Social Worker III

Texas Health and Human Services; Vernon (TX); On-site; USD 64,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid time off

Career advancement

Job summary

Texas Health and Human Services Commission in Vernon, TX invites applications for a Social Worker III position at Vernon State Hospital. The role focuses on highly complex social services, coordinating care and advocating for patient rights within an interdisciplinary team.

Regular full-time, daytime schedule with limited telework options and travel up to 10% may apply. The Social Worker III will document social histories, support transitions, and work under limited supervision, with duties that

Qualifications

• Social worker responsibilities and liaison with patient, legal representatives and agencies to ensure ongoing care and support.

Responsibilities

• Interviews individuals and families to determine psychosocial, economic, and physical needs.
• Coordinate furloughs, transfers, transitions, and discharges; assist with post-discharge placement.

Job description

Date: Nov 10, 2026

Location:

VERNON, TX

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

Job Title:

Social Worker III

Agency:

Health & Human Services Comm

Department:

MaxSecPsych Psychology

Posting Number:

23168

Closing Date:

02/08/2027

Posting Audience:

Internal and External

Occupational Category:

Healthcare Support

Salary Range:

$5,746.66 - $7,253.83

Pay Frequency:

Monthly

Salary Group:

TEXAS-B-21

Shift:

Day

Telework:

Not Eligible for Telework

Travel:

Up to 10%

Regular/Temporary:

Regular

Full Time/Part Time:

Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt:

Exempt

Facility Location:

Vernon State Hospital

Job Location City:

VERNON

Job Location Address:

4730 COLLEGE DR

Other Locations:

Vernon

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. 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 assure 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/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. This position may also be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on maximum security locations.

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 person and agencies, as needed, and facility or treatment providers to assure 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