Job Code:	1555
Job Title:	Mental Health Caseworker
Creation Date:	04/15/05
Revision Date:
FLSA Status:	Exempt

JOB SUMMARY:

This position uses social work practices, under the supervision of a licensed master social worker, to assist the treatment team to affect changes in patient behavior, emotional responses, interpersonal relationships, and social conditions. The Caseworker functions within a multidisciplinary team to enhance patients functioning in terms of daily decision-making and community needs.  The caseworker will obtain social histories in order to report the effects of psychiatric conditions on work, custody, school, and leisure time to other treatment team members. Specific techniques the Caseworker will employ include the application of social work values, principles, and methods including individual and group counseling, assessment, and evaluation as assigned by the supervisor. 

MAJOR DUTIES / CRITICAL TASKS:

• Interviews clients or patients, their families, and others to obtain social and developmental histories as assigned.
• Maintains regular contact with each assigned patient to monitor responses to services and identify problem areas.
• Obtains information from family members about patient in regard to past response to treatment or problem areas in work, custody, school, and leisure activities; reports significant information and recommendations to other treatment team members.
• Liaison with MHMR and local social service agencies to develop appropriate referrals to assist the patient to return to his or her community upon discharge.
• Provides group and individual counseling as assigned, to prepare patients' or clients' with skills necessary for successful adjustment upon release. 
• Develops individual treatment plans for patients and documents case records as needed.
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Performs related duties as required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE: 

Bachelors' degree in social work, counseling, or psychology from an accredited college or university.  Prefer Bilingual and LCDC licensure or LBSW licensure 

EQUIPMENT: 

Standard office equipment. 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: 

Standard hospital, Inpatient psychiatric hospital serving adult, adolescent and child populations.  Full time- 8-5.   This position requires working alternate weekends. 

OTHER: 

Specific job requirements or physical location of some positions allocated to this classification, may render this position security sensitive, and thereby subject to the provisions of Section 51.215, Texas Education Code. 

 ANY QUALIFICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED AS EQUIVALENTS IN LIEU OF STATED MINIMUMS REQUIRE THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER.

 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION UNIVERSITY