DISCHARGE PLANNER

Discharge Planner

The Discharge Planner is responsible for providing direct and indirect client care; providing psychotherapeutic services to clients and families; serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team supporting the facility's treatment program and philosophy; serves as the primary liaison between the facility and outside agencies for discharge planning, abuse reporting, and continuum of care functions. Additionally, the Discharge Planner facilitates timely referrals to alternate levels of care and assists family and/or guardian with completion of applications. Communicates with referral providers about new referrals and ensures that the facility has all necessary information to consider a referral; assists with ensuring that all receiving providers have all necessary clinical materials and information. Documents case management contacts in progress notes, communicates with therapists/treatment team about contact and updates on the status of discharge planning. Works with involved agencies by arranging and participating in multi-agency meetings as needed to facilitate a smooth discharge. Works with Utilization Review to establish prior authorization, travel, insurance application, etc. is coordinated for a timely discharge. Maintains a shared file where information is updated to review status of faxes, referrals, etc; maintains contact with current providers to update them on the status of patient/course of hospitalization and to obtain information from provider to share with treatment team. Participates in problem-solving regarding abrupt changes in discharge, coordinates and communicates the discharge plan. Coordinates travel arrangements as directed by the therapists and communicates all information to therapists in a timely manner; contacts family with travel information and provides copies of necessary travel documents to family if directed by the therapist/treatment team. Coordinates discharge appointments and communicates to therapist and family if directed by therapist/treatment team. Maintains documentation on all cases; ensuring progress notes on all case management contact/discharge planning efforts are completed no later than 24 hours after the contact; documents discharge appointments in the discharge paperwork. Participates in community activities as requested by the Director of Social Services to build relationships with community providers. Serves as an effective team member and works closely with the Utilization Review team and clinical team. Makes phone contacts with referral services and outpatient providers weekly. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Education/Experience: Bachelor's Degree is required. Bachelor's in social work, psychology, or related field is preferred. One year post degree experience preferred. Knowledge/Skills: Must be able to perform assignments with minimal supervision; Must be able to work successfully under highly stressful conditions; Ability to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles; Capability of adapting to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis; Effective comprehensive reading skills, strong communication skills, written and verbal; Must have a working knowledge of computers.

Minimum Requirements of the Position: Must be willing and able to execute the patient de-escalation methods, both verbal and physical. Must be able to complete new hire requirements such as State of Alaska Background Check and Drug Testing. Must be able to demonstrate special training, knowledge and skills specific to age groups, as well as job and/or program specific competency within the first three (3) months of training. Must be certified in CPR and Handle with Care within the first month of training and annually thereafter. Must complete all mandatory in-services annually. Must be tested for Tuberculosis with PPD skin test or chest x-ray upon hire; PPD skin test required annually or chest x-ray annually thereafter.

General Working Environment: Working conditions for all employees are as follows, but not limited to a psychiatric hospital setting; some risk involved in the event of aggressive patient(s); work load may include day, evening, night, weekend and/or holiday shifts. Employees occasionally exposed to blood borne pathogens, and loud noise levels. Mental demands described herein are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job, but are not limited to the ability to remain calm in a stressful environment; and the emotional stability, physical stamina and agility to handle stress and respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations.

Physical Requirements: Requirements include, but are not limited to the ability to communicate effectively with employees; the ability to effectively utilize communication equipment; the physical agility to manage cleaning equipment; the ability to read, write. Frequently utilize physical ability for standing or sitting for long periods of time Regularly utilize physical ability for speaking, hearing and seeing with correction for close and distance vision, color discrimination, peripheral vision, depth perception and focusing ability. Speaking and hearing may be necessary for conversing with and assessing employees Able to ascend/descend starts and ramps; body agility is emphasized Able to bend body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist; bend legs at knee to come to rest of knee(s) Able to extend hands and arms in any direction Able to use upper and lower extremities to exert force in a pulling or pushing motion. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects Able to raise objects from a lower to higher position or from side-to-side The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions Must be able to concentrate amidst distractions; must be able to perform work of a repetitive nature; must respond calmly to potentially volatile clients Mental demands include but are not limited to emotional stability, physical stamina and agility to handle stress and respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations. Equipment/Materials Used: Telephone, computer, copier, fax machine, video player, small hand tools and writing instruments.