UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
Under the general direction of the Director of the Center for Counseling & Psychological Health (CCPH), the Psychiatric Social Worker is responsible for evaluating and treating a diverse range of mental health concerns in the student population. This position provides crisis intervention, on-call support, and critical incident/crisis debriefing for emergency and high-risk situations. The Psychiatric Social Worker provides community consultations, groups, workshops, and outreach to enhance student wellbeing, fostering collaborative relationships, and maintaining a safe campus environment. This position also participates in the conception, development, and implementation of preventative public health initiatives.
Essential Functions
Performs a general range of clinical responsibilities:
Applies substantial knowledge of psychology, social work, and clinical practice to effectively assess and deliver evidence-based interventions in multiple treatment modalities.
Works independently to manage a caseload of undergraduate and graduate students who are either actively in treatment or who have had contact within the last 12 months through regular risk assessment, therapeutic interventions, case management, and referrals.
Independently assesses student risk and facilitates involuntary hospital admission (Section 12) for students who are at high risk for suicide, homicide, psychiatric decompensation, or inability to care for themselves.
Responds to a range of urgent and emergent mental health crisis situations/incidents.
Performs evaluations and issues recommendations regarding medical withdrawal and readmission to the University, post-deadline course withdrawals, exceptions to academic eligibility VISA guidelines, and eligibility to receive accommodations from Disability Services.
Consults and collaborates with hospitals and healthcare emergency departments, mental health providers, crisis services, community therapists, law enforcement personnel, UMass faculty/staff, and parents/families/friends of UMass students to optimize student care and safety.
Collaborates with and assists students in solving complex problems spanning a range of academic and/or administrative areas via direct outreach, advocacy, provision of documentation, and referrals.
Provides clinical and functional supervision and training to Associate Clinicians, Post-Graduate Fellows, and/or trainees. Assumes legal liability for the supervisee's clinical work. Provides weekly supervision; reviews and co-signs all clinical documentation.
Prepares timely clinical documentation in an Electronic Medical Record system, maintaining compliance with HIPAA guidelines and medical billing standards for reimbursement.
Works jointly as member of external and internal committees, clinical teams, interdepartmental liaison, and work groups to formulate and implement plans and objectives to enhance mental health programming and rapid access to services, in accordance with the mission statement of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health.
Designs, develops, and implements training curriculum for suicide prevention, risk reduction, and crisis response on and off campus. This is accomplished through the provision of crisis/liaison services, Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper training for all RAs, emergency crisis consultation, and critical incident/crisis debriefing for faculty, staff, family, and campus partners. This may include after-hours response.
Complies with Title IX, Clery, mandated reporting guidelines, and professional code of ethics.
Other Functions
Performs specialized tasks as defined by the Leadership Team.
Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to fulfill the mission of Student Affairs and Campus Life.
Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet department, executive area/division, and university goals and objectives.
Provides services in a culturally responsive and identity-informed manner that affirms the complex ways in which culture and identity affect therapeutic service delivery.
Recognizes the impact that racism, oppression, and other systemic inequities have on student access to care. Actively participates in the dismantling of systemic oppression as it shapes workplace policies and practices.
Promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical care, including attending to the unique needs and advocating for individuals experiencing marginalization, such as first-generation college students, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, neuro-diverse individuals, individuals with disabilities, and individuals at the intersection of multiple identities.
Promotes and supports flourishing across the life span through a developmental lens.
Licensure in Massachusetts for independent practice of social work (LICSW), which requires minimum of two years of supervised practice after attaining MSW.
If licensed in another state, must obtain MA license within 9 months of hire.
Bilingual and/or bicultural individuals who reflect the diversity of the student population.
Fluent in Mandarin.
Experience providing services to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Demonstrated skill in addressing acts of discrimination against marginalized groups.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Work is performed in a Counseling & Health Center environment.
Crisis and risk assessment involves potential harm to clinician in the course of working with individuals experiencing psychosis, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, homicidal, or suicidal in a 1:1 setting.
Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm.
Required to participate in regular 24-72 hour on-call shifts.
Required to work some nights, weekends, and holidays.
Please complete online application, submit a cover letter, resume, and provide the names and contact information of three (3) professional references. The position will remain open until filled.
We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best talent on our team to meet the need of our diverse campus community which we serve. Multilingual, multicultural, and multiracial applicant encouraged to apply.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
