Caseworker Foster Care

Where You'll Work
Founded in 1873, Dignity Health - Mercy Medical Center is a 186-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Merced, California. Serving over 150,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center. Additionally, Merced Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center.
One Community. One Mission. One California

Job Summary and Responsibilities
As our Social Worker, you will be a compassionate advocate, providing vital support and guidance to individuals and families facing complex challenges.
Every day, you will conduct psychosocial assessments, develop care plans, provide counseling and crisis intervention, and connect clients to resources. You'll advocate for clients and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure holistic support and promote well-being.
To be successful in this role, you will possess exceptional interpersonal skills, empathy, strong knowledge of community resources, and proven crisis management abilities, fostering positive change and client empowerment.

Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patients rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.
Advocacy & Education: Patient/Family Self Care Management, Patient/Family Health Management Education, Bioethics Referrals & Management, Physician, Staff & Community Education, Case Management Education & Training, Risk Management Identification & Referral.
Psychosocial Management: Crisis Intervention, Psychosocial Assessment/Functioning, Counseling Support & Referral, Abuse/Neglect Identification & Referral (Partner, Child, Elder), Family Issues Affecting Care, Coping/Emotional Adjustment, Grief/Bereavement Support (Individual & Group), Adoption Resources, Health/Wellness Promotion, Substance Abuse Screening/Resources, Psychiatric Screening/Behavior, Management, Staff Support and Crisis Intervention (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing). Patient/Family Care Conferences: Interdisciplinary Care Communication/Coordination, Continuity of Care Planning Management.
Continuity/Transition Management: As part of Care Coordination team, facilitation of Patient decisions and communications regarding post-acute care; professional responsibility for knowledge of community resources related to clinical social work scope of service and functions and social worker discretion; maintaining appropriate up to date resource lists; education for patients/families about availability of community resources, mental health service coordination, Hospice.
Community Resource Coordination; Life Care Planning, Palliative/End-of-Life Care, expert consultation on health care resource management; team and patient education regarding CCS/Medicare/Medi-Cal/SSI. Performance & Outcomes Management: Understanding of Federal/State/Local Regulatory Agency Compliance, Joint Commission Standards Compliance, Evidenced Based Practice; Understanding of Organizational Financial Performance/Management, Length of Stay, Cost per Case, Revenue Cycle. Performs psycho-emotional-social/environmental assessments on patients.
Formulates plans for patients with social, emotional, and resource needs. Provides interventions and counsels patients and families for emotional, social and resource issues. Serves as the professional on the multi-disciplinary team that advocates for patient's perspective in planning for care.
Job Requirements
Minimum
At least two (2) years of clinical and/or medical social work experience is required
If operational conditions permit, training a candidate without the required experience may be considered
Master's Degree from a School of Social work accredited by the Council of Social Work Education
Knowledge of contemporary behavioral and systems theories relevant to health care; end-of-life dynamics and interventions; grief and bereavement counseling; substance abuse identification and interventions; support for victims of abuse, neglect or violence; community or financial resources for underserved or vulnerable populations. SSDI, SDI, and other governmental/county requirements/programs
Thorough comprehension of OBRA and Title 22 is required
Preferred
~ Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Clinical Social Worker in process preferred in California.