Social Worker III / Social Svcs Specialist

Job Details Date: Jul 15, 2026 Location: KERRVILLE, TX Facility: Kerrville State Hospital Salary: $5,746.66 – $7,253.83 per month Shift: Day Telework: Not Eligible Travel: Up to 10% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time Brief Job Description Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. This Social Worker III performs and documents highly complex social services work, serving as a liaison among the patient, legally authorized representative, and others to ensure ongoing care, treatment, and support through person‑centered practices. The role gathers information to assess individual support systems and service needs, participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, and may engage in assessing rights and capacity to make decisions. It designs and provides individual and group trainings to promote rights exercise, patient transition, and post‑discharge placement. The Social Worker III works under limited supervision with significant latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy. Performs other duties as assigned. Interviews and converses with individuals, legally authorized representatives, actively involved persons, and agencies to create and maintain the individual’s social history, gather background information, and assess support systems and psychosocial, economic, and physical needs. Interviews occur during admission or prior to transition to a community placement. Oversees communication and information exchange between the individual, legally authorized representative, actively involved person, agencies, and facility or treatment providers to assure ongoing care, treatment, and support. Maintains open communication, provides required notification, participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, obtains necessary consents, and accesses external resources as needed. Counsels and provides assistance to individuals, legally authorized representatives, and actively involved persons regarding community placement issues, living options discussions, end‑of‑life planning, and rights in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations, and hospital policies. May assign and oversee the work, time, and travel of Social Worker I and II positions and social work students, including interviewing and hiring to fill vacancies, training new staff and current staff, and performing evaluations and counseling as needed. Oversees transfers, transitions, furloughs, and community placement discharges by involving the patient, family/significant others (with consent), the committing court, and Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) to ensure orderly discharge, including referral for continued treatment and services, medication, and personal possessions. Designs and conducts individual and group training to explore and promote exercise of rights, decision‑making, person‑centered thinking, and self‑advocacy skills. Develops and presents curriculum and training materials to support patients and stakeholders. Participates in and may be responsible for the facilitation of discharge program meetings and internal/external work groups. Actively engages in utilization of existing resources and identification of potential service gaps. Performs other duties as assigned, including serving in a supporting role for disaster response, recovery, or continuity of operations. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of human growth and development, behavioral and mental health, developmental and emotional components of physical illness, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and social work standards for case management; facility and community resources, and the principles, methods, and theories used to practice as a social worker. Knowledge of community resources to support the discharge of state hospital patients with high/complex needs. Knowledge of State Hospital discharge policies and procedures. Ability to perform all job duties in accordance with the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners Code of Conduct, National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and in compliance with state and hospital policies and procedures. Ability to be creative and work collaboratively with others on behalf of patients discharging from state hospitals. Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally in both individual and group settings. Skills in interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, case management, mediation, counseling, information and referral, problem solving, supervision, consultation, and advocacy. Skill and ability to assign and supervise the work of others. Skill in accountability for assigned property with limited financial responsibilities. Licensure Requirements The Social Worker must maintain licensure in accordance with the Texas Board of Social Work Examiners. Initial Screening Criteria Minimum licensed Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (LBSW) and two years of social work experience directly with persons with mental, social, or substance use disorders; OR licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and one year of experience in the same client population; OR completion of the State Hospital internship program. Additional Information Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre‑employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, and List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE). Males between the ages of 18‑25 must be registered with the Selective Service. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age; Waco and Terrell Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age. Flexibility in work hours may be required, including overtime and/or extended hours. Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. #J-18808-Ljbffr