Medical Social Worker

Compensation

Salary Range: $40.33 - $59.65 per hour

The pay range above represents the lowest possible rate for the position and the highest possible rate. Factors that may be used to determine where newly hired employees will be placed in the pay range include the employee specific skills and qualifications, relevant years of experience and comparison to other employees already in this role. Most often, a newly hired employee will be placed below the midpoint of the range.

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Responsibilities

Position Overview:

The Medical Social Worker is responsible for performing social work assessments, interventions, and discharge planning for patients and families. The position works to maximize social functioning and continuity of healthcare management for patients and families impacted by illness and provides appropriate social service interventions as part of a multidisciplinary team in an effort to meet the total needs of the patient.

The Medical Social Worker applies a strengths-based and person-centered philosophy of care and demonstrates the practical application of social work core values. Functions include, but are not limited to, crisis intervention; patient and family intervention; high-risk screening; grief counseling; referrals for identified financial or other resource needs; arranging and facilitating meetings between patients, patient representatives, families, and the healthcare team; assisting with post-acute placement for complex discharges; and engaging appropriate agencies or community resources when high-risk patients are identified.

The Medical Social Worker also serves on hospital committees and participates in developing training materials and presenting information to hospital staff.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master's degree in Social Work or equivalent
• One (1) year of clinical and/or medical social work experience

Preferred:

• Current California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Previous social work experience in an acute medical setting
• Knowledge of contemporary behavioral and systems theories relevant to healthcare; end-of-life dynamics and interventions; grief and bereavement counseling; substance abuse identification and interventions; and support for victims of abuse, neglect, or violence
• Knowledge of community and financial resources for underserved or vulnerable populations
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provides direct social work services and counseling to patients and their families. Floats to other areas as needed.
• Gathers appropriate data and formulates relevant assessments of the patient's and family's medical, social, and emotional situations using effective interviewing techniques, consultation with the healthcare team, and chart review.
• Assesses and identifies the social determinants of health of patients.
• Provides social work intervention and support for the complex social and emotional needs of patients and their families. Direct clinical services may include individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, education, and linkage to resources for patients, families, and staff, as indicated by the assessment and treatment plan.Identifies and understands the behavioral and emotional factors underlying a patient's illness.
• Assesses and supports care coordination that meets individualized patient needs.
• Provides crisis intervention and assists families in understanding the implications and complexities of the medical situation and its impact on the patient's lifestyle.
• Assists with discharge planning and post-acute placement for complex discharges.
• Accurately documents all assessments, plans, interventions, patient/family involvement, outside agency communications, interdisciplinary contacts, and case closure according to social work and patient care area standards.
• Demonstrates flexibility when assigned to other hospital floors or teams as needed by management.
• Actively participates in department activities, including regular staff meetings, committees, and task forces.
• Provides effective orientation, work direction, and guidance to less experienced social workers.
• Performs other duties as assigned.