Social Worker IV

University of Illinois School of Social Work; Alton (IL); On-site; USD 91,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Program

Health insurance

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Illinois Department of Human Services, Alton Mental Health Center, seeks a Social Worker IV to perform advanced social work on a forensic unit, assessing complex psycho-social disorders and developing treatment plans. You will advocate for patients, work with a multidisciplinary team, and may testify in court as needed.

The role requires a master’s in social work, a clinical license, and post-master’s experience, with shifts on the D and E units.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work with 3 years of supervised post-master’s clinical practice and a licensed clinical social worker.
• Ability to physically restrain patients and obtain CPR certification.
• Ability to travel and pass background and drug screening requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced social work services on a forensic unit.
• Interview patients and families to gather psycho-social data and develop treatment goals.
• Advocate for patients and act as a resource to the treatment team.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams and testify in court when required.
• Serve as a mental health resource for non-professional staff.

Skills

Clinical social work

Interviewing patients

Advocacy

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

Master's degree in Social Work

Clinical social work license

Three years post-master’s supervised clinical practice

Job description

Agency: Illinois Department of Human Services. Location: Alton, Illinois, 62002. Opening Date: 9/17/2026. Closing Date: 9/30/2026. Salary: Anticipated Salary: $7,602 - $11,605 per month ($91,224 - $139,260 per year). County: Madison. Number of Vacancies: 3.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home. No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview

Alton Mental Health Center is seeking to hire a Social Worker IV to perform professional social work services involving the advanced application of social work principles and practices. This candidate has the ability to gather comprehensive clinical information, assess, evaluate, and document complex emotional and psycho-social disorders, communicate an understanding of a wide-range of patient problems, develop treatment goals and objectives, and implement appropriate treatment interventions for patients on a forensic unit. Candidate will advocate for their patients and act as a resource to members of the treatment team. Candidate will interview and communicate with patients and their natural supports. Candidate will work closely with multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary teams to facilitate the course of treatment for their assigned case load. Candidate will testify in court proceedings regarding patients.

Essential Functions

• Performs professional social work services involving the advanced application of social work principles, techniques, and evaluations, as well as clinically sophisticated diagnostic recognition and implementation of appropriate treatment interventions of adults on a forensic unit manifesting complex emotional and psycho-social disorders.
• Interviews patients, family members and/or significant others to obtain pertinent psycho-social data to identify, evaluate and develop treatment goals and objectives.
• Serves as an advocate for patients and resource for other members of the treatment team.
• Serves as qualified examiner.
• Serves as a patient liaison to coordinate and recommend varied courses-of-action to an interdisciplinary team related to treatment concerns.
• Serves as a mental health resource for non-professional direct care staff.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a master’s degree in Social Work from a recognized college or university supplemented Requires a master’s degree in social work from a recognized school of social work supplemented by three (3) years of supervised post master’s clinical social work practice and possession of a clinical social worker’s license from the Department of Professional Regulation.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to physically restrain patients as necessary to prevent injury to patient and others.
• Requires the ability to obtain and maintain Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate.
• Requires the ability to stoop, bend, lift or exert up to 20 pounds of force in performance of job duties.
• Requires the ability to physically access various worksites throughout the hospital for administrative and clinical duties.
• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of job duties.
• Requires ability to pass the IDHS background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen for drugs prohibited from recreational use under Illinois Law.

*All conditions of employment listed are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

Work Hours

Various shifts, see below:(1 vacancy) 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday-Friday, 1-hour unpaid lunch; D Unit(2 vacancies) 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday-Friday, 1-hour unpaid lunch; E UnitHeadquarter Location:4500 College Ave, Alton, Illinois, 62002Division of Behavioral Health & RecoveryAlton Mental Health CenterMedical Services – Social Work Department - Forensic D and E Units

Work County

Madison

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Human Services serves families in need all across Illinois. Our mission is providing equitable access to social services, supports, programs and resources to enhance the lives of all who we serve. We are committed to the core values of Human Dignity, Equity, Community, Urgency, Transparency and Kindness.

Benefits

• A Pension ProgramCompetitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)* Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour Work Schedules (as applicable)
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)

For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx