Position Summary South County Mental Health Center, Inc. is seeking a Social Services Discharge Planner. This position supports appropriate discharge plans and education to Center clients who are discharged ready regarding linkage and referrals, diagnosis, treatment and support during the period of crisis stabilization.
About Us South County Mental Health Center, Inc. is a private, non-profit, Joint Commission-accredited behavioral healthcare provider serving Southeast Palm Beach County. We are dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality mental health services to individuals and families in our community.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelors Degree in Psychology, Social Work or related field from an accredited college or university.
Minimum one year Social services experience working with chronically mentally ill, dually diagnosed or emotionally disturbed adults
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s Degree in Social services or human services (MSW, LMSW, LCSW, LMHC)
Two (2) years Social services experience working with chronically mentally ill, dually diagnosed or emotionally disturbed adults
Duties and Responsibilities Client Care
Evaluate client and family needs and initiate Intake/Psychosocial within 3 working days of admission.
Complete detailed client treatment plan within 1-3 days of a new admission.
Attend and participate in multi-disciplinary treatment team daily.
Attend weekly social worker meetings.
Complete client referrals for housing and other needs. Link clients to outpatient programs as needed.
Develop appropriate discharge plans and recommendations to link clients with appropriate community resources and document same in coordination with assigned catchment area.
Coordinate with Nursing, Medical and D/C staff on clients care and discharge plans.
Transport clients when needed for discharge.
Record Keeping
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and accreditation standards
Maintain client records and document all contacts with the client, family or supports and all assessments and other clinical events in progress notes within 48 hours of service.
Write discharge goals on treatment plan.
Conduct risk assessments as needed to assess client needs.
Training
Attend and participate in staff development and in-service training.
Assist the program supervisor with training of practicum students.
Business/Supervisory
Knowledge and ability to interpret Baker Act, Confidentiality, Marchman Act, Client Rights and Abuse reporting requirements
Advance organizational and time management skills
Knowledge and ability to interpret Center policies and procedures
Minimal supervision regarding use of time and being able to prioritize work assignments
Able to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions
Must abide by a code of ethical and practice standards
Effective communication and presentation skills
Problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
Ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization
Commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement
Medical/Mental Health
Must possess good clinical skills to assess the needs of the clients
Advanced substance abuse skills
Advanced counseling skills
Knowledge of DSM-IV and GAF
Case Management skills
Written & Verbal Communications
Ability to communicate effectively with professionals, staff, clients and families
Ability to work with others as part of a team.
Ability to complete all required paperwork accurately and legibly
Analytical & Problem Solving
Data and Behavior Assessment: Review client history, medical records, and interview notes to identify root causes of distress.
Risk Evaluation: Assess safety concerns, crisis potential, and legal or protective requirements in real-time.
Resource Matching: Analyze available community programs and government assistance to determine the best fit for a client's specific needs
Treatment Planning: Create step-by-step action plans to help clients overcome housing, addiction, or mental health challenges.
Crisis Intervention: Think quickly under pressure to de-escalate volatile family or individual emergencies.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work with medical professionals, educators, and legal teams to resolve barriers to client well-being
AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES ADULT
Knowledge of medications/dosages
Assess changes in productive status (e.g. economical physical) as a result of illness
Assess and address life stage concerns of clients
GERIATRIC
Medication dosages
Assess nutritional needs
Assess dependency needs
Monitor intake/elimination patterns
Assess audio/visual problems
Working Conditions
Professional healthcare office and clinical environment
Social workers in a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) face acute occupational hazard—principally workplace violence, secondary traumatic stress, and biological exposures—which are regulated under OSHA Guidelines for Healthcare and Social Service Workers and the federal General Duty Clause
Required travel and transport
Performance Standards Performance will be evaluated based on:
Effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives and outcomes
Compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards
Accuracy and timeliness of reporting and audits
Collaboration with leadership and department teams
Organizational readiness for surveys and inspections
Schedule & Work Details Full-Time Position Schedule: Monday – Friday (hours may vary based on organizational needs) Location: In-person (Delray Beach, FL)