Medical Social Worker - Acute Rehab Unit - Full Time 8 Hours Variable Shift (Non-Union, Non-Exempt)

University of Southern California

14d•$31 - $40

About The Position

The Medical Social Worker intervenes with patients who have complex psychosocial needs, need assistance determining eligibility for social programs and funding sources, or qualify for community assistance from special funds and agencies. The role provides crisis intervention to patients and families and coordinates and facilitates discharge plans of care for high-risk patient populations. Referrals for individuals from at-risk populations come from interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, case coordinators, staff nurses, and other care-team members. The position supports patient and family empowerment and independence in making health care decisions and accessing services. It assesses psychosocial risk factors, provides counseling and interventions, connects patients with community resources, coordinates discharge planning, documents assessments and interventions in the medical record, and participates as an active member of the multidisciplinary team. The role also provides guidance on treatment decisions and end-of-life issues.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work.
Ability to work with people of all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds and to be flexible, open-minded, and adaptable to change.
Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills when interacting with patients, families, physicians, and health care team colleagues.
Strong analytical and PC skills.
Prior experience or supervised fieldwork in a hospital or another setting that provides experience substantially related to hospital social work.
Strong interviewing, assessment, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Must successfully complete and maintain BLS certification.
Must successfully complete and maintain MAB certification within six months of hire.

Nice To Haves

For positions in the Neonatal area, prior experience and/or specialized training is preferred.

Responsibilities

Advocate for patient and family empowerment and independence in making autonomous health care decisions and accessing services within the health care system.
Attend discharge planning meetings when appropriate and help patients and families understand and cope with psychosocial aspects of illness.
Communicate patients’ psychosocial status, needs, and progress to other medical personnel.
Document psychosocial assessments, interventions, and discharge-plan information in the medical chart according to department policy and standards.
Incorporate Performance Improvement findings into clinical practice as indicated.
Address emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness or disability and mobilize family and community resources to meet identified needs.
Assess psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and ability to cope.
For designated units, including NICU, coordinate discharge plans with patients, families, and hospital staff and perform related discharge-planning activities.
Participate as an active member of the multidisciplinary team and contribute to discharge planning for complex patients to support timely discharge and linkage with post-discharge care providers.
Conduct psychosocial assessment interviews with patients and/or families and identify issues specific to the patient’s age, diagnosis, and disability.
Provide counseling and intervention to patients and/or families based on psychosocial assessments.
Provide information about community resources and make referrals as appropriate; document referrals in the medical record, including agency name, telephone number, and, when indicated, contact person.
Intervene in cases involving child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, elderly or adult abuse, institutional abuse, sexual assault, guardianship, foster care, adoption, mental health placement, advance directives, and child protection.
Recognize psychosocial issues from a developmental perspective, including developmental tasks, cultural norms and boundaries, and spiritual beliefs.
Serve as a resource person and provide counseling and intervention related to treatment decisions and end-of-life issues.
Provide crisis intervention and assist with eligibility determination for social programs, funding sources, and community assistance.