Clinical Social Worker

Class Specifications – H.65
Chief Clinical Social Worker – 9310
Associate Chief Clinical Social Worker – 9311
Supervising Clinical Social Worker – 9312
Clinical Social Worker III – 9313
Clinical Social Worker II – 9314
Clinical Social Worker I – 9315

May, 1979

Series Concept

Clinical Social Workers utilize a professional knowledge of the principles and practices of social work to counsel individuals, couples, families, and groups to help them make optimal use of health care, social, counseling, or psychological services; to provide, within their recognized professional scope, psychotherapeutic services to patients/clients (which may include functioning as primary psychotherapist; to develop and improve the resources available to enhance social and personal functioning; to provide teaching and consultative services to other professionals and health care students; and to perform other related duties as required.

The same professional concepts, principles and techniques are used by Clinical Social Workers regardless of the program in which they work, but the circumstances and details of assignments and the immediate occasions of service differ among the various University settings. Some representative assignments are as follows:

As members of a medical team in hospitals, field health stations, and clinics, Clinical Social Workers provide psychotherapeutic services to patients and relatives in individual, couple, or group settings to assist them in adjusting to the physical/psychological difficulties associated with illness; counsel patients and relatives on the psychosocial ramifications of illness which may include grief counseling; evaluate and provide consultation to the medical team on the social factors relating to illness, hospitalization, diagnosis and recommended treatment of patients; develop and aid in the use of community resources; act as the primary interface between the patient, hospital, and community; provide collaborative, educational and consultative services to lay groups and organizations; participate in program evaluation and in determining the need for new services; participate in or consult on research/education programs; assume the role of patient advocate; provide teaching, consultation and in-service training to residents, students, and other professional staff; and comply with various statutes concerning reporting and treatment responsibilities.

As members of multidisciplinary treatment teams at a community mental health clinic, psychiatric hospital, neurosphychiatric center or out-patient clinic or as staff members at a student counseling center or psychiatric clinic, Clinical Social Workers provide direct treatment in individual, couple, or group psychotherapy to a wide range of cases; in collaboration with a staff psychiatrist determine case disposition when psychiatric hospitalization and/or medication are needed; refer clients to appropriate community or private resources; evaluate and interpret the psychosocial aspects of mental and emotional disturbances to families and other health professionals within the facility; maintain clinical records; participate in program evaluation and in determining the needs for new services; provide consultation to and maintain liaison with campus/community programs; and provide teaching, supervision, consultation and in-service training to residents, students, and staff.

Positions in this series are distinguished from positions in the Social Work Associate series in that the majority of time is spent working with patients/clients with an emphasis on the acceptance or modification of behavior or attitude, rather than on the provision of supportive and tangible services such as temporary housing, medical appliances and filing for benefits.

Positions in this series that are predominantly psychotherapeutic in nature differ from positions in the Psychologist series in the latter’s use and interpretation of psychodiagnostic devices including psychological testing.

Above the journeylevel class of Clinical Social Worker II, the series is subdivided into two categories: one consisting of three classes for administrative and technical supervisory positions and the other consisting of one class, Clinical Social Worker III, for positions requiring advanced technical expertise.

Class Concepts

Chief Clinical Social Worker

Under general direction, incumbents are assigned responsibility for managing the administrative and technical functions of a large and complex clinical social work program in a hospital or community mental health project. Typically such organizations have at least one level of subordinate supervisory positions.

Incumbents select, train, make assignments to, and review the work of the supervisorial staff; coordinate work with other hospital departments; determine budgets and staff needs; evaluate on-going programs; and plan and develop long-range goals and objectives.

Associate Chief Clinical Social Worker

Under general direction, incumbents serve as principal assistants to the Chief Clinical Social Worker or are assigned full responsibility for the administrative and technical operations of a smaller and less complex total hospital or community social work program.

As principal assistant to the Chief Clinical Social Worker incumbents may be assigned responsibility for broad administrative areas; provide staff work for special projects; conduct special studies and surveys; direct in-service training programs; assist with budget preparation and program planning; and direct the work of Supervising Clinical Social Workers.

Supervising Clinical Social Worker

Under direction, incumbents plan and coordinate the work of a major hospital or community health program unit, or are assigned full technical and administrative responsibility for a Student Health Service or campus counseling center social work program. There is full supervision of three full-time-equivalent Clinical Social Workers or Social Work Associates.

Incumbents select, train, make assignments to and review the work of subordinates; coordinate the work with other social work units; participate in program planning for the component; provide therapy; monitor the training progress of new employees, conduct orientation programs; assist in the training of students and staff; and are responsible for the quality of social work services being provided by the unit.

Clinical Social Worker III

Under general supervision, and in addition to performing the full range of operational level duties, incumbents are assigned responsibility for administering a specialized social service program (such as, a suicide prevention or formal research project) where supervision is not a major responsibility; administer with considerable independence an unusually broad variety of therapies on the most difficult cases; or are the designated experts, consultants, or sources of knowledge for a major area of knowledge within the social work profession.

Clinical Social Worker II

Under supervision, incumbents perform the full range of social work duties. Clinical Social Workers formulate and implement psychosocial treatment based on a sound integration of theory and practice; engage in special projects, research, and consultation; and teach in an interdisciplinary setting.

This is the operational level in the series, the level of independent professional practice.

Clinical Social Worker I

Under close supervision, incumbents perform social work duties of lesser scope and complexity than found at the next higher level.

This is the entry level class in the series and incumbents are expected to advance to the full journeylevel class.

Minimum Qualifications

Chief Clinical Social Worker

A Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work, possession of a clinical social worker license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners, and seven years of post-master’s experience three of which should include administration, supervision and/or consultation in a health care setting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position. A doctoral degree may be substituted for two years of experience.

Associate Chief Clinical Social Worker

A Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work, possession of a clinical social worker license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners, and five years of post-master’s experience two of which should include administration, supervision, and/or consultation in a health care setting or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Supervising Clinical Social Worker

A Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work, possession of a clinical social worker license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners, and three years of post-master’s experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Clinical Social Worker III

Clinical Social Worker II

A Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and possession of the requirements necessary for application for licensure as a clinical social worker as determined by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Clinical Social Worker I

A Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.