Social Worker III / Discharge Planning Specialist

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Functional Title: Social Worker III / Discharge Planning Specialist

• Job Title: Social Worker III Agency: Health & Human Services Comm
• Department: Chld /orAdolPsych Social Svs Posting Number: 22628 Closing Date: 11/10/2026 Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational
• Category: Community and Social Services
• Salary Range: $5,746.66 - $7,253.83 Pay Frequency: MonthlySalary Group: TEXAS-B-21
• Shift: Day Additional
• Shift: Telework: Not Eligible for Telework
• Travel: Up to 15% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt Facility
• Location: Waco Center for Youth Job Location City: WACO Job
• Location Address: 3501 N 19TH ST Other Locations: MOS Codes: 0149,5832,230X,42SX,4C0X1,68X,73A, HM Brief

Job Description

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork?

HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers.

The psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based.

If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below.

The Social Worker III performs and documents highly complex social services work, including serving as a liaison between the patient, legally authorized representative, and others to ensure ongoing care, treatment, and support through the use of person-centered practices.

This position gathers information to assess the individual's support systems and service needs, including participation in interdisciplinary team meetings, as needed. This position may also engage in the assessment of individual’s rights and capacity to make decisions.

This position designs and provides individual and group trainings to promote the exercise of rights and patient transition to include curriculum, materials, and case-specific information. This position assists with the coordination of furloughs, transfers, transitions, and discharges, as needed.

This position will focus on complex cases and concentrates on post-discharge placement and support. The Social Worker III works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

• Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy, and performs other duties as assigned.
• Interviews and converses with individuals, legally authorized representatives, actively involved persons, and agencies to create and maintain the individual’s social history through determination of what is important to the individual, gather background information needed to assess the individual’s support systems, and identify the individual’s psychosocial, economic, and physical needs, with updates as appropriate. Interview examples include during admission or prior to transition to a community placement.
• Oversees the communication and information exchange between the individual, legally authorized representative, actively involved persons, and agencies, as needed, and facility or treatment providers to ensure ongoing care, treatment, and support to include maintaining open communication, providing required notification, participating in interdisciplinary team meetings as requested, obtaining necessary consents, and accessing external resources as needed.
• Counsels and provides assistance to individuals, legally authorized representatives, and actively involved persons regarding community placement issues, living options discussions, end-of-life planning, and rights in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations and state and state hospital policies.
• Oversees transfers, transitions, furloughs, and community placement discharges by involving the patient, family/significant others (with consent), as well as the committing court, and Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA), for an orderly discharge that includes a referral for continued treatment and services as needed and medication and personal possessions through the use of person-centered practices. Examples include: coordinating and conducting tours of identified discharge options for individuals and families, engagement and communication with state and judicial systems as well as facility or treatment providers, providing information to the local authority to assist in obtaining required documents for discharge planning, including certified birth certificates, ISD records, and social security cards, and coordinating with the receiving facility for individuals transferring within the State Hospital system to include transportation and the transfer of patient information, personal possessions, medication, etc.
• Designs and conducts individual and group training to explore and promote exercise of rights, development of decision-making, person-centered thinking, and self-advocacy skills. Develops and presents curriculum and training materials designed to support patients to a wide array of interested parties, patients, and stakeholders.
• Participates in and may be responsible for the facilitation of discharge program meetings and internal/external work groups. Actively engages in the utilization of existing resources as well as in the identification of potential service gaps.
• May assign and oversee the work, time, and travel of Social Worker I and II positions and social work students to include, interviewing and hiring to fill vacancies and training of new staff and current staff as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of human growth and development; behavioral and mental health; developmental and emotional components of physical illness; individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; social work standards for case management; facility and community resources; and the principles, methods, and theories used to practice as a social worker.
• Knowledge of community resources to support the discharge of State Hospital patients with high/complex needs.
• Knowledge of State Hospital discharge policies and procedures.
• Skill in interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, case management, mediation, counseling, information and referral, problem-solving, supervision, consultation, and advocacy.
• Skill and ability to assign and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to be accountable for assigned property with limited financial responsibilities.
• Ability to be creative and work collaboratively with others on behalf of patients discharging from State Hospitals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in both individual and group settings.
• Ability to perform all job duties in accordance with the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners Code of Conduct, National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, and in compliance with State Hospital policies and procedures.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements, or Certifications

• Must possess a valid Texas driver license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date to drive a state vehicle. Applicants with an out-of-state driver license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure. Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy. Must be able to drive state vehicles and golf carts.
• Must have and maintain State of Texas Social Workers License (LBSW or above).

Initial Screening Criteria

• LBSW or higher is required.
• Six (6) months' experience working directly with people with mental, social, or substance use disorders.

Additional Information

Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, and List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE). Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment