Social Worker BH MSW

MLK Community HealthcareLos Angeles, CA
Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker - Behavioral Health MSW (BH MSW) is a skilled and experienced professional Social Worker responsible for excellence in clinical practice of social work. Reporting to the Manager of Social Services & Street Medicine, and closely working with the Site Administrator and the behavioral health team -Psychologists & Psychiatrists, the BH MSW is responsible for providing mental health screenings, psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention and psychotherapeutic services to MLK CMG patients identified by the interdisciplinary team as needing clinical social work intervention. The role reflects appropriate knowledge of clinical social work and psychotherapy as defined by the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences and is also responsible for meeting any and all other state requirements, CMS Conditions of Participation, EMTALA, The Patient Bill of Rights, AB1203 and other Federal or State regulatory agency requirements. The BH MSW partners with the medical staff and utilizes evidence-based interventions in caring for MLK CMG patients. This position will be supporting the inpatient team to ensure high quality care and assist in transitioning patients to an appropriate level of care once discharged (Intensive Outpatient Programs and Inpatient Rehabilitation). This position requires the full understanding and active participation in fulfilling the Mission of Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital. It is expected that the employee will demonstrate behavior consistent with the Core Values. The employee shall support Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital’s strategic plan and the goals and the direction of the quality and performance improvement process activities. The Watson Model of Care is utilized throughout the delivery system of care services.

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in Social Work Required.
  • Clinical Social work/Psychotherapy Experience Required (minimum 1 year) in an inpatient or outpatient behavioral health or substance use setting.
  • Registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as a ACSW within 120 days of employment.
  • Knowledge and understanding of evidence based clinical social work interventions (CBT, Trauma Focused CBT, specialized training in substance use disorders/recovery methods).
  • Knowledge of the classification of mental disorders contained in the current DSM V.
  • Ability to educate patients about signs, symptoms, and treatment regarding mental illness/substance use disorder.
  • Knowledge of the relationship between behavioral health and physical/chronic health conditions.
  • Able to navigate the acute care setting and successfully connect with outside provider networks that will facilitate transitions of care for patients post discharge.
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS)

Nice To Haves

  • LCSW preferred.
  • Bilingual language skills preferred (Spanish)

Responsibilities

  • Screening, assessing, and providing clinical social work and psychotherapy services in the clinic setting.
  • Providing resources to patients and their families in order to support recovery efforts.
  • Providing crises intervention to patients and/or families with challenging psychosocial issues.
  • Developing a plan of care that meets the needs of post discharge patients and referred patients.
  • Timely reporting of suspected abuse (child, dependent or older adult) to the appropriate agency if identified in the course of treating the patient.
  • Prioritizing cases and responding to triage system appropriately.
  • Identifying and intervening with high-risk patients requiring social services or as referred by the physician.
  • Documenting all team, physician and patient/family communication and concerns pertaining to coordination of care and services in the EMR.
  • Participating in departmental meetings and huddles with the interdisciplinary team.
  • Adhering to departmental and hospital wide policies and procedures.
  • Participating in the Quality and Performance Improvement Plan for the hospital, as it relates to the provision of clinical social work and psychotherapy services.
  • Considering the patient population served, age-specific criteria and the Watson Model of Care in all patient/family care and interaction.
  • Seeing patients for short term psychotherapy treatment in an outpatient setting.
  • Assisting in Behavioral Health intakes, referral management and patient screening.
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