Licensed Medical Social Worker

Position Summary:

Reports to Chief Medical Officer or his/her designee. Utilizes professional social work skills in collaborating with other members of the medical team. To prevent or ameliorate related psychosocial problems. To ensure the patient-related and clerical functions of Social Services are executed in a timely and efficient manner. Resolves social, emotional and psychological problems of patient/family which may interfere with goals of the medical treatment plan by either working with patient/family directly or by providing advice and assistance to responsible staff members.

Description of Responsibilities:

• Refers patients to federal, state and city agencies.
• Interviews patients/families.
• Makes referrals for needed resources and services.
• Coordinates referrals from outside agencies to Southside Healthcare, Inc.
• Develops knowledge of Joint Commission audit procedures for ambulatory health care facilities and social services.
• Provides crisis intervention for acute situations, i.e., locating emergency housing emergency services, housing, etc.
• Assists the Performance Improvement initiative by developing and implementing Performance Improvement indicators with appropriate follow up monitoring.
• To assist in resolving psychosocial problems which may interfere with medical treatment or rehabilitation of the patient/family.
• Provides case management services and documents such activity in the case record.
• Maintains an updated file of community agencies and programs.
• Coordinates volunteer activities as needed.
• Makes appropriate community/home visits to better ascertain the patient/family environment.
• Prepares periodic reports on caseloads, visits, etc.
• Serves as resource person to other staff members by providing advice and assistance in meeting the social needs of the patients.
• Counsels patients referred internally in need of assistance such as housing, food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI and other federal and state assistance programs.

Knowledge, Skills & Responsibilities:

• Knowledge of agency policies and procedures relative to social work to provide services within approved parameters.
• Knowledge of eligibility criteria for federal and state services such as Medicare, Medicaid, Presumptive Eligibility, Advanced Directives, SSI, Welfare, Veterans benefits, etc. To assist patients/families to receive benefits to which they are entitled.
• Knowledge of community resources and facilities to make appropriate referrals to assist patient/family.
• Knowledge of counseling techniques to provide adequate counseling to patient/families.
• Considerable knowledge of the physical and psychological needs of individuals and families; of cultural factors and belief systems which may affect family lifestyle; of family dynamics; of techniques of interviewing a variety of persons to obtain needed and confidential information; of counseling principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of guidelines for the provision of protective services; of current social and economic conditions; of available community agency resources; of the legal system and the procedures for legal protection of clients, as patients, and Southside Healthcare, Inc., as a health care facility.
• Considerable skills in oral and written communication in a clear and concise manner; in providing crisis intervention; in documenting in the case record social services data, facts, observations, contacts, findings and recommendations; in developing service plans; in providing intensive case work services to clients including locating and coordinating specific services to meet client’s needs; in ready and comprehending material of varying levels of complexity.

Minimum Requirements:

Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of Social Work. Should be licensed as a clinical social worker by the State of Georgia. Two (2) years (minimum) casework experience in a health care institution that has dealings, but not limited to, child welfare agencies, psychiatric clinic, and/or family counseling agencies. Knowledge of psychiatric and medical terminology. Ability to make decisions during crisis situations. Lecture/instruct/supervise social services student interns. Involves walking, sitting, standing intermittently during the day. Ability to drive a car is desirable.

Southside is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity to each employee. Southside will not engage in unlawful discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.