Manager, Social Work

Tufts Medicine•Lowell, MA

1d•$111,176 - $141,757•Onsite

About The Position

Lowell General Hospital is seeking a full-time Manager of Social Work to join our Continuity of Care department. This role provides clinical oversight of all social workers, manages all units at both campuses, and works closely with the Director of Continuity of Care. The position is responsible for systems functions, SW staff performance, and patient care outcomes. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, strong communicator, and problem solver with leadership experience. This role focuses on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of patients, providing social work assistance related to illness, disease, hospitalization, and life events. It involves identification, assessment, and coordination of cases, anticipating needs related to illness, hospitalization, finances, education, and home/community services. This is a management role supervising employees focused on tactical and operational activities, with the majority of time spent overseeing the area of responsibility, planning, prioritizing, and directing the responsibilities of employees. Goal achievement is accomplished through direct and/or indirect reports. The role manages experienced professionals who exercise latitude and independence in assignments, involving policy and strategy implementation for short-term results, and addressing difficult to moderately complex problems.

Requirements

MSW required
LICSW required
Seven (7) years of post-Master’s degree social work experience.
Prior proven experience and expertise in acute care hospital patient population (minimum 5 years) and/or prior proven experience and expertise in management, either in first line or in shift supervisory work.
Excellent verbal and written skills for high level communication within the hospital and at interdisciplinary and administrative meetings.
Experience developing written proposals, writing evaluations and developing standards and Performance Improvement (PI) reports.
Master’s degree in Social Work.
Licensed as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).
Seven (7) years of post-Master’s degree social work experience.
Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.
Knowledge of casework process and community resources in relation to health (including mental health), illness, and disability.
Knowledge of current social work theory and practice, the ability to apply treatment and case management methods, and familiarity with community issues and resources.
Understanding of organizational theory and practice in large systems and the knowledge of social and health care policies and systems.
High degree of diagnostic, treatment, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
Analytical skills required assessing patient needs, to develop associated treatment modalities and to provide effective counseling.
Knowledge of the social work process and community resources/agencies relative to health, protective services, crisis intervention, disability, etc.
Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with various healthcare professionals; and to develop and maintain effective working relationships. Excellent English language skills.
Must be able summarize and communicate moderately complex information both orally and in writing to internal and external parties.
Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations.
Computer literacy with ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheet programs and e-mail (i.e.MS Word, Excel, Outlook) and web browsers.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience supervising staff and clinicians in a hospital or healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

Determine SW staffing assignment for both Main and Saints campuses.
Supervise inpatient SW team (8-10 SWs). Provide support and guidance with complex cases. Address performance concerns of inpatient SW team.
Hospital point person for government agencies such as Lowell District Court, DCF, and Elder Services.
Maintain SW productivity data and statistics.
Provide individual, clinical supervision for all LCSWs.
Attend organizational and departmental leadership meetings.
Telephonic on-call weekend and holiday rotation.
Participate in community task forces and meetings.
Serve as liaison for our collaborative relationship with community agencies and partners such as Primary Care and Women's Health Providers, Urgent Care, Lowell Community Health Clinic, Anne Sullivan EI, Southbay EI, Community Teamwork Inc., Lowell District Court, Lowell Transitional Living Center, DCF Lowell, WISH Project, Vinfen, local substance use disorder treatment agencies, and any other local social service agencies.
Manages all inpatient medical social work staff; work with individual staff members to establish personal goals that highlight and enhance staff strengths; prioritize caseloads, conduct annual reviews, audit documentation, manage employee scheduling and coverage needs, provide clinical supervision to staff as needed.
Supervises day-to-day activities of Social Work staff, manages the performance appraisal process, provides direction, and mentors staff to ensure accountability for the efficiency and effectiveness of the department.
Ensures adequate staffing coverage.
Screens and interviews candidates.
Ensures implementation of all department policies and procedures.
Establishes and maintains a community services resource manual and ensures its availability through both written and electronic mechanisms.
Establishes communication with post-acute facilities to ensure that admission criteria are documented in the community services resource manual. Maintains relationships with post-acute providers, participation in community activities, education etc.
Establishes communication with community agencies, including transportation providers, to ensure that referral requirements are clarified and documented in the community services resource manual.
In collaboration with the director, establishes mechanisms to ensure that the measuring and monitoring plan is developed, implemented, and evaluated as indicated.
Participates in the development of performance improvement initiatives as indicated by tracking and trending measures.
Conforms to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights, so that the best possible customer service and patient care may be provided. Utilizes hospital’s values as the basis for decision-making and to facilitate the division’s hospital mission. Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
Formalizes an Incident Debriefing response program.
Coordinates a Master’s of Social Work student intern program.
Creates Social Work In-Service and Training Committee, including CEU programs and social work advancing practice group leadership role.