Clinical Social Worker - Behavioral Health Services - Full Time/Days - Req# 1879335650

Brief Description

Job Objective:

Under the direction of the Director of Behavioral Health Services or designee, the Clinical Social Worker is responsible for providing high-quality patient care, displaying good skills in assessment, psychodiagnosis, treatment planning, group and individual treatment, family treatment, and discharge planning. Expected to function well as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and participate in outpatient referral development process.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintains a comprehensive referral source file
• Discharge Planning
• Summarizes all assessments from all disciplines in one written, narrative summary on assigned patients prior to patient’s plan of care being discussed in the weekly interdisciplinary treatment team meeting or patient’s discharge, whichever comes first
• Assists in keeping communication lines open between practitioners, managed care companies’ personnel and utilization review personnel
• Shows knowledge of referral/placement process and available community resources
• Completes progress notes timely and of high quality
• Referral Development
• Conducts family therapy sessions, displaying theoretical knowledge of family therapy principals and competent treatment techniques
• Conducts educational group sessions, displaying theoretical knowledge of subject matter and effective communication skills in presenting materials
• Effectively participates in the referral development process
• Conducts group therapy sessions, displaying theoretical knowledge of group therapy principals and competent group therapy technique
• Completes psychosocial assessments and plan of care (discharge plan) on assigned patient within 72 hours of the patient’s admission
• Displays good interviewing, diagnostic and report writing skills
• Interacts with attending practitioners, giving them information on their patients continued need for hospitalization
• Assists in providing feedback between hospital staff and referring source
• Therapy
• Provides follow up with referral source when patients are denied admission to determine reason and try to mitigate barriers
• Conducts individual psychotherapy sessions, displaying theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and competent treatment techniques
• Responsible for documenting referral of patient’s/family member to appropriate referral/outpatient agency in the medical record in a timely manner
• Assist in locating suitable resources when a patient is not appropriate for admission or is ready for discharge
• Engages in timely, efficient discharge planning. Works closely with the patient, family, nursing staff, and attending practitioner

D. Teamwork

• Functions cooperatively as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Demonstrates knowledge regarding special needs and behaviors of age specific groups
• Functions as a resource to staff
• Participates in department staff meetings, and on committees/teams as assigned.
• Provides feedback on program functioning

Non-Essential Duties:

• Assists in special projects/assignments for Department as needed or as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current counseling practice and procedures, including knowledge of the group process with the ability to facilitate group sessions
• Basic knowledge of InterQual criteria
• Knowledgeable of criteria for Medical, Medicaid, HMO and private insurance coverage.
• Knowledge of effective and current means and methods pertaining to the delivery of psychotherapy practices and procedures including family and couple counseling
• Knowledge of the American Psychiatric Association’s current diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Knowledge of current American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Knowledge of local community resources and referrals that can assist patient’s/family members in continued care needs, financial assistance, finding appropriate support groups, applying for Lanterman-Petris-Short conservatorships, placement and board and care homes, residential treatment, etc.
• Knowledge of the legal aspects of caring for mentally disordered or substance abusing patients

Skills

• Skill in completing complicated documentation
• Skill in maintaining calm and reason in the face of high crisis situation when dealing with patients/visitors in crisis
• Skill in communicating effectively with families and agencies, conveying a positive, professional image

Abilities

• Ability to represent the department well in interactions both inside and outside the hospital
• Ability to establish and maintain payer relationships

AVMC Values: All AVMC employees will effectively demonstrate these values:

• Excellence – We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
• Integrity & Honesty – We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
• Teamwork – We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
• Accountability & Ownership – We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
• Tenderness & Compassion – We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.
• Patients Come First – We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
• Initiative & Innovation – Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient’s experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.

Education and Experience:

Education

• Designation to write involuntary detentions 5150’s after initiation period preferred
• Biannual CPR certification in Basic Cardiopulmonary Life Support
• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW)
• HSS Certification within 6 months of hire date, recertification annually
• Restraint Certification within 6 months of hire date; recertification annually

Experience

• 3 plus years’ experience working in a psychiatric inpatient setting preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working in a psychiatric setting.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in Social Work

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• BLS Certification
• HSS Certification within 6 months of hire

AVMC Conduct/Compliance Expectations:

• Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards
• Ability to adhere with AVMC Attendance and Punctuality Policy
• Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times
• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties
• Display a willingness to work as a team player
• Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters
• Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations
• Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patient, hospital and department information
• Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVMC Board of Directors
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its established policies.
• Ability to adhere with AVMC Leaves of Absence Policy
• Conforms with required and appropriate accreditation and regulatory requirements
• Ability to organize work and establish priorities
• Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures
• Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVMC
• Ability to adhere to the department dress code
• Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education
• Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff
• Ability to adhere with AVMC Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy
• Ability to follow the Code of Conduct
• Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in the sometimes hectic and changeable atmosphere of the Mental Health Department. On occasion may be called upon to assist with the physical management of assaultive behavior.

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.

NOTE: THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK PERFORMED BY PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO THIS JOB. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, SKILLS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE PERSONNEL SO CLASSIFIED.

Requirements

Education

• HSS Certification within 6 months of hire date, recertification annually
• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW)
• Restraint Certification within 6 months of hire date; recertification annually
• Biannual CPR certification in Basic Cardiopulmonary Life Support

Experience

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in Social Work
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working in a psychiatric setting.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• HSS Certification within 6 months of hire
• BLS Certification