Medical Social Worker

Title : Medical Social Worker


Department : Care Management


FLSA Status: Non-Exempt



Position Summary


Provides Social Work services to patients and families including obtaining, analyzing and evaluating data relating to medical psycho-social programs; formulates and carries out treatment plans; initiates and /or follows through in a cooperative effort with other members of the home care interdisciplinary teams to enable patients to be maintained safely in the community or discharged to an appropriate facility.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities Includes the Following :


1. Understands and adheres to the WPH Performance Standards, Policies and Behaviors Conducts interviews with patient and/or family member(s)/significant others(s) to determine continuing care needs.


2. Completes Social Work Comprehensive Assessment for all patients referred or in need of social services in accordance with departmental high-risk criteria policy.


3. Complies with social work documentation and its requirements.


4. Provides psychosocial information for patients transferring to other units to ensure continuity of care.


5. Provides supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and grief counseling to patients and their families/significant others as appropriate.


6. Assists patients with adjustment to treatment, including problems of depression, anxiety, denial and/ or anger; noncompliance with medical regimen.


7. Devises/implements a social work treatment/continuing care plan involving the patient, family/significant other and the interdisciplinary team and documents on the patient medical record in accordance to the departmental policy.


8. Provides information, referral and advocacy to community agencies.


9. Advocates and serves as a liaison for patients with community agencies.


10. Coordinates individual interdisciplinary case conference as needed.


11. Provides task supervision to caseworkers when designated.


12. Provides direct/task supervision to social work assistants and/or social work students when designated.


13. Leads education and support groups for patients and/or families/significant others as appropriate.


14. Identifies, evaluates and designs proper safety plans for victims of crimes/abuse, i.e.: child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault.


15. Maintains and completes statistics of case activities as outlined in the departmental policy.


16. Monitors his/her performance by reviewing medical records for appropriate documentation.


17. Attends individual, unit, departmental and intra/inter hospital meetings as mandated by the supervisor and/or department director.


18. Assists /Participates in presentations, training and in-services as required.


19. Participates in the department & cross-training program.


20. Responds and participates in external and internal disasters when indicated/assigned by supervisor.


21. Performs other duties assigned as needed

Education & Experience Requirements
• Master of Social Work Degree from a School of Social Work accredited by the Council of Social
• work Education.
• Licensed Social Worker (LMSW/LCSW) approved by the State Education Department of the
• University of the State of New York.
• Two years' experience in an acute care hospital setting or related setting.
• NYS SCREEN Certification (obtained within initial 3 months of employment)

Core Competencies
• Ability to relate cooperatively and constructively with patients, families, significant others, co-workers, physicians and other staff members

Physical/Mental Demands/Requirements & Work Environment
• May be exposed to chemicals necessary to perform required tasks. Any hazardous chemicals the employee may be exposed to are listed in the hospital & SDS (Safety Data Sheet) database and may be accessed through the hospital & Intranet site (Employee Tools/SDS Access). A copy of the SDS database can also be found at the hospital switchboard, saved on a disc.
• Must be physically able to write, read, and move quickly throughout the work environment and hospital. Must also have the dexterity to operate computers and other office equipment.
• Must have the ability to assess a patient & situation, formulate a plan according to need and follow through to resolution.
• Must be able to communicate with patients and others in a sensitive and caring manner and to visually assess a patient & affect and body language.