

(Revised 10/1/07)