Social Worker 4

Job Title

Mental Health Advocacy Services

About This Job

The Mental Health Advocacy Services has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of SS-415. Our mission is to ensure that our clients' voices are heard and that they receive every right and remedy afforded them under law. Our goal is to provide high-quality legal counsel and representation to our clients, address systemic issues that affect the rights of more than one client and require a remedy, act as a clearinghouse for information relative to adults and children with mental health diagnoses and children in need of care, and provide training to various individuals/agencies. This position was created within the MHAS Child Advocacy Program, to institute a multidisciplinary team approach to children's legal representation. National child welfare representation organizations have conducted extensive empirical research to determine that the multidisciplinary model is the best practice for children's legal representation. This allows MHAS staff to make tailored recommendations and advocate to increase the rate and speed of reunifications from foster care, decrease the time spent in foster care for youth who get adopted or live permanently with a relative, and effectuate a successful transition to adulthood for those teenage clients aging out of the system.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) plus: A master's degree in social work followed by three years of social services experience.

Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties: Is a primary anchor on a Social Worker-Attorney collaborative team: Acts as a consultant on social work matters to the attorneys and the multidisciplinary team. Assists the attorney in client engagement and case evaluation. Conducts general assessments when each case is first opened in the office: assesses what services may benefit the client, what supports the client may have, and if the client is in a state of crisis, what immediate treatment might be needed. Assists the attorney in understanding the client's mental health needs and familiarizing them with social service providers. Helps the client prepare to testify. Advocates for clients: in court, testifying as needed; or out of court, with service providers and DCFS representatives. Conducts an investigation, assists with client visits, background research, records requests, subpoenas, and other investigative and case assistant tasks. For cases involving complex clinical issues that could benefit from the ongoing involvement of a social worker, the attorney can refer the case for social work brief advice, social work consultation (ongoing advice and some case tasks, though often behind-the-scenes), or social work collaboration (the full integration of the MHAS social worker into the representation). Prepares required social work reports such as assessments, case summaries, and social histories for the attorneys and other members of the multidisciplinary staff, as well as for use in gaining productive services and court orders on behalf of the child-clients. Visits/interviews clients, caretakers, and others involved in Child in Need of Care proceedings to establish and maintain an adequate and professional relationship with our clients and to identify particular problems or complex issues. Manages assigned caseload as part of the team to represent CINC clients; Performs case management on an interdisciplinary, inter-agency team: Conducts evaluations of clients in cases involving complex clinical issues, aimed at identifying any unique problems manifested in specific high-risk populations, particularly those with special needs, mental health concerns, and adverse childhood experiences, i.e., trauma. Makes recommendations, based on these evaluations, on the need for provision of additional or different services and facilitating referrals as needed. Collects and interprets school and medical records and evaluations, and prepares required social work reports such as assessments, case summaries, and social histories, for the attorneys and other members of the multidisciplinary staff. Attends court hearings and provides expert testimony as needed. Enhances MHAS staff development and meets agency and statewide requirements: Provides in-services to staff on the appropriate use of various treatment modalities, the availability of regional and state resources for our clients, and the psychosocial aspects of service to children in foster care.

Appointment Type: This vacancy will be filled by a new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee. Applicants with experience working with juveniles and persons with mental illness and/or disabilities are encouraged to apply. Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer" for People with Disabilities.

Benefits

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career. As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program: Insurance Coverage More information can be found at Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave More information can be found at Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Mardi Gras, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. ***** Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase. Retirement – State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to): Louisiana State Employees Retirement System ( LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana ( Louisiana School Employees Retirement System ( among others