09/08/2008 40081

FORENSIC SOCIAL WORKER SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is supervisory professional social work at a Forensic Psychiatric Unit on the grounds of a Commonwealth facility.

An employee in this job performs as a first level supervisor over assigned subordinate social work staff engaged in providing social work, counseling and case management services to forensic patients who have been committed through the criminal justice system for diagnosis, evaluation and intensive treatment. Work involves interpreting federal, state, departmental and facility social work accreditation and certification standards and requirements, and legislation, regulations, policies and procedures; consulting and interacting with patients, family members, guardians, agency staff, or community agency staff; and providing direction, advice, guidance and technical assistance to social work staff and others for meeting social work goals and objectives for each assigned patient. An important aspect of the work is the responsibility for the care, custody and control of forensic patients while participating in social services programs. Work is performed in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures under general supervision of a professional or administrative supervisor. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports and results achieved in meeting social work program standards, goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Supervises the provision of social work, counseling and case management services.

Supervises and evaluates social work programs to ensure facility compliance with The Joint Commission, American Correctional Association, Department of Corrections, criminal justice or other regulatory or certification requirements.

Supervises the review of patient commitments, recommitment or discharge data and documentation.

Verifies or clarifies commitment, recommitment or discharge information with appropriate resources.

Directs or arranges for diagnostic reviews in accordance with appropriate legislation or regulatory requirements.

Guides and supervises staff on assessing patients' total social services treatment needs.

Cooperates with appropriate Corrections facility, criminal justice system and community agency staff.

Evaluates patient ward/living area assignments, transfers or discharge documentation to ensure the least restrictive environment for meeting patients' needs.

Interprets federal and state social work legislation and certification/accreditation standards, requirements and departmental and facility policies and procedures.

Supervises the assessment of patient's social services needs.

Supervises the provision of counseling to patients and their families utilizing various treatment modalities.

Ensures social work staff participates in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and discussions on patient's psychosocial assessments.

Supervises participation in the development of assigned patients' treatment program plans.

Supervises the preparation, review and evaluation of reports, records and case management files on forensic patients' progress in meeting the social services treatment program goals and objectives.

Recommends changes to patient's social services treatment program.

Responds to correspondence relating to social services studies, court documents, criminal justice or corrections systems transfers, parental or relative support, medical consultations, rate payments for care and maintenance and public and private insurance reimbursements or county reimbursements.

Supervises and ensures the preparation of appropriate social service discharge, case closing and transfer plans which summarize the patients' disposition and need for continued aftercare or follow-up services.

Participates in the planning, developing and carrying out of in-service social work training activities for facility, corrections and criminal justice systems and community agency staff.

Provides for or actively assists in providing care, custody and control of patients assigned during social services programs or on the unit.

Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

Employees in this job may participate in the performance of their subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Performs other related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of professional social work principles, practices and methods.

Knowledge of professional casework principles, practices and methods.

Knowledge of social, economic, health, habilitative and rehabilitative problems, treatment methods and resources.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior.

Knowledge of counseling techniques and interventions used to recognize or improve social, economic, emotional, behavioral and health situations of individuals and families.

Knowledge of federal and state accreditation and certification standards and requirements and rules, regulations, standards, and policies that relate to social work services and programs.

Knowledge of the external organizations and agencies that provide client social services.

Knowledge of the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as applied to social work practice.

Ability to analyze and interpret patient case records to ensure compliance with social work program policies and procedures.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively orally.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year of experience as a Forensic Social Worker 2 or a Social Worker 2; and a master’s degree in social work or social welfare;

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Three years of professional social work experience, including one year in a consultative, administrative, advisory, or lead work capacity; and a master’s degree in social work or social welfare.