Social Worker II - Emergency Department

University of Mississippi Medical Center•Jackson, MS

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker II provides psychosocial support and counseling to patients and family members coping with emotional or physical problems. The role coordinates services such as crisis intervention, bereavement support, client advocacy, referrals, prevention, education, group therapy, and psychosocial assessment. The social worker also supervises undergraduate and graduate students and collaborates on performance-improvement initiatives. In the Emergency Department, the social worker assesses patients and families, provides crisis intervention, develops and implements treatment and discharge plans, coordinates referrals and post-discharge care, and supports safe transitions to appropriate levels of care. The role addresses high-risk situations, including suspected or confirmed abuse, neglect, exploitation, domestic violence, and substance use, and fulfills mandatory reporting responsibilities. Additional duties include connecting clients with financial and health-benefit resources, educating patients and care teams, helping resolve legal and ethical issues, and serving as a field instructor and supervisor for social work trainees.

Requirements

Master’s degree or higher in Social Work (MSW).
Licensed Social Worker in the State of Mississippi.
Licensed Master Social Worker credential from the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists.
Clinical work with diverse populations and groups.
Ability to formulate biopsychosocial assessments.
Understanding of oppression and discrimination and ability to apply advocacy and social-change strategies that advance social and economic justice.
Ability to use empirically supported theoretical frameworks to understand development and behavior across the lifespan and interactions among individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Critical-thinking and communication skills to evaluate information and make professional judgments in practice.
Ability to serve as a social work expert on medical and behavioral health social-work needs.

Responsibilities

Complete psychosocial and biopsychosocial assessments and provide crisis intervention for Emergency Department patients and family members.
Identify social, environmental, and medical needs and develop intervention and treatment strategies.
Prepare reports and recommendations for multidisciplinary treatment teams for transplant applicants and donors.
Complete Pre-admission Screenings for skilled nursing facilities and assess the need for Level II Preadmission Screen/Resident Review.
Implement or supervise care-plan interventions, including referrals, resource assistance, prevention, education, advocacy, bereavement support, and therapy.
Coordinate discharge planning, community referrals, post-discharge care, and transitions to alternative levels of care; promote safe discharge plans and help prevent readmissions.
Refer children, adolescents, and adults for mental health and substance-use treatment when appropriate.
Identify high-risk social situations and coordinate interventions and referrals involving disability, substance use, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or domestic violence.
Comply with mandatory reporting requirements and collaborate with government agencies, school districts, and community entities as needed.
Provide brief counseling and support to patients and families experiencing crises, death, or dying.
Connect uninsured or underinsured clients with health-benefit programs and help complete applications.
Educate patients, families, community members, and multidisciplinary team members about prevention, illness, health maintenance, benefits advocacy, and treatment adherence.
Serve as a cultural liaison to gather information about patients’ backgrounds, cultures, norms, and beliefs.
Identify quality and risk-management issues and ensure appropriate notification or referral.
Participate in evaluating social work and coordinated-care practices and maintain continuing education and professional development.
Provide counseling and education about advance directives; assist with kinship, legal next-of-kin, guardianship, and conservatorship matters.
Identify ethical dilemmas and apply ethical principles to resolve conflicts.
Serve as a field instructor for social work students and supervise LMSWs pursuing LCSW licensure.
Collaborate in developing and implementing performance-improvement initiatives.