CASE WORKER

Immediate Supervisor: Program Director

Class Summary: This class provides training and support to individuals and families. The caseworker will provide services that meet the individual needs with skills training, assistance, and support in areas related to independent living.

Distinguishing Elements of the Class:
Impact: The incumbent’s work is to assist the family and identified individual in identifying and addressing the behaviors that have made it difficult to function in the home and community. The MHS caseworker will, with input from the individual and family, design and implement a service plan to target problematic behaviors.

Latitude: Day-today work is performed with supervision and consultation from the Program Director and the Clinical Director. A comprehensive treatment plan, program policies, guidelines and instructions guide work.

Responsibility for the Work of Others: May provide oversight to QMHP staff on documentation.

Interpersonal Contacts: Continuous contact with individuals and other staff in planning and providing individual services. Regular contact with family members and members of other service agencies providing additional services to individuals such as social workers, psychiatrist, juvenile court officials and police, teachers and other human services professionals.

Difficulty: Appropriately relating to a variety of individual and family personality types requires use of judgment and discretion. Training and support can be demanding and difficult. The counselor typically provides services to highly dysfunctional families and individuals.

Communications: Incumbent will communicate effectively, in writing and orally, to caseworkers, individuals and family members, and staff of other service agencies. Incumbent must also maintain individual progress notes, monthly summaries, discharge summaries, and additional documentation as needed.

Equipment/Facilities Responsibility: Incumbent operates personal car to visit individual and contact community resources.

Working Conditions: Work frequently involves traveling and visitation to individual homes of varying sanitary and health (emotional and physical) conditions. Incumbent may be exposed to hostile and/or aggressive individual behavior, presenting a personal risk of bodily harm.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

  • Good knowledge of non-violent crisis intervention.
  • Good knowledge of family life.
  • Demonstrated skill in working with individuals and behavioral issues.
  • Very good oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals and staff.

Formal Training and Work Experience: Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in human services, a related field, or degree deemed equivalent to those described, from an accredited college. A human services field includes social work, gerontology, psychology, psychiatric rehabilitation, special education, sociology, counseling, and human services counseling. Considerable experience working with emotionally troubled individuals and affected families, or equivalent experience as specified by VDBHDS/DMAS regulations. Must be able to show a minimum of one (1) year direct service to individuals and families. QPPMH meeting VDBHDS/DMAS regulations are also considered.

Licensure:

  • Valid state driver’s license
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training certification (within 30 days of employment)
  • Standard First aid Training certification (within 30 days of employment)
  • Training in non-violent crisis intervention (minimum 8 hours)

Principle Duties and Responsibilities of Class (Illustrative Only):

  • Provides MHS for families under the supervision of the Program Director (administrative) and Clinical Supervisor (Clinical).
  • Provides psycho-educational, mentoring, and crisis de-escalation services.
  • Provides training in parenting skills, social skills, and anger management.
  • Provides training in self-sufficiency and self-management skills.
  • Provides academic and vocational guidance and education on community awareness and responsibility, and goal setting.
  • Assists family and individual in implementing Individual Services Plans.
  • Assists in providing non-violent crisis in intervention for individuals and families.
  • Transports individuals to appointments, hearings, school and recreational activities.
  • May provide individual and family therapy, training and support (LMHP and license eligible MHP only).
  • May provide supervision to QMHP staff.
  • Monitors and records individual behavior and documents individual progress according to existing standards and policies and to assure protection of individual confidentiality.
  • Participates in face-to-face Clinical Supervision with the LMHP.
  • Other duties as assigned.