Directs psychiatric social work program in institution, clinic, or guidance center; or in a Division of Developmental Disabilities residential facility or Division of Mental Health hospital is responsible, institution wide for developing, implementing and monitoring performance standards, policies and procedures, to ensure cross unit standardization and quality control in social work services.

Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates psychiatric social work program with other agency programs;

May supervise social workers; assigns casework; trains staff and counsels them on assignments; evaluates performance of subordinates;

Performs selected or special psychiatric casework; plans and carries out research functions necessary to program;

Consults with supervisor, psychiatrists, physicians, nursing supervisor, and other staff members in cooperative planning of program or case treatment;

Coordinates needs of hospital, center or clinic with those of other agencies and community; promotes services;

Performs other related work as required.

Knowledge of: social casework program development and administration; theory, principles, and practices of social work as applied to mental and emotional illness; principles and characteristics of mental and emotional illness; social and economic problems, trends, and research, interviewing and teaching techniques.

Ability to: develop and coordinate social work program; plan and direct work of others; teach and train staff; interview effectively; determine program needs, quality, and consistency; speak and write effectively.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A Master's degree from approved school of social work. 

                                                                                AND

Three years of experience in counseling mentally or emotionally disturbed individuals.

Note: A degree in Social Work must be from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Revises minimum qualifications August 1, 1964
Revises definition July 1, 1981 (approved March 12, 1981)
Revises definition May 28, 1986
New class code: (formerly 35560) effective July 1, 2007
Revises desirable qualifications, effective December 23, 2011.
Salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2015, effective 7/1/2015.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.