Medical Social Worker I

Employment Type:

Full time

Shift:

Description:

MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER I

REPORTS TO: Behavioral Health Manager

SUPERVISES: N/A

POSITION CODE: 1818E

STATUS: Salaried/Exempt

LAST REVIEWED ON: April 2025

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Medical Social Worker I (MedSW-I) provides psychosocial assessment, case management, and social service coordination support to address barriers to patient’s optimal health related to Social Influencers of Health (SIOH). Connects patients with designated community agencies for resources to meet social, financial and environmental needs. The MedSW-I provides advocacy, crisis intervention and resource assistance to patients and families.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Assesses patients using screening tools and clinical interview regarding their psycho-social factors as it relates to achieving and maintaining patient’s optimum health and wellness. Provides advanced problem solving, refers patients to community agencies/resources to address needs and improve outcomes. Develops, implements and assesses continuing patient-oriented goals to support patient’s health and wellness, with awareness of social support system deficits and barriers. Intervenes with patients and their family/support system to alleviate barriers to health. Advocates, educates and facilitates resolution of patient ethical and legal issues, such as advance directives, end-of-life decisions, guardianship, etc. Brokers with community agencies to access services to meet patient’s psycho-social needs. Coordinates care across interdisciplinary team of providers. Delivers crisis interventions and empowers patients with management of personal, social and environmental issues. Maintains accurate and timely documentation of patient encounters and care coordination, billing appropriately for services and support provided. Provides education and fosters understanding by health care personnel of social influencers of health and the challenges these create to patient wellness. Actively participates in ongoing trainings to ensure provision of care considering age, literacy, language barriers, developmental, socioeconomic, gender identity, cultural, spiritual, and other diversity circumstances. Maintains established productivity and quality standards; assumes additional responsibilities and performs work within position licensure, as required. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of legal issues impacting patients, such as divorce and custody laws, child/adult abuse/neglect reporting, duty to warn, recipient rights, commitment of inpatient hospitalization, and other relevant laws/processes. Assumes additional responsibilities and performs work within position licensure, as required.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

Creates a positive, professional, service-oriented work environment for staff, patients and family members by supporting the mission and values of Trinity Health Medical Group. Must be able to work effectively as a member of the Medical Social Work team and Designated Clinic(s) team. Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management. Successfully completes all relevant organizational training and adheres to Trinity Health Medical Group standard of care as outlined in the Trinity Health Code of Conduct. Maintains knowledge of and complies with Trinity Health Medical Group standards, policies and procedures. Maintains general knowledge of Trinity Health Medical Group office services and in the use of all relevant office equipment, computer and manual systems. Maintains strict confidentiality in compliance with Trinity Health Medical Group and HIPAA guidelines. Serves as a role model by demonstrating exceptional ability and willingness to take on new and additional responsibilities. Embraces new ideas and respects cultural differences. Uses resources efficiently. If applicable, responsible for ongoing professional development – maintains appropriate licensure/certification and continuing education credentials, participates in available learning opportunities.

MEASURED BY:

Performance that meets or exceeds IHA CARES Values expectation as outlined in IHA Performance Review document, relative to position.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Master’s degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council of Social Work Education.

CREDENTIALS/LICENSURE: Valid, unrestricted license to practice clinical social work in the State of Michigan.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 1 year experience in social work setting with vulnerable populations. Preferred crisis intervention and medical setting experience.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS (ABILITIES & SKILLS):

Maintains up-to-date knowledge of legal issues impacting patients, such as divorce and custody laws, child/adult abuse reporting, duty to warn, recipient rights, commitment of inpatient hospitalization and other relevant laws/processes. Proficient in operating a standard computer system, including but not limited to electronic medical records, e-learning, Microsoft Office and computer navigation needed to complete the tasks of clinical care and performance reporting. Ability to use other software as required while performing the essential functions of the job. Ability to complete additional Health Stream requirements as assigned. Knowledgeable in issues around substance use and addiction treatment and recovery. Applied understanding of how social determinants affect health outcomes. Ability to collaboratively function as member of interdisciplinary team and recognize impact of treatment goals, utilization and outcome. Familiarity and compliance with NASW Code of Ethics and any applicable accrediting organizations. Extensive knowledge of community resources, and awareness of clinic population’s needs and services, and all aspects of community outreach and education. Excellent interpersonal communication skills in both written and verbal forms, including proper phone etiquette, conflict management and de-escalation. Ability to speak before groups of people, either in-person or virtually. Ability and willingness to present publicly on related issues. Ability to work effectively with various levels of organizational members and diverse populations including IHA staff, executive management and Behavioral Health staff, providers, patients, family members, insurance carriers, vendors, external customers and community resource groups and providers. Ability to cross-train in other areas of practice in order to achieve smooth flow of all operations. Demonstrates excellent organization and time management skills to effectively juggle multiple priorities and time constraints Ability to exercise advanced clinical judgement and competent problem-solving skills independently and productively. Ability to drive to other office/practice sites and meeting and training locations as required.

Successful completion of IHA competency-based program within introductory and training period.

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Trinity Health is a family of 115,000 colleagues and nearly 26,000 physicians and clinicians across 25 states. Because we serve diverse populations, our colleagues are trained to recognize the cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and to apply that knowledge to produce positive health outcomes. We also recognize that each of us has a different way of thinking and perceiving our world and that these differences often lead to innovative solutions.

Our dedication to diversity includes a unified workforce (through training and education, recruitment, retention, and development), commitment and accountability, communication, community partnerships, and supplier diversity.

EOE including disability/veteran