Clinical Social Worker
- Job ID
- 515575
- Job Type
- Clinical Social Worker
- Date posted
- 04/23/2026
- Location
- California
Department Information
The Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero is a secure public sector hospital providing inpatient forensic services for mentally ill adult males who are court committed throughout the State of California. Located on the central coast of California, the Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero is in the vicinity of destination locations such as San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Morro Bay, with easy access to beautiful beaches, serene natural settings and many historical landmarks. We invite you to join our professional and talented workforce.

Job Description and Duties
**This classification is subject to Section 5, Hiring-Above-Minimum (HAM) Authorization of the California State Civil Service Pay Scales. The authorized HAM minimum rate for this classification is $8,265 (Range U - Unlicensed/ASW) and $8,876 (Range V - Licensed/LCSW).**
The Clinical Social Worker (H/CF, Safety) is under the administration and clinical supervision of the Chief of Social Work Services through the Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker I at the Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero (ASH). The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties, but not limited to:
- Conduct or co-lead weekly treatment groups.
- Meet with and provide social work services for patients who have identified need, as defined by the Social Work Service.
- Develop and maintain contact with family of patients, as appropriate, and provide them with information when proper release forms have been signed by the patient allowing contact.
- Applies and demonstrates knowledge of correct methods in Therapeutic Strategies and Interventions (TSI). Assist in the maintenance of a safe and secure environment through response to physical assaults, escape attempts or other major patient disturbance, and assist in the management of the conduct of the patients.
- Participate in all Interdisciplinary Treatment Team reviews of each patient on assigned caseload; provide input on progress in treatment; report on family, social and community resources; identify current and ongoing treatment needs, and make recommendations.
- Write clinical progress notes describing and evaluating the patients’ responses treatment, as defined by the Social Work Service.
- Collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team, State’s Conditional Release Program, Department of Corrections, Parole Agents, and/or representative from the dispositional setting to formulate an outpatient treatment contract/discharge plan and facilitate the patient discharge to the dispositional setting.
Eligibility: To be considered for this career opportunity, applicants must have eligibility by way of one of the following: reachable on a certification list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications specified in the examination bulletin/classification specifications.
If you do not have eligibility, you must take the exam. The examination is a separate process from applying for this vacancy.
Click here to take the Clinical Social Worker Exam.
Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey: DSH Recruitment Survey
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
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