Social Worker II - Psychiatry - Addiction Medicine

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

About The Position

The Department of Psychiatry at The University of Iowa Health Care is seeking a part-time Social Worker II to serve within the Addiction Medicine Division on the Addiction Medicine Consult Service. The social worker works with an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professional trainees and staff clinicians to assist patients and their primary medical teams with issues related to substance use that may complicate a patient's health or treatment. The position obtains psychosocial histories from patients or relatives, shares and interprets information with appropriate staff, and documents histories or summaries in clinical records. It coordinates referrals to substance use treatment programs and provides direct services through psychotherapeutic interventions that facilitate harm reduction and recovery from substance use disorders. The position also supports care planning and discharge planning for hospitalized patients, assists with clinical treatment, consults with community social agencies, and provides information about patient and client services. It contributes indirectly through program development, teaching, and research; supports the SAFE-T Stays program; and assists with instruction and supervision of undergraduate students in social work, medicine, and allied specialties. The role involves administrative duties, documentation, statistical recordkeeping, and participation in training and meetings. The position is part-time at 50%, with a preference for Monday through Friday afternoon availability.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree with a major concentration in social work.
6 months to 1 year of clinical social work experience.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

A master's degree.
Experience working with adult and adolescent patients and their families, providing counseling and crisis intervention.
Experience working with patients who have substance use and/or mental health disorders.
Social work experience in a health care setting with the appropriate patient population and their families.
Experience identifying and navigating financial resources, including insurance coverage options, changes related to federal and state health programs, and the disability process.
Experience working with community resources, home healthcare, nursing facilities, and other outpatient options available to patients.
Experience in a fast-paced, high-volume work environment.

Responsibilities

Serve on the UI Health Care Addiction Medicine Consult Service as part of a multidisciplinary team, implementing care plans for hospitalized patients who use substances or have a substance use disorder and facilitating treatment and recovery.
Obtain psychosocial histories from patients or clients and their relatives, share and interpret information with appropriate staff, and document histories or summaries in clinical records.
Confer with clinical staff to assess patients' and clients' medical, psychological, and social conditions and needs.
Provide clinical staff with information about patients', clients', and family members' psychosocial functioning and needs.
Assist in the medical or clinical treatment of patients and clients.
Provide information about other patient and client services.
Arrange hospital discharge planning, including post-hospital care.
Provide direct services to patients, clients, and relatives by evaluating social and psychological information and selecting appropriate social work treatment methods.
Provide indirect services through participation in program development, teaching, and research.
File mental health and substance abuse commitments when appropriate.
Assess mandatory reporting concerns when needed.
Consult with community social agencies about patients' and clients' medical-social or other social functioning problems and those of their family members.
Assist with social group or family sessions for patients, clients, or family members.
Perform administrative tasks and functions.
Support implementation of the SAFE-T Stays program.
Assist in instruction and supervision of undergraduate students in social work, medical, and allied specialties.
Write case reports covering social services for inclusion in clinical records.
Compile statistical records of social service activity.
Attend and participate in training, meetings, conferences, and workshops.
Maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students, and the public.
Identify unique needs, strengths, and assets in patient assessments.
Create individualized treatment plans with goals reflecting patient and family participation, strategies that support patient strengths and goals, and approaches to help patients and staff minimize coercive interventions.
Involve family and support systems in care when possible, including assessment, treatment planning, education, and discharge planning, and address the impact of mental illness on families and reluctance to involve support systems.
Use respectful, person-centered language and recovery-enhancing relationships, demonstrate understanding of stigma, discrimination, and social isolation, and attempt to reduce their effects.
Perform other duties as assigned.