Behavioral Health Clinician - Dept of Medicine Addiction Services

Job Summary

The Addiction Medicine Social Worker provides comprehensive social work services to patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the social worker conducts psychosocial assessments and develops and implements treatment plans. The social worker values holistic patient-centered care, and contributes to the team’s mission of improving the care for and experience of patients with substance use disorders in the acute care setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments to evaluate patients’ needs, with a focus on substance use, mental health and social history.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of patient care in the electronic medical record.
• Develop, implement and evaluate individualized patient-centered treatment plans in collaboration with the patient and the healthcare team.
• Provide clinical interventions, such as individual counseling (e.g., motivational interviewing or CBT).
• Serve as a resource for patients, connecting them to community services, longitudinal substance use care and other necessary services.
• Advocate for the needs and interests of both individual patients as well as the larger recovery community; advocating for larger system change to improve access to care and improved delivery of services.
• Act as an educator and advocate for patients, families, the community and other professionals regarding substance use disorder diagnosis, treatment and impact of illness.
• Communicate effectively with community partners to facilitate referrals, strengthen existing partnerships and establish new connections.

Qualifications

• Hold a Master’s degree in social work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• At least two years LMSW experience in a healthcare setting.
• Licensed Master Social Worker in state of CT.
• Direct clinical experience working with individuals with substance use disorders.
• Familiarity with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Strong understanding of addiction treatment models (motivational interviewing, relapse prevention planning, CBT, harm reduction).
• Knowledge of community resources, recovery programs and social service systems.
• Able to conduct biopsychosocial assessments.
• Must be able to communicate effectively; effective written communication, clear expression, proper language to resonate with intended audience; constructing a logical argument, brevity; and making the intended point succinctly.
• Computer literacy.