SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR 2, PSYCHIATRIC

Definition

Under the direction of a Social Work Supervisor 1 or other supervisory officer in the Department of Health, has charge of the work program and staff of a specific aspect of the psychiatric social work program of a State hospital, institution, clinic or other unit under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health; does other related work as required.

Examples of work

• Organizes assigned psychiatric social work in the assigned specialized unit of service, and develops appropriate work methods.
• Confers with the Social Work Supervisor, 1 (Psychiatric) or other staff supervisor and coordinates the social service functions of a specialized unit (Medical-Surgical, Geriatric, Pediatric or other) with overall program functions.
• Collaborates with the Psychiatrist in charge of the Section, the Social Work Supervisor, 1 Psychiatric and other staff supervisor concerning the policies and procedures governing their work-related tasks and responsibilities.
• Assigns and instructs psychiatric social work and clerical staff and supervises the performance of their work.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Provides instructions to the Assistant Social Work Supervisors (Psychiatric) and the Social Workers 2, and 1 (Psychiatric) in the methods and practices used to conduct social studies and to provide suitable social treatment.
• Confers with the Social Work Supervisor 1 (Psychiatric) or other staff supervisor and assists in developing and supervising a program designed to afford opportunity for Section staff to attend social work conferences and participate in the activities of professional associations and community social agencies.
• Keeps abreast of current literature, new developments and trends of thought in the field of social work and psychiatric social work.
• Collaborates with the Social Work Supervisor 1 (Psychiatric) or other supervisory officers to provide skilled direct Social Work Services and proper supervision to clients in the Section.
• Defines standards and objectives for social services in the assigned section.
• May supervise undergraduate and graduate social work students in the specialized unit.
• Plans on on-going in-service training program for the social services staff.
• Prepares a budget for social services in the specialized unit, outlining and validating needs of the unit.
• Plans and hold periodic staff conferences to develop and maintain consistent professional standards of service, and stimulate interest in the activities of professional social work associations and community agencies.
• Instructs new Section employees in Department and institution regulations and approved social work procedures.
• Prepares service ratings for Section staff members.
• Compiles and arranges material for publication in professional journals and papers dealing with social work problems and methods of effective study and treatment.
• May assign specific subjects for research to members of the psychiatric social work staff; acts in a supervisory capacity in the development of studies.
• Compiles materials for research projects.
• Functions in the absence of the Social Work Supervisor, 1 (Psychiatric).
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of reports and patient histories containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports, historical and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and 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.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in social case work, two (2) years of which shall have been in supervisory capacity in the administration of a psychiatric social service program.

License

Appointee 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 the methods used for the mental and emotional rehabilitation, physical welfare, social adjustment, and possible employment of mentally ill, emotionally and/or socially maladjusted clients.
• Knowledge of mental health theories, methods and practices.
• Knowledge of the methods used to collect social and psychological data on clients.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered in applying the concepts, methods and procedures of modern social work to mentally ill clients.
• Knowledge of the emotional, social, economic and other problems encountered by the client population served.
• Knowledge of the nature and symptoms of mental diseases and the more common neuroses and methods of treatment.
• Ability to interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
• Ability to assist in the organization and supervision of a social work program concerned with the mental and emotional rehabilitation, physical welfare, social adjustment, and possible employment of mental, emotional and/or socially maladjusted clients.
• Ability to provide a broad range of professional social work services.
• Ability to supervise the applications of modern social work concepts.
• Ability to provide assignments and instructions to staff and supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to supervise student engaged in fieldwork practice, and integrate their class work with field work.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved in the work of the unit.
• Ability to develop and supervise a program for the professional growth of social work staff.
• Ability to keep current with developments in psychiatric social work.
• Ability to gather and compile data.
• Ability to supervise the preparation of technical correspondence, and the preparation and maintenance of case histories.
• Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
• Ability 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, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform 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.

Note

The 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.