Licensed Clinical Social Worker
About The Position
This full-time position is for a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who will be a core member of a collaborative care team in primary care, including the patient's medical provider and psychiatric/addiction medicine consultant, as well as the larger primary care or medical team. The LCSW will be part of a collaborative care model for integrating buprenorphine treatment in primary care for patients with opioid use disorders and mental health conditions. They are responsible for supporting and coordinating the mental health care of assigned patients in conjunction with the patient's medical provider and, when appropriate, other behavioral health providers. The LCSW provides behavioral interventions using evidence-based practices developed and tested in a large, randomized trial and makes recommendations for psychotropic medication management as reviewed by primary care provider or a consulting psychiatrist and/or addiction medicine consultant, taking into account adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment. They will provide patient education about common mental health and substance use disorders and the availability of treatment options. The social worker will encourage patient engagement, treatment adherence, and commitment to follow-up care and facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments as clinically indicated. The target population are individuals with opioid use disorders and mental health conditions. This position is for a social worker who will provide clinical support for a collaborative care model in primary care for patients with mental health and substance use disorders. The primary duties for the social worker will include, but are not limited to: Assess patients for common mental health and substance use disorders using structured behavioral health assessment and monitoring tools. Provide behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, relapse prevention, brief alcohol interventions, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement therapy, or other treatments as appropriate. Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or phone) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications. Participate in regularly scheduled caseload consultation with the psychiatric and/or addiction medicine consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s medical provider through appropriate chart documentation and other forms of communication. Participate in supervision sessions to improve skills and debrief about difficult cases. Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in EHR and other required systems so as to be shared with medical providers, psychiatric consultant, and other treating providers. Meet regulatory and compliance standards for documentation. Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the medical provider and the consultant and who may need more intensive or more specialized care for mental health or SUDs. Provide ongoing care for patients awaiting intake at another specialized care center. Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance use treatment.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in social work, nursing, counseling or psychology and 2 to 3 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
- LCSW in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (LCSW preferred)
- 3+ years experience in behavioral health care industry
- Assessment and treatment planning for common mental health
- Experience providing crisis and/or utilization management services
- 3+ years of clinical experience working with patients with substance use disorders preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary team setting
- Working knowledge of differential diagnosis of common mental health and/or substance use disorders, when appropriate
- Ability to effectively engage patients in a therapeutic relationship, when appropriate
- Ability to deliver clinical care services in an efficient and effective manner
- Ability to work with patients by telephone and in-person
- Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders that is within appropriate scope of practice for type of provider filling role
- Emergent assessment & crisis intervention skills
- Ability to quickly assimilate new information in a fast paced work environment with enthusiasm
- Knowledge of DSM-V, APA Criteria, ASAM Criteria, HIPAA, & community resources
- Well organized and demonstrates skill in prioritizing competing job duties.
- Ability to utilize computer software (Word, Outlook, Excel)
Nice To Haves
- experience with evidence based counseling techniques preferred
- Experience working in safety net health clinics or low barrier models for patients with addiction preferred
- Working knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial treatments and brief behavioral interventions for common mental health disorders, when appropriate (e.g., motivational interviewing, problem-solving treatment, behavioral activation)
- Knowledge of EPIC preferred but not required.
Responsibilities
- Support and coordinate the mental health care of assigned patients in conjunction with the patient's medical provider and, when appropriate, other behavioral health providers.
- Provide behavioral interventions using evidence-based practices.
- Make recommendations for psychotropic medication management as reviewed by primary care provider or a consulting psychiatrist and/or addiction medicine consultant, taking into account adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.
- Provide patient education about common mental health and substance use disorders and the availability of treatment options.
- Encourage patient engagement, treatment adherence, and commitment to follow-up care.
- Facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments as clinically indicated.
- Assess patients for common mental health and substance use disorders using structured behavioral health assessment and monitoring tools.
- Provide behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, relapse prevention, brief alcohol interventions, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement therapy, or other treatments as appropriate.
- Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or phone) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.
- Participate in regularly scheduled caseload consultation with the psychiatric and/or addiction medicine consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s medical provider through appropriate chart documentation and other forms of communication.
- Participate in supervision sessions to improve skills and debrief about difficult cases.
- Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in EHR and other required systems so as to be shared with medical providers, psychiatric consultant, and other treating providers.
- Meet regulatory and compliance standards for documentation.
- Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the medical provider and the consultant and who may need more intensive or more specialized care for mental health or SUDs.
- Provide ongoing care for patients awaiting intake at another specialized care center.
- Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance use treatment.
Benefits
- excellent healthcare
- tuition benefits for employees and their families
- generous retirement benefits
- a wide variety of professional development opportunities
- supportive work and family benefits
- a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
- comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars
- tuition assistance here at Penn for employee, spouse, and dependent children
- tuition assistance at other institutions for dependent children
- generous retirement plans
- pre-tax or Roth basis retirement savings
- wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard
- substantial amount of time away from work
- long-term care insurance
- wellness and work-life resources
- professional and personal development resources
- access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities
- free or discounted admission and memberships to Penn arts and cultural centers and museums
- substantial savings on other goods and services
- flexible work options
- forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia
- reimbursement for qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
