Join our team as a Clinical Social Worker!

Beach Trail

We're hiring qualified licensed and unlicensed clinical social workers at our facility in Atascadero, along California’s beautiful Central Coast.

As a clinical social worker working with the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH), you’ll enjoy a stimulating and exciting working environment, a collegial, team-oriented treatment approach, and a host of world-class benefits. Our location in Atascadero, along California’s beautiful Central Coast affords opportunities for an excellent work-life balance. We invite you to join us as we provide care for one of California’s most vulnerable populations-those struggling with severe mental illness. AT DSH, our total staff of over 10,000 employees work together to provide quality mental and health services and support to over 6,000 patients in five facilities throughout the State of California.

About our Facility

The California Department of State Hospitals-Atascadero (DSH-A) is a secure public-sector hospital providing inpatient forensic services for mentally-ill adult males who are court committed throughout the State of California. DSH–Atascadero recognizes that mental health recovery is most effectively achieved in an environment that fosters creative problem solving, innovation, and mutual respect within a dynamic therapeutic milieu. The hospital employs over 2,000 staff. Treatment is designed collaboratively by a multi-disciplinary team which includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, rehabilitation therapists, clinical dietitians, physicians, registered nurses, and psychiatric technicians. Our psychiatrists are vital to the hospital’s treatment mission and integral to its collegial milieu.

To experience our milieu for yourself, we offer guided tours of the facility. Please contact us using the information at the bottom of this page for more information on how to schedule a tour.

Salary and Benefits

  • Unlicensed Social Workers can earn between: $6,934 - $9,114/month
  • Licensed Social Workers can earn between: $7,460 - $9,773/month

Benefits of working for the Department of State Hospitals-Atascadero:

  • Unlicensed social workers accrue total hours and receive in-house supervision towards licensure
  • Competitive salaries and many opportunities for advancement
  • $500 a month BBS clinical supervisor differential pay
  • $200 a month bilingual differential pay (standards apply)
  • Alternate work schedules available (subject to change; 4/10, 9/8/80, or one telework day during 5/8 work week)
  • Up to 36 hours paid Continuing Education leave per licensing cycle with funds to cover continuing education costs
  • Up to 40 hours paid Professional Education and Training Leave annually
  • License Renewal Reimbursement
  • Generous pension-style CalPERS Safety retirement benefits
  • 401k and 457b plans available through Savings Plus
  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
  • Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
  • Team oriented, collegial working environment
  • Vanpool/carpool incentives
  • Hiring relocation incentives
The Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero (DSH-A) has excellent job opportunities for social workers, including an accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) Internship program. DSH-A hires pre-licensed and licensed social workers with an incredible salary range and benefits package. The Social Work Service offers individual supervision opportunities for our pre-licensed social workers so they may collect hours toward licensure. DSH-A provides exceptional experience for inpatient treatment, discharge planning and assessment, as well as interdisciplinary teamwork. DSH-A is a 1200 bed Forensic State hospital serving men under a variety of criminal and civil commitments. We provide training in working with Incompetent to Stand Trial, Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, Offenders with a Mental Health Disorder, and Mentally Ill Inmate populations. DSH-A also offers training for our employees in evidence-based treatment modalities including but not limited to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We look forward to working with you!

Duties

  • Complete Biopsychosocial Assessments on Admission units and as indicated
  • Facilitate or co-lead weekly skill building and clinical treatment groups
  • Provide individual psychotherapy as indicated
  • Provide crisis Intervention when necessary
  • Complete Gender Assessments as indicated
  • Complete Security/Escape Risk Assessments
  • Complete Advance Health Care Directives
  • Provide Case Management Services as indicated
  • Complete treatment plans and clinical progress notes
  • Complete Social Service Discharge Summary and Recommendations for Aftercare
  • Participate in all Interdisciplinary Treatment Team of each patient on assigned caseload; Social Worker will provide clinical insight, consultation and progress in treatment; provide input on strengths and cultural barriers; report on collateral supports and social and community resources; identify current and ongoing treatment needs, and make recommendations
  • Collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team, the Conditional Release Program (CONREP), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), State Parole Agents, and/or representative from the dispositional setting to formulate an outpatient treatment contract/discharge plan
  • Facilitate the patient discharge plan to the dispositional setting and advocate accordingly
  • Complete Authorization for Release of Patient Information (ROI) to provide patient consent to connect, provide psychoeducation, medical records and updates to collateral supports
  • Perform other duties as assigned, including attending medical staff, departmental, and committee meetings
  • Meet and maintain continuing education requirements and actively seeking learning opportunities for professional growth and development


Minimum Qualifications

License
Possession of a valid license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Board of Behavioral Science. [Individuals who do not qualify for licensure by the California Board of Behavioral Science may be admitted into the examination and may be appointed but must secure a valid license within four years of appointment; however, an individual can be employed only to the extent necessary to be eligible for licensure plus one year. An extension of the waiver may be granted for one additional year based on extenuating circumstances, as provided by Section 1277(e) of the Health and Safety Code. The time duration for unlicensed employment does not apply to active doctoral candidates in social work, social welfare, or social service, until the completion of such training.] [Unlicensed individuals who are recruited from outside the State of California and who qualify for licensure may take the examination and may be appointed for a maximum of one year at which time licensure shall have been obtained or the employment shall be terminated; an extension of the waiver may be granted for an additional one year based on extenuating circumstances, as provided by Section 1277(e) of the Health and Safety Code. Individuals granted an additional one year based on extenuating circumstances may be appointed for a maximum of two years at which time licensure shall have been obtained or the employment shall be terminated. Additionally, they must take the licensure examination at the earliest possible date after the date of employment.]

Education
Completion of a master's degree program from an accredited school of social work, approved by the Council on Social Work Education.


Employment Process

Below is a list of the main steps you'll take as you pursue employment as a Social Worker at DSH-A. We understand this process can be a bit overwhelming- please don't hesitate to use the contact information at the bottom of this page to get in touch with any questions!

1. Create a CalCareers Account.
2. Gain eligibility by taking and passing the required employment exam.
3. Apply for the Vacancy (current deadline is 10/28/2024)

*if the vacancy link has expired, please contact us directly, or search for DSH-Atascadero Clinical Social Worker vacancies.

Community

Central Coast Shoreline

Located in California's coastal heartland midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles in beautiful San Luis Obispo County, is the Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero, a forensic, psychiatric treatment facility. The region encompasses the historic university town of San Luis Obispo, a world-class wine industry, agricultural lands, ranches, and beach communities all with a carefully preserved rural quality. An unpolluted environment, the Central Coast offers the amenities of a more urbane community, however in a serene country setting. In addition to San Luis Obispo and Atascadero, communities include Morro Bay, Cambria, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Templeton, Paso Robles, amongst others. Our employees enjoy a laid-back California coastal lifestyle that includes light traffic commutes, numerous food and music festivals, gorgeous wineries and vineyards, and outdoor activities like surfing, biking, and hiking. Click on the link below to learn more about our area!





    Contact us!


  • Employment Office
  • Front Desk: (805) 468-3384

Atascadero

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