Outpatient Clinician

Boston Medical Center•Boston, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Utilizing clinical social work techniques and theory, this role consults on, assesses, and intervenes with high-risk patients and their families regarding the impact/amelioration of emotional and social problems. Duties include conducting psychosocial assessments, making psychosocial diagnoses, planning and implementing effective treatments, evaluation, education, supervision, coaching, and mentoring of patients and family members. The position also consults, collaborates, and communicates with a wide range of social, governmental, and legal agencies, courts, schools, clinics, other hospitals, physicians, and other sources in the overall care of the patient. It provides clinical supervision to staff seeking independent licensure, assigning and overseeing work, and assisting staff with complex cases. The role manages the internship program and provides clinical supervision to interns.

Requirements

Master’s Degree from an accredited school of Social Work
Massachusetts Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Level of knowledge of Social Work process and community resources and agencies in relation to health, illness, and disability, generally acquired through one to two years on-the-job training.
Knowledge of community resources and agencies that serve children and families.
Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with various healthcare professionals, to develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with patients and families, and to supervise graduate students.
Must be comfortable in a fast paced and dynamic work environment.
Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations.

Nice To Haves

Bicultural/Bilingual competency a plus.

Responsibilities

Assesses patient and family to ascertain emotional and social problems using the department’s psychosocial assessment tool.
Identifies issues to be addressed during patient care and formulates a plan.
Reports suspected cases of abuse and neglect and ensures patient receives timely comprehensive consultations and compliance with legal mandates.
Identifies the need to involve the patient’s family and attempts contact on the same day if indicated.
Consults and collaborates with healthcare team members to ensure patient’s emotional and social needs are addressed.
Provides psychotherapeutic treatment and/or psychosocial support to patient and family.
Ensures inpatient and family remain apprised, involved, supported, and treated through prescribed clinical relationship with at least weekly contacts, and more frequently when a change in care or plan requires it.
Utilizes Social Work technique and theory to assist patient and family in coping with illness or social problems.
Begins assessment for an inpatient within 24 hours of referral and completes within two interviews or within seven working days of referral.
Begins assessment for an outpatient as soon as patient permits and completes within two interviews.
Completes assessment for an Emergency Department patient within four hours of discharge.
Maintains patient confidentiality according to hospital policy.
Practices professional discretion when determining the inclusion of any patient information into medical record or department clinical record notes.
Documents each patient encounter in the medical record or the Department clinical record concurrently according to Department policies.
Documents ongoing treatment work in the Department clinic records, including date, time, title, and signature.
Complies with departmental, regulatory, and professional requirements for documentation, recording, and data collection.
Submits department statistics and other records and reports within required time frames.
Maintains competency in areas of responsibility to ensure quality care.
Attends scheduled staff meetings and in-service education program offerings.
Obtains continuing education units necessary to maintain licensure.
Assists management in the operation of a quality department by participating in department programs and complying with department policies and procedures.
Supports graduate and undergraduate training programs by supervising MSW and BSW students.
Identifies weaknesses in operation and recommends improvements.
Works diligently on department committees.
Represents department throughout hospital and outside community regarding department’s practice and field of social work.
Maintains work area and equipment in a neat and orderly manner; assists in the cleaning and organizing of department and reports any malfunctioning equipment.
Maintains a complete understanding of emergency procedures.
Conforms to hospital standards of conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights.
Notifies supervisor when patients in age group not regularly served are present, and seeks assistance from individuals with the knowledge of specialized needs.
Provides clinical supervision to Licensed Clinical Social Workers and other department personnel, as assigned.
Manages the internship program including paperwork, contracts, training program, and evaluation.
Supports and/or coordinates new program developments or services related to the mission of BMC.
Provides task supervision, leadership, and support to staff as assigned.
Leads one or more committees such as bereavement, in-service training, ethics, trauma, etc.
Performs other duties as needed.
Utilizes hospital's behavioral standards as the basis for decision making and to facilitate the hospital’s mission.
Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.