Advanced Practice Social Worker or Clinical Social Worker - Mendota Mental Health Institute

The Department of Health Services (DHS), Mendota Mental Health Institute (MMHI) is recruiting for two (2) licensed Clinical or Advanced Practice Social Workers, based on the credentials of the selected candidate as well as the facility needs. One position will work in the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center and the other will be working in the Mendota Mental Health Institute forensic hospital.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies and other units.

MMHI is located on the north side of Madison and offers a beautiful campus environment, convenient free parking and an onsite workout facility. MMHI is an inpatient psychiatric facility, with one outpatient program, and is an integral part of the entire Wisconsin mental health service delivery system. Our overall service delivery goal is to provide specialized services in treatment, research, training and consultation.

MMHI is part of the Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS). DCTS is committed to helping all state residents live their best lives through an interconnected web of behavioral health services. Watch this video to learn more about the work of DCTS.

As an employee of the State of Wisconsin, you'll also have access to an amazing benefits package, including:

• 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time; limitations may apply for leave time usage in the first six months.
• Top rated health plan options starting at $45/month for single plans and $111/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service.
• Exceptional pension plan with a 7.2% employer match in 2026 with lifetime retirement payment. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!
• Several flex spending accounts: medical, dependent care, commuter, parking and High Deductible Health Savings.
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program.
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.

Advanced Practice Social Worker: These positions, provide a full range of social work services, including evaluation, treatment, documentation, and discharge and aftercare planning. Duties of the positions include:

• Providing training and supervision to social worker students, consultation to community agencies, in-service training as requested and maintaining and improving professional social work skills.
• Engaging in psychotherapeutic activities and providing services with the direct clinical supervision for the diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders in individuals, families, and groups to restore, maintain, and enhance social functioning.
• Serving as a member of the multidisciplinary team providing services to patients; performing social work casework services to clients involving assessment, obtaining collateral information, assisting patients with admissions forms and information and financial aftercare/discharge services.
• Functioning as the liaison with the treatment team, patient family and community agencies and involved in psychoeducation and treatment monitoring activities authorized by the social services department.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker: These positions, will function as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team and will engage in psychotherapeutic activities and provide services without direct clinical supervision for the diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders in individuals, families, and groups to restore, maintain, and enhance social functioning. They will employ treatment interventions which may include but are not limited to individual, family, and group counseling or psychotherapy; referral to community resources; advocacy; and facilitation of organizational change to meet treatment needs, all based on psychosocial evaluation. These positions require you to apply your professional skills and exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in the performance of the duties described above.

Responsibilities also include:

• Developing social service treatment goals, psychotherapy treatment goals, and participating in unit treatment programs by providing treatment, and coordination of release planning.
• Functioning as the liaison with the treatment team, patient, family, and community agencies and is involved in education and treatment monitoring activities authorized by the social service department.
• Providing clinical supervision to other MMHI social workers who are working toward their license, and Social Worker Students who are placed at MMHI.

The starting pay for the Advanced Practice Social Worker is between $38.96 and $40.96 per hour and the starting pay for the Clinical Social Worker is between $41.82 and $43.66 per hour, depending on qualifications.

Pay for current or former state employees is set based upon the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction. For both levels, the pay schedule/range is 12/63 and a 12-month probationary period is required.

All applicants will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any convictions may be related to the job being filled.

All appointees will be required to receive a TB test, which will be administered by MMHI or medical personnel approved by the facility prior to their start date.

DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire. DHS is not an E-Verify employer nor a STEM-OPT eligible employer.

Minimally qualified candidates will have:

• Certification or eligible for certification as an Advanced Practice Social Worker in the State of WI OR licensed or eligible for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of WI. Eligible is defined as being within 3 months of obtaining certification or licensure.
• Education, experience, or training providing treatment, discharge planning, and psychotherapy to individuals.

Well-qualified candidates will have one or both of the following:

• Experience working with civil or forensic patients that have mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use issues.
• Experience with case management and working on an interdisciplinary team.

For a guide on developing your resume and what should be included, click here.

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process. Sign in to your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Information:

• Once your application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click “Save” to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline.
• You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
• Please monitor your email for communications related to this position.
• Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered.
• If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.
• For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Shea O’Malley in Human Resources at shea.omalley@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on veterans’ hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran’s affairs, click here.

The deadline to apply is October 17, 2025, by 11:59 pm.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.