PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER

Definition

Under supervision performs office and field work involved in providing psychiatric and social work services for clients; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Interviews clients and confers with families, representatives of the public and private agencies, schools, and police departments, and other interested persons, and obtains significant social, psychological, psychiatric, and other data needed for diagnosis and treatment.
• Prepares complete, concise, accurate, and informative histories of clients incorporating pertinent information supplied by outside agencies.
• Provides explanations of services and facilities to clients and their families and to social workers, teachers, judges, and/or other interested persons.
• Interprets recommendations of staff to patients and their families, social workers, teachers, and other interested persons.
• Provides guidance and assistance to persons in need of psychiatric care and counseling and who may be antagonistic or afraid.
• Provides assistance to patients who need help in making satisfactory adjustments.
• Conducts discussions before lay, professional, and other groups to further mental hygiene programs of the agency.
• Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Prepares psychiatric and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Establishes and maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Social Work

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of and familiarity with current social work practices and techniques. Ability to interview clients and others to obtain significant social, psychological, psychiatric, and other information needed for diagnosis and treatment. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative histories of patients incorporating pertinent information from outside sources. Ability to comprehend economic, social, and emotional problems of persons who are physically and/or emotionally maladjusted or who are confined in an institution. Ability to assist child and adult patients to make satisfactory adjustments. Ability to provide explanation of services of the clinic to patients, families, social workers, teachers, and/or other concerned individuals, and to persons in need of psychiatric care and counseling and who may be antagonistic. Ability to organize assigned social work and related duties, and develop effective work methods. Ability to analyze, comprehend, interpret, and apply basic laws, rules, regulations, and procedures to specific situations. Ability to conduct discussions before lay and professional groups and to participate in conferences. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. CODE: 8/20/2013 This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range

Note

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills. Bilingual in Spanish and English. SPECIAL SKILL - Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. For positions at Raritan Bay Mental Health Center in Middlesex County, appointees must possess a valid Licensed Social Worker (LSW) license issued by the N.J. State Board of Social Work Examiners. The Appointing Authority is responsible for verification. For positions at the Raritan Bay Mental Health Center in Middlesex County, appointees who possess the advanced credential as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, (LCSW) issued by the N.J. State Board of Social Work Examiners, are considered to have met the license requirement specified above. LC N/A24-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishLC N/A24- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 8/20/2013