Social Worker Mental Health Counselor/Inpatient

About the role

The Social Worker provides individual, group, family and marital counseling to patients with a substance use disorder and their family members. Performs intakes, develops treatment plans and makes referrals as part of a multidisciplinary team and acting within the SBELIH and Quannacut mission, philosophy and goals.

Responsibilities

• Conducts thorough intakes to identify problem areas and formulate initial diagnosis and treatment recommendation.
• Develops initial treatment plan and monitors patient progress through ongoing reviews.
• Assists and directs clients to complete necessary paperwork for entitlements.
• Makes referrals for clients and family members to available community resources.
• Monitors care of clients through follow-up with agencies and available community resources.
• Provides individual, group, family, and marital counseling with primary focus on substance use and impact on life areas.
• Displays knowledge of alcohol and other addictive drugs and their effects on human behavior.
• Displays knowledge of the disease concept, harm reduction, and factors that impact recovery.
• Informs the patient of their rights and responsibilities, including confidentiality and their treatment recommendation.
• Works through adverse reactions and/or resistance of patients during the treatment process.
• Fosters an empathetic and therapeutic relationship and can engage the patient.
• Shows ability to educate, elicit feelings, facilitate self-understanding and motivate patients.
• Recognizes and deals with denial and other defense mechanisms.
• Effectively utilizes crisis intervention techniques and their specific application to alcoholic/chemically addicted patients.
• Assists patients in reframing and interpreting life experiences to address their sense of shame and guilt, and to deal with defense mechanisms and low self-esteem.
• Demonstrates use of common psycho-therapeutic techniques used to augment recovery.
• Identifies underlying psychological and/or emotional issues that warrant treatment focus.
• Explores deep-seated underlying issues.
• Identifies and copes with transference and countertransference.
• Displays capable skills specifically inherent to family and marital therapy.
• Identifies the impact and role of the family and makes appropriate outreach when necessary.
• Facilitates referrals as determined by the treatment team.
• Locates and utilizes information resources including literature, research findings, and consultation services.
• Participates in multidisciplinary staff meetings and collaborates regarding treatment recommendations and plans.
• Understands the history, philosophy and process of recognized self-help and 12 step programs.
• Effectively communicates in verbal and written forms to health care professionals, community systems, patients and lay persons alike.
• Maintains accurate and clear records in accordance with SBELIH, QOPS and OASAS policies.
• Adheres to hospital and departmental rules and regulations.
• Participates in in-service programs.
• Participates in annual recertification training, compliance training, HIPAA training.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

• NYS LMSW, NYS LCSW, or LMSW eligible to obtain certification within six (6) months.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
• Understanding of alcoholism/addiction and 12-step programs as demonstrated by a minimum of one (1) year continuous personal, professional or educational experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Emergency Department Social Work.
• Experience in hospital, in-patient settings.
• Discharge Planning experience.
• Bi-lingual.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Sufficient mobility to handle department activities. Dexterity of hands and arms (or mechanical substitutes). Adequate vision and hearing to write, answer phones and communicate with staff, clients, and other departments or agencies.

Anticipated Pay Range

$39.301–$53.304 per hour