Social Services Specialist

State of Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - West Lafayette, IN

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Social Services Specialist at the Indiana Veterans' Home is responsible for providing comprehensive social services to residents, ensuring their well-being and quality of life. This role involves evaluating treatment plans, coordinating with community agencies, and supervising social service programs. The specialist will work closely with residents and their families, addressing treatment issues and enhancing the therapeutic environment of the facility.

Responsibilities

• Discuss and remedy treatment problems associated with individual cases, program or department policy and/or standards of professional discipline.
• Assume responsibility over a major component of the social services department such as all community programs or all clinical services.
• Evaluate treatment plan formulation and effectiveness and make changes within social services as necessary.
• Make recommendations to the department director regarding departmental procedure and policy changes.
• Serve as a liaison with the community, schools, and other public service agencies explaining services and mission of agency social work.
• Assist the director in establishing referral relationships with other public and private service agencies and in arranging clinical training experiences for students.
• Execute treatment through private consultations and group meetings.
• Meet periodically with treatment staff from other disciplines to handle more difficult cases effectively and to coordinate an interdisciplinary approach to treatment.

Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling and Guidance, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, Criminology, Social Work, or a related area.
• Two (2) years of full-time experience in a psychiatric, group, medical, children, family, or correctional setting.
• Thorough knowledge of community social service agencies.
• Ability to supervise and plan the coordination of social service programs with other related agencies.
• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of psychiatric social work including social adjustment and rehabilitation, mental illness, personality development, casework, group counseling work, and community placement.
• Thorough knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines for the care, treatment, and rights of the mentally ill.
• Working knowledge of the role of other treatment disciplines and ability to effectively coordinate an interdisciplinary approach to treatment.
• Working knowledge of administrative and personnel techniques as related to the effective supervision and direction of programs.
• Ability to assume responsibility for agency-wide social services programs in the absence of the director.
• Ability to analyze program needs and effectiveness and to formulate plans for change to more adequately carry out the mission of the department.
• Effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.

Nice-to-haves

• Long-term care experience
• Mental and behavioral health experience

Benefits

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Flexible work scheduling options, including the potential for hybrid remote work for employees whose work may be performed outside state facilities
• Deferred compensation 457B account (similar to 401k plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to: 150 hours of paid new parent leave, Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave, Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off, 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access