Social Worker

Responsibilities

• Work with people who have been socially excluded or who are experiencing crisis.
• Provide support to enable our patients to help themselves.
• Maintain professional relationships with our patients, acting as guides and advocates.
• Work closely with other health and social care staff.
• Perform and document patient assessments, including physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs; establish and coordinate an interdisciplinary Plan of Care from the patient’s assessment; identify patient needs across the health care continuum.
• Identify, initiate, and document individualized social work intervention plans; provide ongoing collaboration with appropriate health care members for coordination of patient care plans; evaluate effectiveness of social work plan and modify that plan as the patient progresses toward expected outcomes.
• Participate in departmental and staff meetings, and educational programs, including in-services; may participate in development, implementation, and use of educational materials to improve understanding of mental illnesses.
• May be involved with education to assist other staff in understanding patient behavioral issues.
• May attend seminars or courses to advance professional knowledge; read current literature regarding social work issues; obtain and maintain certifications and licenses necessary for practice.
• Assist in and/or develop resources and social service programs.
• Conduct and participate in research appropriate to train caregivers regarding working with mental patients.
• Develop and maintain an active information program designed to educate patients about their social needs and resources available to assist with these problems.
• Initiate and complete assessments that meet specified standards and time limits.
• Conduct interviews with patients and their families to assess and review their situation.
• Offer information and counseling support to patients and their families.
• Organize and manage plans of support to enable patients to lead the fullest lives possible.
• Recommend and sometimes make decisions about the best course of action for a particular patient.
• Liaise with and/or make referrals to other agencies.
• Participate in multidisciplinary teams and meetings, for example child protection, mental health.

Qualifications

• Must possess a master's degree in social work from a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and the Education Department supplemented with one (1) year of previous work related experience in a healthcare environment.
• Must be currently certified or licensed by the Education Department to practice social work in the State of New York.
• Must have knowledge in social services policies, procedures, and resources.