TCHP BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SOCIAL WORKER

To provide services to The Christ Hospital Patients and families by assessing psycho-social needs and implementing a plan of care to assure continuity of the patient’s care. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. Help patients with a variety of mental health issues as well as substance abuse problems. Develop and implement treatment plans and collaborate with the primary care providers and mental health providers to review plans.  Provides psychosocial interventions, advocacy and linkage with community resources.

PLAN DEVELOPMENT/IMPLEMENTATION

Develop a plan of intervention, which is integrated with the interdisciplinary treatment team to establish continuum of care in congruence with ethical and legal considerations.

Implements plan of care:

• Provide psycho-social counseling and other therapeutic interventions for patient/family.

• Provides education and crisis management for patient and family.

• Facilitate healthcare decision making.

• Provide psychosocial intervention for; neglect/abuse, adjustment to illness, bereavement, non-compliance and other psychosocial barriers to diagnosis and treatment and compliance.

• Provide referral and linkage to health care and community resources.

• Advocate, mediate and negotiate a cohesive plan for maintaining or improving social supports and patient safety.

• Develop, monitor, evaluate effectiveness of, and modify care plan as needed.

• Assist with the development of behavioral health brief intervention model in the primary care setting

• Use technology to facilitate scheduled and on demand consultations with providers and patients.

DOCUMENTATION

• Provide clear, concise, objective written communication about the psychosocial assessment, treatment plan, progress of intervention and outcomes in compliance with regulatory and department standards.

• Document interventions in a timely manner.

• Assist with the development of reporting metrics to monitor effectiveness of interventions

ASSESSMENT/SCREENING

Assess the psycho-social needs of patients to:

• Identify psycho-social barriers to treatment.

• Identify psychosocial impacts of illness/hospitalization on the patient and family.

• Identify chemical dependency and/or mental illness.

• Identify patient/family/community support systems.

• Identify age related/developmental issues.

• Identify patient/family environmental risk factors (abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, etc.)

CONSULTATION/EDUCATION/COLLABORATION

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to enhance quality of care and efficiency.

• Maintain a positive working relationship with healthcare team and community agencies and services.

• Participate in interdisciplinary patient care rounds, care conferences and family conferences.

• Assist interdisciplinary team in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to illness.

• Identify barriers in service delivery systems and advocate for change.

• Provide education to interdisciplinary team members

• Evaluate patient outcomes and participate in process improvement.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO

• Assist in departmental planning, serve on committees and task forces and assume responsibility for delegated projects.

• Provide mandatory and/or voluntary cross coverage when needed.

• Participate in orientation of new staff.

• Generate and support ideas to improve service delivery.

• Identify complex clinical cases and seeks supervision when appropriate

• Provide supervision to LSWs

OTHER SERVICE-SPECIFIC DUTIES

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Please describe any specialized knowledge or skills, which are REQUIRED to perform the position duties.  Do not personalize the job description, credentials, or knowledge and skills based on the current associate.  List any special education required for this position.

Exceptional skill interviewing patients and families in crisis and individuals with a wide range of physical and emotional problems.   Ability to prioritize many simultaneous demands.  Medical and psychiatric competence including knowledge of health policy, regulations, and legislation and community resources.  Self-awareness, professionalism, and good judgment in dealing with emotional and confidential issues.  Excellent verbal and written communication.  Self motivated, organized yet flexible. Skill in mental health assessment and treatment modalities necessary to assess and treat individuals, families and groups.  Ability to integrate social work philosophy and ethics into professional practice.

EDUCATION: Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) required

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: Behavioral health experience and at least 2 years of counseling experience in a community mental health setting or privately. Substance abuse counseling experience preferred. Must be able to select appropriate counseling methods in order to maximize treatment process and outcomes.

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS:

LISW required. State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker