CASE MANAGER - Acute Social Worker/Discharge Planner

UHS•Atlanta, GA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Laurel Heights Hospital is a 112-bed facility in Atlanta, Georgia, providing psychiatric treatment to children and adolescents with a broad range of psychiatric and behavioral disorders and autism. A multidisciplinary team partners with youth and families in a supportive therapeutic environment. The Case Manager, also described as an Acute Social Worker/Discharge Planner, provides social work services within the scope of the employee’s licensure, certification, training, and regulatory requirements. The role coordinates and facilitates services during and after admission to the acute rehabilitation unit, including discharge planning, coordination of care, and related planning and counseling. The social worker follows patients from admission through discharge and makes appropriate, timely discharge and transfer arrangements for patients referred to the Behavioral Health Unit.

Requirements

Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related social services field.
Active Georgia license as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW, LMSW, or LCSW) or Professional Clinical Counselor (PC), or ability to apply for a Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (LAAC) credential within six months of employment.
Knowledge of community resources to meet post-discharge clinical and social needs.
Ability to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care or services appropriate to the ages of patients served in the assigned unit or department.
Coursework, training, and/or experience with the patient population served by the assigned program (adult or adolescent).
Ability to demonstrate developing technical and managerial competence in position responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

At least two years of experience in acute care or another related healthcare field is preferred. An ongoing plan for consultation between the social worker and a qualified social worker may be developed instead.

Responsibilities

Arrange appropriate and timely patient discharges and transfers.
Coordinate continued rehabilitation and post-discharge services, such as home health therapies, outpatient rehabilitation, or continuing care centers.
Support medical teams in coordinating patients’ community health care needs.
Help patients locate community benefits and resources.
Schedule and facilitate family meetings as needed.
Track medical insurance benefits and authorizations for inpatient rehabilitation stays, update insurance providers, and seek additional authorization when needed.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and collaborate with medical and therapy teams on discharge planning, advocating for patients’ needs and preferences.
Keep patients and family members informed about discharge-planning tasks and progress throughout rehabilitation.
Respond effectively to new and changing work assignments.
Provide social work services in accordance with licensure, certification, training, and regulatory requirements.