Clinical Social Worker LCSW, Menino 4 (40 hours, Days)

Boston Medical Center•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Clinical Social Worker uses clinical social work techniques and theory to assess, consult on, and intervene with high-risk patients and families experiencing emotional and social problems. The role conducts psychosocial assessments and diagnoses, develops and implements treatment plans, evaluates care, and provides education, support, supervision, coaching, and mentoring to patients and family members. The position collaborates with healthcare team members and a broad range of external organizations, including social, governmental, and legal agencies, courts, schools, clinics, other hospitals, and physicians. It also supports department operations, professional education, quality improvement, and the hospital’s mission and standards of care. This is a 40-hour-per-week, day schedule, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one weekend per month and one holiday per year.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited school of Social Work.
Massachusetts Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW).
Knowledge of the social work process and community resources and agencies in relation to health, illness, and disability, generally acquired through one to two years of on-the-job training.
Knowledge of community resources and agencies that serve children and families.
Advanced interpersonal skills to work effectively with healthcare professionals, build therapeutic relationships with patients and families, and supervise graduate students.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and on an interdisciplinary team.
Cultural sensitivity and comfort working with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations.
Computer literacy, including standard word processing, spreadsheet, and email programs (MS Word, Excel, Outlook) and web browsers.

Nice To Haves

Bicultural or bilingual competency.

Responsibilities

Assess patients and families for emotional and social problems, using the department’s psychosocial assessment tool as a guideline.
Identify issues to address during care and develop a plan.
Report suspected abuse and neglect, and follow up to ensure timely consultation and compliance with legal mandates.
Determine when family involvement is needed in the initial assessment and attempt contact the same day when indicated.
Consult and collaborate with healthcare team members to address patients’ emotional and social needs.
Provide psychotherapeutic treatment and/or psychosocial support to patients and families.
Maintain at least weekly contact with inpatients and families, increasing contact when changes in care or plans require it.
Use social work techniques and theory to help patients and families cope with illness or social problems and improve functioning and emotional state.
Complete inpatient assessments within the stated timeframe: begin within 24 hours of referral and complete within two interviews or seven working days.
Begin outpatient assessments as soon as the patient permits and complete them within two interviews.
Complete Emergency Department assessments within four hours of discharge.
Protect patient confidentiality and use professional discretion in determining what is entered in medical records or department clinical notes.
Document patient encounters concurrently and document ongoing treatment in department clinic records with date, time, title, and signature.
Provide clinical supervision to MSW interns and BSW students as assigned.
Comply with departmental, regulatory, and professional documentation and data-collection requirements; submit statistics, records, and reports on time.
Maintain competency, attend staff meetings and in-service education programs, and obtain continuing education units needed to maintain licensure.
Participate in department programs, follow policies and procedures, identify operational weaknesses, and recommend improvements.
Serve on department committees as appointed by the Director.
Represent the department in the hospital and community regarding department practice and social work.
Keep the work area and equipment orderly, help clean and organize the department, and report malfunctioning equipment to the supervisor.
Maintain an understanding of emergency procedures and follow hospital standards of conduct, patient-rights standards, infection-control procedures, and safety procedures.
Notify the supervisor when patients from age groups not regularly served are present and seek guidance from people with relevant expertise.
Perform other duties as needed and use hospital behavioral standards to support decision-making and the hospital’s mission.