PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER/LMHC

Westchester Medical Center•Poughkeepsie, NY

About The Position

The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor provides clinically appropriate, culturally competent, trauma-informed social work and mental health interventions. Services include psychiatric emergency evaluations, psychosocial assessments, person-centered treatment planning, individual and group therapy or psychoeducation, crisis intervention, family and collateral engagement, and aftercare coordination. The role is expected to meet productivity standards and complete documentation thoroughly and on time. It is an integral part of the interdisciplinary team, communicating and escalating issues to support excellent patient care. In emergency department settings, Psychiatric Social Workers conduct social work psychiatric emergency evaluations, while Mental Health Counselors perform discharge planning. The role also includes advocacy, liaison work with families and community supports, staff and student orientation or supervision, cross-coverage as assigned, continuing education, committee participation, and quality improvement activities. The employee upholds the WMCHealth Mission, Vision, and CARE values and promotes excellence in the patient experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work or Mental Health Counseling from an accredited graduate program.
New York State Social Work or Mental Health Counseling license.
Demonstrated experience in one or more therapeutic modalities, such as individual, family, group, or couples therapy, including work with cases presenting more difficult treatment issues.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Basic computer skills, including typing.
Ability to function independently with minimal selective use of consultation.
If applicable, ability to use universal precautions and personal protective equipment and learn infection-control policies when reasonably anticipating contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Nice To Haves

Two years of post-graduate experience in a medical, mental health, or human services setting as a member of a multidisciplinary team is preferred.

Responsibilities

Gather relevant psychosocial and diagnostic information from records; interview patients, family members, caregivers, and community providers; and assess mental status, psychosocial functioning, and symptoms.
Coordinate resources after discharge to promote recovery.
In the Emergency Department, conduct social work psychiatric emergency evaluations as a Psychiatric Social Worker, or perform discharge planning as a Mental Health Counselor.
Participate in interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning, including selecting evidence-based interventions and determining eligibility for programs and services.
Provide services in accordance with hospital policies and Federal and State regulations.
Build rapport and therapeutic alliances; provide crisis intervention, stabilization, and brief supportive and solution-focused therapy to patients and caregivers.
Maintain timely, ongoing, and thorough documentation of assessments, interventions, planning, and relevant communications.
Collaborate and communicate with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate timely, streamlined patient care.
Serve as a liaison with patients’ families, outpatient providers, schools, probation or parole officers, and other relevant supports; obtain collateral information and notify them of disposition as appropriate.
Provide culturally competent care sensitive to the needs and experiences of minority populations and people with disabilities.
Advocate for patients’ best interests and maintain patient confidentiality.
Practice according to hospital and departmental policies and State and Federal regulations.
Supervise and orient students, support staff, and new staff.
Cross-train and provide Social Work/Mental Health Counselor coverage in other hospital areas as assigned and needed.
Participate in continuing education and complete mandatory hospital and department training by deadlines.
Represent the department on hospital committees and at external meetings.
Participate in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement programs as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Uphold the WMCHealth Mission, Vision, and CARE values and promote excellence in the patient experience.