Social Worker

Title: Social Worker 

State Role Title: 49011

Hiring Range: starting at $45,000 (commensurate based on experience)

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Western State Hospital

Agency Website: jobs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Western State Hospital is seeking a Social Worker/Counselor to join our team!
We offer sign-on bonus up to $5,000 (candidate must be new to DBHDS or not a part of DBHDS in past year)

Counselor I/Social Worker will:

- Conduct assessments and evaluations to understand the client's concerns, challenges, and goals. Knowledge of interviews, standardized assessments, and other diagnostic tools to gather information about clients' mental health, emotional well-being, relationships, or specific issues they are facing.
- Developing and implementing treatment and discharge plans in collaboration with clients, family members, and the treatment team.
- Provide PSR interventions;
- Develop and maintain partnerships with Community Service Providers.
- Document interventions; and be the link between the WSH treatment team, clients’ families, and a person that supports recovery.
- Provide immediate support and intervention during crises or emergencies. Help clients manage overwhelming situations, such as trauma, abuse, suicidal ideation, or severe emotional distress, by providing emotional support, safety planning, and appropriate referrals if necessary

This position is eligible for:

- retirement with cash match
- health, vision, and dental insurance
- paid time off
- life insurance

Minimum Qualifications

- BSW required (graduation from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate or graduate social work program).
- Knowledge of acute and persistent mental illnesses/forensic issues, person-centered treatment, discharge planning, and community resources available to those with mental illnesses.
- Professional work experience with adults with serious mental illness.
- Knowledge of hospital and community mental health systems.
- Ability to form therapeutic relationships with clients and their supports and to form effective partnerships with community service providers.
- Demonstrated skills in interviewing, assessment, problem-solving, professional collaboration, and the ability to coordinate community and agency resources.

Additional Considerations

- Experience in discharge planning .
- Experience working with Electronic Medical Records/interfaces from other software programs .
- Bi-lingual
- Veteran

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The successful applicant must pass a criminal background investigation, drug screening test and employment reference check. The applicant must have the ability to perform at the level of physical demands noted on the Employee Work Profile and the verified ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800- 552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.

DBHDS is a healthcare organization and must comply with the federal CMS Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care staff Vaccination Regulation which requires all employees to be vaccinated or receive an exemption. Upon acceptance of a job offer, new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination) during the pre-employment process. New staff who are not vaccinated for any reason or choose not to disclose their vaccination status, will need to request a medical or religious accommodation. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

Contact Information

Name: Samantha Leep

Phone: 540-332-8306

Email: samantha.leep@dbhds.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.