Social Work Specialist I - Psychiatry - Partial Hospitalization

University of Iowa•Iowa City, IA

About The Position

The Department of Psychiatry at The University of Iowa Health Care is seeking Social Work Specialist I to work within the Partial Hospitalization Treatment Program. This position will provide leadership and advanced social work practice skills in areas of social casework, program development, teaching and training, research and public education utilizing a treatment approach that provides for transition back to the community after a hospital stay or for more intensive treatment without requiring hospitalization. This position will collaborate with a variety of health care professionals to affect treatment options and assist in the coordination of social work activities related to the treatment of patients with substance use and/or mental health disorders. They will develop approaches to affect treatment options and assist in the coordination of social work activities related to facilitating movement of patients and families through the continuum of care, will contribute to the social work profession, building on social work education and experiences, and to enhance department initiatives and patient experience. The Partial Hospitalization Program offers a structured, daytime treatment plan that focuses on individual and group therapy, along with education and skill-building. Our team developed several comprehensive plans to help treat mood disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.

Requirements

Master’s degree with a major concentration in social work.
3-5 years of specialized social work experience.
A license to practice social work in Iowa. LISW is required.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Additional graduate education and/or continuing education related to advanced social work practice and skills.
Certification by the Academy of Certified Social Workers, ACM (Accredited Case Manager), CCM (Certified Case Manager), or other specialized certification for social workers related to the role.
Demonstrated leadership skills including critical thinking, independent decision-making, time management program development activities and contribution to practice are highly desirable.
Ability to coordinate complex planning efforts involving multiple disciplines, departments and community resources.
Experience working with all ages of patients and their families, providing counseling, crisis intervention as well as experience with palliative care, hospice and end of life.
Solid understanding of community resources available for a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions including knowledge and experience with levels of care, federal and state regulations and financial resources for post-acute hospitalization is highly desirable

Responsibilities

Serves as resource for others for complex discharges including identifying resources.
Builds relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to improve patient experience and access to resources.
Is available for consultation and case finding or to develop approaches to treatment and care which are appropriate for patient and their families.
Includes identification of unique needs, strengths and assets in patient assessments
Includes individualized treatment plans: goals that reflect patient/family participation, strategies to support/build patient strengths, assets and goals, strategies that will help patient and all staff minimize the use of coercive interventions.
Involves family/support system in care to the extent possible by: encouraging visitation, allowing participation in assessment, treatment planning, education and discharge planning, communicating an understanding of the impact of mental illness on families, therapeutic approaches to explore and possibly reduce patient reluctance to involve family/support system.
Provides education on social work skills, including diagnostic and treatment, and provides information on specialized areas of practice.
Evaluates own professional practice and improves care based on results.
May serves as a practicum instructor for social work students or acts as a job shadow guide for short term placements.
Serves as a mentor for new staff, teaching core and advanced competencies and/or evaluating new staff.
Seeks opportunities to enhance own professional knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to current position and/or to prepare for potential future roles and overall career development.
Originates new ideas and initiates problem solving and program development.
Develops services that improve patient care and benefit the clinical service, the department, and/or the hospital.
Serves as an agent of planned change.
Consciously uses self and professional skills to achieve goals.
Provides leadership in interdisciplinary problem solving.
Demonstrates persistence.
Represents the interests of the University, hospital and/or departmental leadership in the use of resources to meet service and productivity demands within departmental goals and budgets; strives to promote continual process and quality improvement.
Participates in grant proposals and other funding initiatives aimed at furthering patient treatment options and or program resources.
Identifies opportunities for practice research and special projects.
May develops and submit research/project proposals in accordance with policies and procedures.
May conducts research/projects in accordance with policies and procedures.
Documents research/project outcome in accordance with policies and procedures.
May serve on inter-departmental and hospital committees and work groups.
May serve on or chair community groups and agency boards.