Job Description

Posting number: MHA 031126B ERG

Department: Gov-Mental Health Advocacy Services

Job classification: SOCIAL WORKER 4

Posting type: Open

Categories: Mental Health, Social Services

Summary

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The Mental Health Advocacy Services has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of SS-415.

Our mission is to ensure that our clients’ voices are heard and that they receive every right and remedy afforded them under law.

Our goal is to provide high-quality legal counsel and representation to our clients, address systemic issues that affect the rights of more than one client and require a remedy, act as a clearinghouse for information relative to adults and children with mental health diagnoses and children in need of care, and provide training to various individuals/agencies.

This position was created within the MHAS Child Advocacy Program, to institute a multidisciplinary team approach to children's legal representation. National child welfare representation organizations have conducted extensive empirical research to determine that the multidisciplinary model is the best practice for children's legal representation. This allows MHAS staff to make tailored recommendations and advocate to increase the rate and speed of reunifications from foster care, decrease the time spent in foster care for youth who get adopted or live permanently with a relative, and effectuate a successful transition to adulthood for those teenage clients aging out of the system.

Examples of duties

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) plus:

A master's degree in social work followed by three years of social services experience.

Qualifications

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Supplemental information

Job Duties:

A primary anchor on a Social Worker-Attorney collaborative team:

• Serves as a primary social work consultant to attorneys and multidisciplinary staff by assisting with client engagement, case evaluation, and the development of effective case strategies.
• Conducts initial client assessments to identify service needs, support systems, crisis situations, and recommended treatment or intervention strategies.
• Assists attorneys in understanding clients’ mental health and social service needs, prepares clients for court participation, and advocates on their behalf with courts, service providers, and DCFS representatives.
• Attends case team meetings to provide recommendations, consultation, and strategic guidance on both assigned and unassigned cases.
• Conducts investigative and case support activities including client visits, background research, record requests, subpoenas, and case documentation.
• Prepares professional social work reports such as assessments, social histories, and case summaries; monitors service outcomes for quality assurance; and represents the program through participation in committees, special projects, conferences, and peer mentor training.

Performs case management on an interdisciplinary, inter-agency team:

• Provides holistic support to legal representation teams by addressing clients’ social, emotional, and developmental needs while allowing attorneys to focus on legal strategy.
• Evaluates clients with complex clinical, trauma-related, or special needs concerns and recommends appropriate services, resources, and referrals.
• Collects, analyzes, and interprets educational, medical, and social service records to support case planning and advocacy efforts.
• Participates in multidisciplinary planning meetings such as Family Team Meetings, ISP meetings, treatment team meetings, and IEP conferences, while maintaining regular communication and check-ins with clients.
• Collaborates with DCFS staff, foster parents, CASAs, service providers, and case team members to share information, address concerns, and advocate for appropriate resources and services.
• Maintains consistent client engagement through regular visits, case documentation in PRIME, court hearing participation, and expert testimony when necessary.

Enhances MHAS staff development and meets agency and statewide requirements:

• Participates in agency staff meetings and supports professional development by providing trainings on treatment approaches, foster care resources, and psychosocial considerations.
• Maintains professional licensure and compliance with state employment requirements while assisting with program reporting, data requests, and other assigned duties.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: This vacancy will be filled by new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee.

Louisiana is a “State as a Model Employer” for People with Disabilities.

Experience working with juveniles and persons with mental illness and/or disabilities is highly encouraged.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

For further information about this posting, please contact:

Erica R. Gay

HR Specialist Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources

Email: Erica.Gay@la.gov