Social Worker

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides social work service to patients including brief supportive counseling, psychosocial rehabilitation, insurance counseling, resource navigation, and help signing up for state, federal and local benefits programs.
• Carries out biopsychosocial evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, high risks for suicide, neglect or abuse and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.
• Counsels and provides crisis assessment and intervention for patients, including assessment and treatment of emotional problems.
• Counsels patient/family/caregivers on how to manage stress and other identified coping difficulties and provide therapy to help patient make positive behavior changes.
• Collaborates with the care team including but not limited to physician, nurse, nurse management, and social services and care management teams regarding patient care.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation to ensure continuity of care and insurance reimbursement.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information in accordance with hospital policy and applicable statutes and regulations.
• Provides information and referral services for organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs,
• Attends meetings on behalf of the social work department as appropriate including staff meetings, utilization review, ethics, quality, discipline specific (i.e. Emergency Department, Medical Surgical) committee meetings.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and collaboration with professional staff.
• Participates in family meetings as needed.
• Serves as liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to provide safe discharge plan for admitted patients in supporting discharge planning.
• Supports improvement activities by participating in quality improvement projects.
• Maintains social work license and necessary continuing education credits.
• Other duties as assigned by Director of Social Services.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required for the Position

Licensure, Certifications, and/or Registrations:

• Current, valid Massachusetts Licensed Certified Social Work license required.
• Current, valid Massachusetts Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work license preferred.
  • If the Clinical Social Worker is not independently licensed in Massachusetts at time of hire, they have 30 months to complete the requirements for independent licensure (completion of clinical and supervisor hours and passing score on exam).
• BLS/CPR certification required within one week of hire. AHA & ARC accepted.

Education:

• Graduate of accredited social work program.
• Master's degree required.

Experience:

• One year of post-graduate social work experience preferred.
• Previous experience in hospital or other acute care setting required.
• Current, valid driver's license required.

Special Requirements

• Must be available to work in the case of a Hospital declared emergency.