Social Worker Specialist (SCR)

Important Recruitment Information for this vacancy

Job Posting closes: Open until Filled

Required documents uploaded by: All required documents listed below must be attached to your application within 2 days of applying for your application to be considered complete.

Agency Information:

South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital (SCR)

South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital (SCR) is Kansas's newest state psychiatric hospital and serves adults experiencing serious mental illness throughout south-central Kansas. Located in Wichita, SCR is a 104-bed facility committed to delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed care in a modern, recovery-oriented environment.

About the Position

Who can apply: Anyone

Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Work Schedule: M-F

Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes

Veterans' Preference Eligible: Yes

Search Keywords: Social Work, Social Worker, Social Services, Case Management

Compensation: $60,000-$65,000 annually

• Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Employment Benefits

Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage

Sick & Vacation leave

Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave

Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)

Fitness Centers in select locations

Employee discounts with the STAR Program

Retirement and deferred compensation programs

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information…

Position Summary & Responsibilities

Position Summary:

The Social Worker Specialist is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered case management and discharge planning services for individuals receiving inpatient behavioral health treatment. This position works collaboratively with patients, families or legal representatives, treatment team members, community providers, courts, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders to identify patient needs, coordinate services, remove barriers to successful transitions, and support continuity of care following discharge.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

Case Management

• Conduct initial and ongoing assessments of patients’ social, emotional, and functional needs.
• Assist in developing and implementing individualized care plans in collaboration with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers.
• Monitor patient progress and document outcomes in compliance with hospital policies and HIPAA regulations.
• Coordinate appointments, therapy sessions, and other treatment services.
• Provide patient and family education on mental health conditions, coping strategies, and available resources.
• Facilitate access to community support services, housing, and social programs.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to discharge planning.
• Support crisis intervention efforts under the guidance of licensed staff.
• Advocate for patient rights and ensure continuity of care.
• Initiates discharge planning early in the patient's hospitalization and continuously evaluates discharge needs throughout the treatment episode.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop, implement, and monitor individualized discharge plans.
• Identifies appropriate levels of care, treatment programs, residential services, community placements, and other post-discharge resources.
• Coordinates referrals, admissions, appointments, transportation, medications, equipment, benefits, housing, and other services necessary to support a safe and successful discharge.
• Communicates with receiving facilities, community providers, treatment programs, healthcare organizations, and other service providers to facilitate transitions of care.
• Verifies that necessary services and resources are available prior to discharge.
• Assists with development of contingency plans when identified discharge resources are unavailable or circumstances change.
• Participates in discharge planning meetings and communicates changes in discharge status or barriers to the treatment team.
• Supports continuity of care by ensuring relevant information is communicated to appropriate receiving providers in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Serves as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, case reviews, discharge planning meetings, and other clinical or operational meetings as assigned.
• Communicates relevant case management and discharge planning information to physicians, psychologists, nurses, therapists, mental health staff, activity therapists, and other members of the treatment team.
• Collaborates with clinical and medical staff to identify patient needs and coordinate appropriate services.
• Provides case management perspective regarding discharge barriers, community resources, placement options, and continuity of care.
• Participates in multidisciplinary problem-solving related to complex patient cases.

Documentation & Regulatory Compliance

• Completes accurate, timely, and clinically appropriate case management and discharge planning documentation.
• Maintains records in accordance with hospital policies, applicable laws, regulations, accreditation requirements, and documentation standards.
• Documents referrals, contacts, discharge planning activities, barriers, interventions, and outcomes as required.
• Protects confidential patient information and follows applicable privacy and security requirements.
• Ensures documentation supports continuity of care and accurately reflects the patient's discharge planning status.
• Participates in audits, reviews, and corrective actions related to case management and discharge planning functions.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable federal and state requirements affecting case management, discharge planning, patient rights, confidentiality, and continuity of care.
• Complies with all hospital policies, procedures, safety requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.

Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned including but not limited to ensuring the agency is adequately staffed during and immediately following natural and/or manmade disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and/or acts of terrorism. Assists other employees in the work unit in accomplishing assignments as necessary.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• License to practice social work in the State of Kansas at the time of hire

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 1 year of experience in behavioral health, psychiatric, or social services setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with diverse populations.
• Working knowledge of community mental health resources and social service systems.
• Bachelor's degree in a behavioral health-related field or Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university.
• Current Kansas license, such as LBSW, LMSW, or LSCSW.
• Experience providing behavioral health or mental health services in a clinical setting.
• Knowledge of treatment planning, therapeutic interventions, and crisis intervention.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain accurate and timely documentation.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy requirements.
• Ability to respond effectively to crisis situations and changing patient needs.

Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a background check prior to employment.
• Must take and pass a pre-employment drug screening test.

Recruiter Contact Information

KDADS – Human Resources Recruiter

503 S. Kansas Ave

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-296-0463

Fax: 785-368-6688

Email: KDADS.APPLY@ks.gov

Job Application Process

First Sign in or register as a New User.

Complete or update your contact information on the Careers> My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.

Upload required documents listed below for the Careers> My Job Applications page. *This information is included on all your job applications.

Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and Submit when it is complete.

Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.

Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.

Email – sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page

Notifications – view the Careers> My Job Notifications page

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How to Apply for a Job – Instructions” and “How to Search for a Job – Instructions"

Required Documents for this Application to be Complete

Upload these on the Careers - My Job Applications page

Transcripts

DD214 (if you are claiming Veteran’s Preference)

Upload these on the Attachments step in your Job Application

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How, What, & Where do I Upload Documents”

Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas. Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer. A Tax Clearance can be obtained through the Kansas Department of Revenue who reviews individual accounts for compliance with Kansas Tax Law.

If you have a missing tax return(s) or you owe taxes to the State of Kansas, please know that the Kansas Department of Revenue will work with you. The Kansas Department of Revenue can set you up on a payment plan to receive a Tax Clearance so you can get a job working for the State of Kansas. The Kansas Department of Revenue can be contacted at 785-296-3199. Kansas Department of Revenue - Tax Clearance Frequently Asked Questions

How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference

How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference

Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference

PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person's eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be scanned and emailed to Gustavo.Victoriano@ks.gov, or can be mailed/delivered in person to:

ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator
Office of Personnel Services
Docking State Office Building
915 SW Harrison Ave, Suite 260
Topeka, KS 66612

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.