SOCIAL WORKER (LSW) | BEHAVIORIAL HEALTH SERVICES - EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT - FULL-TIME DAY SHIFT (22932)

About the Role

Join our team at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, a leading healthcare provider dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to our diverse community. We offer a supportive and inclusive work environment for passionate professionals who thrive in a collaborative setting.

Responsibilities

• Perform screenings, intake assessments, and consultations to evaluate individual and family dynamics and treatment needs, including admissions and referrals for services.
• Provide ongoing social work intervention and education to patients, families, and significant others for health-related psychosocial problems, based on goals agreed upon by patients, family, and the healthcare team.
• Utilize individual, family, group work, and crisis intervention methods to identify and address problems influencing participation in treatment and discharge planning.
• Complete comprehensive psychosocial histories on a timely basis.
• Provide direct treatment services to patients within the hospital using appropriate modalities, including individual, family, and group counseling, and crisis intervention, with knowledge of patient growth and development.
• Serve as a resource to the healthcare team on issues of chemical dependence, psychiatric concerns, and abuse; identify, assess, treat, and refer patients facing child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse.
• Provide case management services to ensure treatment plans are followed and aid patients in obtaining supportive services and resources.
• Interpret the nature of illness and prescribed treatment courses to patients and families; communicate family issues to other staff members.
• Act as a liaison to the healthcare team to facilitate timely and proactive discharges to home or another facility.
• Advocate for patients with other Medical Center programs and function as a liaison with community providers to assist in linkages for patients and families.
• Make presentations on various issues related to the field and available Medical Center resources as part of community outreach.
• Participate in interdisciplinary diagnostic and treatment planning conferences, including case presentations, and provide recommendations from a social work perspective.
• Fulfill all case recording, statistical reporting, and documentation requirements accurately and on time.
• Provide clinical supervision to paraprofessional staff and students as assigned.
• Provide consultative services to the Department of Psychiatry, Medical Center staff, and community agencies regarding social work issues and services.
• Assist in developing discharge and post-hospital care plans, including suggesting appropriate community resources.
• Maintain established departmental policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance programs, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Assess gaps in policies and procedures and create necessary updates.
• Adhere to the Medical Center’s Code of Conduct and understand its Mission, Vision, and Values Statements.
• Work cooperatively with unit staff to ensure coverage for social work services in the absence of staff members.
• Participate in studies, surveys, or research to develop knowledge about effective treatment or improve service quality.
• Provide translation services for patient/family interviews as needed.
• Identify problems and obstacles affecting service delivery and bring them to the attention of supervisors.
• Participate in departmental meetings and committees as required.
• Enhance professional growth through education programs, literature review, conferences, and workshops.
• Maintain current levels of licensing, education, and skills as required for the position.
• Rotate on evening and night call for the program as required.
• Provide transportation services for patients as needed.
• Work with community agency staff to provide on-site or in-home crisis intervention services when necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall objectives of the department and organization.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work.
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) license (must be obtained within one year from date of hire).
• One to two years of prior experience in psychiatric social work or a comparable setting/population; three to five years preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a psychiatrically impaired population or those with addictions.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of a second language is preferred.
• Speaks, reads, and writes English to the extent required by the position.
• Heartsaver/CPR Certification required; BLS Certification preferred.

Work Setting & Physical Demands

• Contact with patients in various settings, including inpatient, outpatient, Emergency Room, and offsite locations (e.g., patient homes).
• Interaction with families, significant others, visitors, and staff.
• Frequent prolonged standing and walking.
• May be required to make home visits.
• Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

Pay

$37.10 to $60.60 per hour. Differentials: 10% for evening shifts, 12% for night shifts, and $2.00 per hour for weekend shifts.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including competitive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Generous time off policy, including ample vacation days, personal time, sick leave, and nine paid holidays.
• Robust tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs to support ongoing professional development.