Psychiatric Social Worker II

• Performs intensive casework, counseling, psychotherapy, and treatment services with patients or clients and their families;
   
• Participates in the evaluation of problems presented and in the development of treatment plans;
   
• May participate in group therapy programs;
   
• Prepares social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho-social factors affecting the patient or client;
   
• Cooperates with staff and other community agencies in carrying out treatment plans;
   
• Participates in psychotherapy programs with psychiatric and/or milieu staff treatment teams;
   
• Interprets and explains social and emotional factors pertaining to illness to clients, relatives and community groups, and may conduct educational sessions and training events, as appropriate;
   
• Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems;
   
• Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies;
   
• Performs related work as required.

Possession of a Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university which qualifies for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and two years of post graduate social work experience in the field of mental health.

Possession of a valid California license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as issued by the State Board of Behavioral Science Examiners.

Knowledge of:

• The principles of psychiatric social work and psychotherapy;
   
• Counseling, casework, and other techniques of psychiatric social work;
   
• Social aspects of mental health and emotional disturbances;
   
• Theory and practice of community mental health, or alcohol, or drug abuse interventions;
   
• Community agencies and community resources serving the mentally ill, alcohol and drug abusers, and alcoholism;
   
• Physical and mental illnesses and their impact on personality.

• Effectively apply psychiatric social work theory and casework skills and psychotherapeutic interventions;
   
• Do differential diagnosis;
   
• Develop and implement a treatment program;
   
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
   
• Secure and record accurate and pertinent social and personal data;
   
• Effectively use psychiatric consultation.