Social Worker, Licd Master

Memorial Hermann Health System

About The Position

The Licensed Master Social Worker provides clinical social work and complex discharge planning for patients and families with complex psychosocial needs. The role helps patients determine eligibility for social programs and funding sources and connects them with community assistance from special funds and agencies. Under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker, the LMSW provides crisis intervention and mental health assessment as needed and coordinates multidisciplinary discharge plans for high-risk patient populations. The position participates in an interdisciplinary care team to address psychosocial issues across the continuum of care. The role assesses psychosocial risk factors, develops and carries out treatment plans with the multidisciplinary team, and intervenes on emotional, social, and financial concerns related to illness or disability. It supports complex discharge and transition planning, coordinates referrals and community resources, provides counseling and advocacy, and communicates discharge status and post-acute provider information to clinical and case management colleagues. The position typically reports to the Manager or Director, Case Management.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Master of Social Work program (MSW).
Current Texas license as a Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Field placement or internship in health services or health care provider experience.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Working knowledge of DSM V and ICD-10 manuals.
Knowledge and skill in social work assessment and treatment of patients for mental health status and substance abuse screening.
Therapeutic communication and negotiation skills when interacting with patients, families, physicians, and health care team colleagues.
Strong analytical skills.
Working knowledge of or experience with utilization management, managed care, and payer issues.
Exposure to or experience in pre-acute and post-acute care and community resources.
Ability to work independently and build collaborative relationships with physicians, families, patients, interdisciplinary teams, and community agencies.

Nice To Haves

ACM certification from the American Case Management Association (ACMA).
Acute inpatient hospital social work experience.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ and families’ psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, support systems, responses to illness, and coping abilities.
Develop and carry out treatment plans with the multidisciplinary team using clinical social work diagnoses, assessments, and interventions.
Address emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness or disability and mobilize family and community resources to meet identified needs.
Under supervision, provide short-term individual, marital, and family therapies and crisis intervention as appropriate.
Intervene in cases involving child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, guardianship, institutional abuse, foster care, adoption, mental health placement, advance directives, adult or elderly abuse, child protection, and sexual assault.
Provide counseling and intervention related to treatment decisions and end-of-life issues.
Advocate for patient and family empowerment, independent decision-making, and access to needed health care services.
Participate in complex patient discharge planning to support timely discharge and appropriate linkage with post-discharge care providers.
Address complex family dynamics that directly affect patient care and discharge.
Communicate discharge planning status for referred patients to clinical care team members.
Consult with Case Managers when significant or intensive community resources are needed to achieve treatment outcomes.
Receive referrals from Case Managers or clinical care team members to resolve complex patient problems.
Collaborate with clinical and case management teams on transition planning and referrals to post-acute care providers; keep team members informed about provider acceptance and discharge clearance.
Validate discharge criteria and notify clinical and case management team members of newly identified resources or changes to existing resources.
Educate patients, families, and physicians about post-acute options and address issues of choice.
Ensure safe care for patients, staff, and visitors and adhere to Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards, including budgetary specifications for time, supplies, productivity, and service quality.
Maintain professional growth and competency through required continuing education; support department goals and serve as a preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff.
Model Memorial Hermann’s service standards by providing safe, caring, personalized, and efficient experiences to patients and colleagues.
Perform other duties as assigned.