Social Work Case Manager

The University of Kansas Health System•Kansas City, KS

About The Position

The Inpatient Social Work Case Manager provides safe and efficient services to patients of all ages and their families. The role collaborates with the healthcare team to coordinate post-hospitalization services and is responsible for psychosocial assessments and discharge planning, including needs related to home care, nursing home placement, durable medical equipment, financial assistance, counseling, and community resources. The case manager ensures appropriate decision makers are informed and involved in treatment planning and applies relevant state and federal regulations concerning discharge planning and reporting. The position identifies and reports opportunities for quality and performance improvement and actively participates in improvement activities. It also supports appropriate use of resources, timely discharge, patient advocacy, documentation, teamwork, and professional development. The role may include taking call as required by department expectations, providing coverage to other services, and assisting with the training and orientation of team members.

Requirements

High school graduation.
Master of Social Work.
Current licensure as either a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW) or Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) through the State Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Ability to perform the professional, clinical, and/or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a health care setting.

Responsibilities

Complete psychosocial assessments of patients and families, considering social, psychological, emotional, financial, medical, and other relevant factors.
Use patient and care-team information, social work expertise, knowledge of disease processes, and community resources to assess psychosocial situations and determine appropriate service and discharge plans.
Develop realistic social work action and discharge recommendations using assessment findings and input from other team members.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and initiate or participate in family conferences about psychosocial and discharge-planning needs.
Facilitate and participate in daily Interdisciplinary Care Coordination (ICC) Huddles, managing the meeting and sharing relevant discipline-specific information.
Advocate for patients and caregivers to identify and access services, and protect patients’ health, safety, rights, and choices.
Provide supportive counseling to help patients and families adjust to illness or disability and plan for post-hospital care.
Document psychosocial needs and discharge planning in the medical record, including assessments, previous living situations, contacts, conferences, follow-up plans, and responses to orders within 24 working hours.
Partner with the RN Case Manager to support timely patient discharge and work with third-party payors using established procedures and appropriate resources.
Use fiscal, staff, environmental, equipment, and service resources prudently while balancing cost and quality.
Identify, monitor, and report quality and performance improvement opportunities; participate in relevant improvement activities.
Participate in case management activities at the assigned site or service, hospital task forces and committees, and department meetings.
Maintain professional competence and current licensure; pursue professional development and attend workshops, conferences, or seminars suggested by the Manager.
Act as a preceptor for new team members and assist with their training.
Seek clinical supervision when needed, collaborate flexibly with case management staff, assist peers when census fluctuates, and provide coverage to other services as requested.
Follow policies, procedures, standards, and the Corporate Compliance program; take responsibility for risk and safety issues and for professional actions and decisions.
Take call as required by department expectations and perform other duties as assigned.