Social Worker; Ma​/Msw

Responsibilities

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River. This brand new, 128‑bed facility will provide high‑quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff, and administration.

We are currently seeking a forward‑thinking and compassionate Social Worker (MSW) to be part of our Social Services Team. The clinician will utilize therapeutic treatment skills, perform full biopsychosocial assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, provide brief consultation for patients and families preparing for discharge, create safe discharge plans with referrals for continued treatment and housing when appropriate, and deliver therapeutic group‑based interventions and crisis interventions to help patients achieve optimal emotional health.

Education: Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy, or related discipline. Registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Experience: Minimum one (1) year of experience in a psychiatric health care facility, with direct experience in family and group therapies, crisis intervention, and treatment skills; must have strong clinical assessment skills.

Additional Requirements: CPR certification and successful completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training (CPI training may be obtained during new hire orientation).

Schedule may vary depending on department needs.

• Demonstrate a professional attitude and support the objectives of the facility’s business development, marketing, and guest relations philosophy through internal and external communications and interactions with all levels of staff, patients, family members, guests, community, and referral sources.
• Demonstrate appropriate therapeutic boundaries and consistently follow established procedures.
• Respond to requests for social work services promptly.
• Use oneself as a role model to promote health communication.
• Meet the social work needs of the patient population being serviced.
• Contribute to the effective functioning of the patient’s program and other facility‑wide activities.
• Assure that the patient’s rights are upheld.
• Maintain confidentiality in compliance with professional ethics and facility standards.
• Identify opportunities for the program and participate in performance improvement projects and activities.
• Continue professional development in individual, family, and group therapy and maintain professional development in the personnel file.
• Assist in the orientation of new colleagues and supervise student interns.
• Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting situations (e.g., child abuse, dependent adult abuse, psychiatric commitment).
• Represent the facility at legal hearings as requested, submit paperwork for legal holds in a timely fashion, and act as liaison with the conservator’s office.

• Utilize a variety of techniques to assist in the resolution of patient problems.
• Effectively employ principles of communication, interviewing techniques, problem‑solving skills, and crisis interventions when performing psychotherapeutic interventions.
• Utilize appropriate verbal and physical interventions in accordance with Verbal De‑escalation and Handle with Care practices during psychiatric emergencies, including escape techniques, blocking techniques, Primary Restraint Techniques (PRT), and takedown techniques alone or with assistance.
• Utilize universal precautions when caring for a patient.
• Document and report infections to the Infection Control Nurse.
• Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
• Assist with ensuring patients are adequately oriented to the program.
• Monitor program activities and encourage patient participation.
• Formulate and conduct educational, therapeutic, and/or support groups on scheduled timetables.
• Develop an effective working relationship with patients and/or families (engagement, collaboration, advocacy, problem…