Social Worker LICSW

About the role

Reporting to the Social Work Manager, the Social Worker LICSW evaluates, diagnoses, and treats a wide range of psychosocial problems, applying individual clinical social work skills to assist patients and their families in resolving personal and environmental problems attributable to mental or physical illness that prevent them from achieving their highest level of psychosocial functioning. The Social Worker LICSW participates actively in the interdisciplinary care team to eliminate barriers to treatment, discharge, and routine follow‑up, aiming to improve patient flow and outcomes and enhance the patient’s physical and mental health status. The role adheres to NASW Code of Ethics and Brown University Health’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, as well as the core Success Factors of Instilling Trust, Valuing Differences, Patient and Community Focus, and Collaboration.

Location: Newport Hospital - 11 Friendship Street, Newport, Rhode Island 02840

Responsibilities

• Consistently applies the corporate values of respect, honesty and fairness and the constant pursuit of excellence in improving the health status of the people of the region through the provision of customer‑friendly, geographically accessible and high‑value services within the environment of a comprehensive integrated academic health system.
• Is responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.
• Completes bio‑psychosocial evaluations to eliminate barriers to treatment, discharge, improve patient flow, enhance the patient’s health status and improve utilization of resources.
• Provides consultation regarding patient’s background, psychosocial functioning and needs to medical and support staff, in order to assist in planning a comprehensive care program for the patient to increase treatment compliance and care coordination, aiming for excellent patient experience and increased satisfaction in care.
• Develops treatment plans and initiates clinical intervention, utilizing individual and group treatment modalities, and analyzes course and result of treatment to maximize health status and increase health care decision making. In accordance with departmental standards regarding frequency and content, documents social work activity in patients’ medical records.
• Participates as a team member in case conferences concerning patients with other care personnel and community agencies to improve care coordination and move patients through the care continuum.
• Provides education to assist patients and families in understanding, accepting and following medical and social work recommendations designed to restore the patient to optimum functioning within their capacity.
• Assesses patient and family advocacy needs, and coordinates appropriate advocacy activities within the hospital and in the community with an emphasis on self‑determination for the client system, aiming to improve social supports and community resources.
• Provides field placement supervision and evaluation for BSW and/or MSW degree candidates as part of the Department of Clinical Social Work Student program (must have LICSW, or at least 5 years of demonstrated experience and knowledge in the service area).
• Completes case‑related statistics and other reports according to departmental standards.
• As relevant to clinical assignment, remains current on available community resources and accesses them as needed.
• Participates in hospital‑wide, departmental and community studies, projects, and trainings aimed at educating the community and hospital staff on psychosocial issues related to illness and identifying barriers in service delivery systems.
• Maintains and enhances professional expertise through appropriate educational activities; may attend training for specific areas of clinical responsibility.