Social Work Specialist II

MAIN FUNCTION:

The Social Work Specialist II independently provides casework services to patients and families as indicated to address the psychosocial aspects of care regarding adjustment to illness and treatment. The Social Work Specialist II will work collaboratively with interdisciplinary staff internal and external to the organization. The Social Work Specialist II will also play an intricate part in the Case Management of multifaceted plans. The Social Work II will participate in quality improvement and evaluation processes related to patient satisfaction and patient rights.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

** 1. Identifies appropriate patients for Social Work services. Appropriately utilizes high risk screening tools for identification of patients requiring Social Work services.

** 2. Maintains a working knowledge of the community resources available.

** 3. Communicates, Collaborates, and negotiates with all members of the multi-disciplinary team to assess the needs of the patient/family. Provides a plan of care for their caseload population.

** 4. Assesses assigned patients to identify needs, issues, resources and patient strengths which facilitate a successful resolution of all identified issues including but not limited to discharge planning issues, mental health factors and family dynamics.

** 5. Supports patient self-determination by accurately explaining available resources and options to consumers promoting, understanding and fostering decision-making.

** 6. Educates health care team colleagues regarding psychosocial aspects of illness to better understand specific patient populations. Provides Hospital wide education and/or community education.

** 7. Develops and implements solutions to problems beyond the scope of practice of Case Managers and other disciplines to reduce resource consumption, length of stay and increase patient and family satisfaction and compliance with all aspects of the plan of care. Is able to creatively develop these when traditional interventions are inadequate and or unavailable.

** 8. Provides leadership to the health care team especially for complex situations to facilitate the coordination of services and resources for patients.

** 9. In the absence of the case manager, coordinates patient discharges and transfers including arrangement of DME, home health services, rehabilitation or RHCF placement and for those cases that due to their complex nature have been referred to social work.

** 10. Consistently attends daily patient care rounds and actively participates in them.

** 11. Participates in Program of Care meetings as requested to assure patient/family social/emotional needs are addressed.

** 12. Supports continuity of care for assigned primary and secondary caseloads. Appropriately utilizes departmental mechanism to assure seamless transitions of care delivery during periods of reduced staffing.

** 13. Regularly attends and provides leadership for Department Staff meetings and Continuum of Care meetings, etc. Supports the mission of the department through participating in activities such as QI teams, focus teams, programs of care or related department specific activities.

** 14. Maintains a close working relationship with physicians.

** 15. Is responsible for continuing professional development. Attend, conferences, workshops and inservices to further professional skills. Participates in professional skills. Participates in professional organizations as related to areas of practice.

** 16. Utilizes professional supervision on a regular basis to review complex cases and to ensure department supervisor is informed when particularly involved and/or complex cases are being served. Is able to demonstrate independent practice.

** 17. Maintains information in patient record as per departmental standards.

** 18. Participates in department Performance Improvement activities.

** 19. Participates in departmental on call program to provide emergency and crisis intervention services to the entire medical center as needed. Performs suicidal risk assessments as needed.

** 20. Regularly provides and supports educational opportunities for student field placement.

1. Works Weekend and On Call on a rotating basis with SW Team. Provides on call assistance to hospital patients and families as outlined in SW On Call/Weekend Policy.

1. Is responsible for attending all annual mandatory educational programs as required by position.

1. Provides age appropriate care to neonate, children, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.

1. Employee understands and demonstrates the importance of satisfying the needs of the customer/patient by interacting with him/her in a friendly and caring way, being attentive to the customer's needs, both psychologically and physically, and by taking the initiative to maintain communication with the customer in order to provide a secure and pleasant experience with the Medical Center

1. It is understood that this job description lists typical duties for the classification and is not to be considered inclusive of all duties, which may be assigned.

EDUCATION:

Must possess a "Licensed Master Social Work" or "Licensed Clinical Social Work" registration from NYS Department of Education or Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited (CSWE) school.

EXPERIENCE:

Social work experience in hospital setting highly desired.

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) REQUIREMENTS:

No CPR required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Some physical effort. Light objects lifted, some reaching and stooping. Required to be on feet much or the time.

EXPOSURE CATEGORY:

Category II. Tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues. But employment may require performing unplanned Category I tasks.

** A.D.A Essential Functions