CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER 1 - UNDERFILL at State of Nevada (NV) – Sparks, Nevada

The Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH), Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services (NNAMHS), is recruiting for a Clinical Social Worker I at Dini-Townsend Hospital in Sparks, Nevada. This position is designed as an underfill for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Interns, providing an excellent opportunity for individuals working toward full licensure to gain supervised experience in an inpatient psychiatric setting. The Clinical Social Worker I works as part of a multidisciplinary team—including social workers, psychiatrists, residents, nurses, mental health technicians, and other hospital staff—to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care to adults experiencing acute mental health crises. Key Responsibilities: Assessment & Evaluation: Complete psychosocial assessments and risk evaluations, including suicide risk screening, under supervision and within regulatory timelines. Treatment Planning: Assist in developing individualized treatment plans in compliance with CMS, Joint Commission, DPBH, and NNAMHS standards; present findings to treatment teams and participate in case reviews. Therapeutic Services: Provide individual, group, and family therapy under supervision, utilizing client-centered, evidence-based modalities; facilitate family involvement to support recovery and discharge. Crisis Intervention: Participate in crisis response and assist with Mental Health Crisis Holds in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), under guidance from licensed staff. Documentation: Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, including progress notes, Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS) assessments, and discharge planning records. Discharge & Aftercare Planning: Collaborate with patients, families, guardians, and community resources to develop comprehensive aftercare plans that promote continuity of care. Court Liaison Support: Assist licensed staff in preparing for civil commitment hearings and learn to represent the treatment team professionally as part of the licensure development process.

Clinical Social Workers provide clinical services to clients/inmates in a residential, home, inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation, correctional or similar setting. Clinical social work is defined as the application of methods, principles and techniques of case work, group work, community organization, administration, planning, consultation, research and psychotherapeutic methods and techniques to persons, families and groups to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of family issues, mental and emotional conditions, illnesses and disorders, and developmental delays.
Master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work and an internship approved by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers.
Perform client/inmate evaluations and assessments through interviews with client/inmate, families and friends and review of medical records including social, developmental, and medical history; determine strengths, presenting problems, resources, and eligibility for applicable programs and services; and identify appropriate interventions.

Perform crisis interventions including client/inmate restraint or appropriate behavioral and environmental controls for clients/inmates who may be hostile, combative, aggressive or assaultive; follow established protocols and policy in order to protect clients/inmates, staff, family, and others potentially at risk due to client/inmate behavior; recommend and complete documentation for voluntary and involuntary hospitalization.

Participate in treatment planning and implementation by attending treatment team meetings, case conferences, or client/inmate sessions; report direct observations regarding client/inmate progress and recommend changes in the treatment plan as appropriate; evaluate necessary daily living skills and educational and vocational service needs; develop and coordinate treatment plans and implement interventions with clients/inmates in order to achieve treatment goals.

Conduct individual, family and group therapy or intervention sessions with clients/inmates by applying a variety of therapeutic techniques in order to effect change in client/inmate behavior; determine the duration and appropriate method of therapy or intervention; establish priorities to deal with problems; identify and implement changes in the treatment process as determined by client/inmate progress.

Develop and implement discharge and aftercare plans; provide information to clients/inmates regarding available resources to achieve treatment goals and facilitate client/inmate return to the least restrictive environment possible; act as an advocate through interactions with external agencies and organizations such as the courts, welfare, school, juvenile justice, probation and parole, and related social service agencies and community organizations.

Provide case management services; develop treatment plans and monitor client progress; identify, obtain, coordinate, monitor and evaluate resources and services to meet client and care provider needs; assist clients in obtaining financial assistance; coordinate treatment with outside agency service providers; monitor work sites, school, and community residential placements; advocate for the client to ensure goals are accomplished and prepare and submit reports to courts and other agencies.

Develop and inspect housing arrangements such as board and care homes and supported living arrangements; conduct home visits, monitor provider’s delivery of services and quality of care, and reassess client needs in order to track client progress and well being, evaluate treatment plan effectiveness, and manage resources.

Contact family members, friends, employers, other hospitals or treatment programs, and social service agencies to follow up and monitor care provided according to the treatment plan; write contracts for services according to established procedures.

In hospital settings perform psychosocial evaluations and hospital casework; provide program consultation, discharge planning, and arrange for home health aftercare.

Report client/inmate contacts and progress by documenting information in client/inmate charts; track and record information for statistical purposes; write required reports at established intervals; complete billing forms and other documentation as required.

Review clinical records written by professionals, paraprofessionals, and technical staff to monitor and evaluate treatment effectiveness, ensure service delivery goals are met, make appropriate recommendations, and ensure documentation is completed according to established policy and procedures.

Review and evaluate program services and activities to ensure conformance to agency policies, applicable accreditation standards, licensing requirements, and community standards of care.

Supervise lower level professional and paraprofessional staff, university students and interns as assigned; provide clinical supervision and consultation regarding clinical practices and procedures.

Develop and present in-service training regarding current social work topics, issues and procedures; consult and educate representatives of community service agencies and referral services; attend training seminars and participate in on-going professional development; and assist in training university students as assigned.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Positions at this level receive direct supervision while performing all or part of the duties described above. Incumbents receive training and gain experience while working toward licensure by the Board of Examiners for Social Work. This is the entry level class in the series and incumbents may progress to Clinical Social Worker II upon receipt of their license.
General knowledge of: theories and principles of counseling and psychotherapy; symptoms, characteristics and treatment of mental illness, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders; developmental delays and family functioning; crisis intervention techniques; case management practices and procedures; individual, marital, group and family intervention techniques; family systems approaches to treating individuals with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and developmental delays; treatment team dynamics; laws governing abuse and neglect of clients/inmates; normal and abnormal human growth, behavior and development; client/inmate rights and confidentiality of information; effects of substance abuse on mental, emotional, and human growth and development; services, roles and responsibilities of human services agencies in the community.

Ability to: assess and utilize social, agency and community resources; establish rapport and appropriate clinical relationships with clients/inmates, their families and care providers; develop and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, medical and mental health professionals, social service agency representatives and others; read and interpret client/inmate charts; assemble, analyze and report data related to treatment and services for clients/inmates; apply principles, practices, techniques and trends in clinical social work to specific situations; negotiate and write contracts for client housing and services; apply code of ethics to practical situations; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Recruiter Contact Information: Jennifer Kauble - jenniferkauble@admin.nv.gov