Social Worker-Psych Emergency Services

Job Title

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

UNC Health Nash, an affiliated member of the UNC Health system, invites passionate healthcare professionals to join our esteemed team. Governed locally, we proudly serve a diverse patient base, spanning Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson Counties, and beyond. With a steadfast commitment to elevating community health through exceptional care, we prioritize excellence, compassion, and innovation, ensuring every individual receives the highest standard of support. Joining our team means becoming an integral part of our dedication to wellness, where we constantly strive to redefine excellence in healthcare through state-of-the-art facilities and pioneering programs. Join us in this transformative journey, where your contributions will make a lasting impact on our community's health and wellbeing.

Summary:

Provides psychosocial assessment, care planning, intervention and evaluation to individuals and families undergoing treatment for patients and provides appropriate documentation of plan of care as well as progress notes documenting the patient's response to interventions. Utilizes individual or family treatment modalities makes use of appropriate referrals for community agencies and support services.

Responsibilities:

1. Prioritization of Patients. Collaborate and communicate with ED Care Team members to identify patients in need of psychosocial assessment/interventions and/or immediate discharge needs. Prioritize workload between crisis patients, patients in need of routine interventions, and patients with non-critical (i.e. home health, transportation) discharge needs. Document interventions and progress notes. Escalate barriers according to escalation process; if the barrier is clinical in nature, refer to Physician Advisor and escalate to the ED Case Manager for all other barriers. Consistently demonstrates correct use of functions for documentation, assignment, and work management, appropriate job responsibilities.

2. Discharge and Transitions Planning. Address discharge needs and discuss options for discharge from the ED and/or alternative care plans with the ED staff, patient, family/representative, and other care team members as needed to ensure a safe discharge. Collaborate with ED Care Team to determine clinical post-service needs (e.g., skilled nursing facility, long term acute care, home health, durable medical equipment, and transportation), etc. Locate community/alternative resources that meet clinical and, if applicable, psychosocial needs of the patient. For patients with psychosocial discharge needs: Coordinate psychiatric or addiction services, Provide resources for patients at risk for abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, Identify resources for patients who are homeless. Collaborate with Primary Care Physician. Collaborate with the patient/family regarding the discharge plan and ensure understanding of the resources provided.

3. Crisis Intervention. Act as a patient advocate. Address psychosocial needs of patient and family-Identify and address crisis situations (e.g., trauma/victim of violence, abuse and/or neglect, death, sexual assault), Identify and address life changes and dependency circumstances (e.g. Grief, loss, end-of-life issues), Provide counseling and support to patient and/or family. Contact appropriate agencies (e.g., adult protective services or child protective services) according to established procedures/protocols. Collaborate with involved Care Team members for patients who require crisis intervention to determine needs and develop a plan for the patient.

4. Address Frequent ED Utilization. Develop and maintain care plans for active management of patients who frequently seek ED care-Track high frequency users-Assess reasons why patient is utilizing the ED (e.g., uninsured, lack of primary care, readmission, barriers to accessing community resources). Communicate with patients/families regarding appropriate ED use-Provide information and education about resources. Collaborate with community outreach agencies and coordinate resources to prevent inappropriate future use of the ED. Coordinate activities to secure a PCP for the patient.

5. Communicates with team members, physicians, and other care providers regarding patient treatment both verbally and through documentation. Gives concise reports concerning patient's progress and response to treatment. Appropriately notifies supervisor regarding significant patient issues and occurrences, employee concerns, conflicts or incidents. Keeps patient's physician or referring agency/court officials updated regarding patient's progress, within confines of confidentiality obligations. Communicates appropriately with physicians and multidisciplinary team regarding clinical psychosocial issues, as appropriate. Communicates positively, directly, clearly, accurately and timely with physicians, nurses, therapists and other hospital personnel. Ensures confidentiality of patient/family information. Directs suggestions, questions, problems and concerns through proper channels of communication, at the appropriate time.

6. Communicates with patients or their representatives. Effectively explains purpose and nature of treatment to patient prior to initiating, when possible, so as to minimize anxiety and enhance cooperation. Effectively serves as a patient/family liaison, advocate and resource in ensuring their questions, concerns and needs are addressed appropriately and in a timely manner with appropriate release for patients over 18 years of age. Ensures that patients' concerns and wishes regarding their own treatment are considered. Uses established procedure for recording and responding to any patient/family grievances. Utilizes professionally accepted methods and techniques for informing, counseling or treating patients or their families.

7. Demonstrates knowledge and skill necessary to provide appropriate treatment based on the age of the patients served. Demonstrates general knowledge of growth and development over the entire life span of a patient. Demonstrates ability to assess, provide and interpret age specific data for pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Possesses skills necessary to interpret age specific responses to treatment, for pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Selects and appropriately applies procedures, techniques and communications appropriate to the age and developmental status of the patient. For adolescents, understands "normal" developmental tasks of adolescence (i.e. struggles with autonomy, egocentrism, acceptance-belonging, and definition of self). For geriatrics, stays capable of communicating educational information on subjects such as Alzheimer's, senility and death/dying using nontechnical language.

8. Participates in quality assurance and quality improvement activities. Performs data collection, analysis and idea generation pertinent to the quality assurance and quality improvement programs, as assigned. Participates in Quality Improvement activities by serving on a hospital CQI team and/or participating in CQI activities. Utilizes continuous performance improvement to improve processes and systems which affect patient treatment outcomes. Can identify a positive patient treatment outcome related to one CQI program.

9. Performs other duties as assigned. Assists with behavioral health housing placements. Provides observation for behavioral health patients when necessary. Assists with departmental Community Liaison Projects or incentives. Other tasks deemed appropriate by Manager of Psych Emergency Services.

Other information:

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work

Master's Degree in Social Work is preferred.

Licensure/Certification Requirements:

Valid NC Driver's License

BLS Required

CPI Required

Professional Experience Requirements:

Minimum of two years paid experience in social work

Experience in clinical/medical setting and crisis intervention, work with groups, families and individuals is preferred.