Social Worker II LCSW

About the role

The Social Worker II LCSW position comprehensively provides compassionate, clinical social work, psychosocial assessments, diagnosis and treatments, and complex discharge planning to patients and their families of a targeted patient population on a designated unit(s). In collaboration with physicians and the interprofessional healthcare team, this position sensitizes other healthcare providers to the social and emotional aspects of a patient's illness to collaboratively facilitate efficient quality care and achievement of desired treatment outcomes and affect positive patient and family outcomes.

Responsibilities

This position uses case management skills to help patients and their families address and resolve the social, financial and psychological problems related to their health condition. The SW II LCSW position holds joint accountability with case manager, assuring that psychosocial and continuing care issues are addressed and treated as needed across the continuum of care and has responsibility for unit or departmental social work program development. This position serves as a hospital-wide, service-line leader for psychosocial-related issues, complex discharge planning activities, and population disease management.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from accredited university
• Three (3) years social services experience in a healthcare setting
• LCSW- License Clinical Social Worker - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

Skills

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Knowledge of community resources and health care financial and payer issues, and eligibility for state, local and federal programs
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in interactions with physicians, payors, and patients and their families
• Well versed in computer skills of the entire Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word)
• Critical thinking, collaboration, negotiation, and mediation skills
• Time management and prioritization skills

Essential Functions

Role models communication in an active, positive and effective manner to all healthcare team members and reports pertinent patient care and family data in a comprehensive and unbiased manner, listens and responds to the ideas of others. Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients and families and communicates the discharge plan, facilitating transitions and handoffs. Supports patients and families in clinical or ethical issues. Provides staff education specific to patient populations and departmental processes. Functions as a preceptor and mentor to new employees. Identifies opportunities for professional growth of self and peers.

Quality/Safety Essential Functions

Consistently documents to reflect completed patient screening/assessment and reassessment upon admission and concurrently as needed. Modifies care based on continuous evaluation of the patient’s condition, demonstrates problem-solving and critical thinking, and makes decisions using evidence-based analytical approach. Considers variables that impact treatment plans including diagnosis of emotional, social, and environmental strengths and problems related to their illness, treatment and/or life situation.

Finance Essential Functions

Completes timely and thorough assessment on all unfunded patients to identify community resources required for effective transition by demonstrating an effective community resource knowledge base and judgment/ability to effectively select and coordinate available resources, including referrals to regulatory agencies, i.e., CPS/APS. Identifies, obtains and utilizes alternative resources to fill gaps in established community resources. Guides discharge planning activities for assigned patients and collaborates with the case managers and other members of the interprofessional health care team, as well as patient and family by intervening and coordinating cost-effective, complex discharge planning outcomes and decreased length of stay.

Growth/Innovation Essential Functions

Provides education to hospital physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers on community resources and psychosocial impact on care needs. Identifies areas for improvement based on understanding of evidence-based practice literature. Completes and updates the My Development Plan (MDP) on an ongoing basis. Identifies, initiates and leads evidence-based practice/performance improvement projects based on observations by offering solutions and participating in unit projects and activities.