Social Worker - Long Term Care

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)•Sitka, AK

7d•$32 - $45•Onsite

About The Position

This position functions as a member of the Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Interdisciplinary team, serving as an advocate for LTC residents and potential residents. The Social Worker performs in a professional manner, respects confidentiality, and demonstrates qualities endorsed by the SEARHC Human Resources Manual's seven Standards for Service Excellence. The role involves making assessments that can lead to recommendations regarding discharge planning from various settings to the SEARHC LTC facility. The Social Worker must be knowledgeable in available resources and collaborate with finance to maximize opportunities for payer resource enrollment, assisting patients in enrolling in third-party payer coverage. SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium serving the health interests of residents in Southeast Alaska, prioritizing employee development and professional advancement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or nursing from an accredited program preferred; other bachelor’s level degrees may be considered.
Basic Life Support preferred.
Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire and every three years.
Working in a medical setting or agency that utilizes team meetings, assessments, and planning with individuals or groups for a minimum of three years.
Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Part D, and other payer sources required.
Knowledge of acute and chronic diagnoses.
Knowledge of community resources and criteria.
Basic knowledge of computer software programs.
Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of a variety of federal, state and local resources, programs. and services.
Interview and assessment skills.
Individual/family/group facilitating skills.
Proficiency at intensive case management.
Ability to set priorities in a demanding environment.
Ability to use technology as computers, phones, faxes, scanners.
Ability to work effectively as member of interdisciplinary professional team.
Ability to work with other SEARHC staff/departments to develop and implement plan to identify and enroll patients and community residents into affordable health insurance and other resources.
Clinical Competency Assessment - SEARHC

Responsibilities

Interview residents and family members to obtain relevant psycho-social information and determine the effect of illness upon the patient and the patient's family. Assessments can occur in the LTC, inpatient or outpatient setting or at resident’s home or another outside agency/setting.
Communicate with all LTC staff, medical providers, hospitals, Human Services and State and Federal Agencies, staff members for ancillary departments, Assisted Living Centers, Nursing Homes within and outside the state of Alaska, and the public.
Develop and implement a social work treatment plan for residents and family members, makes referrals to other community agencies to arrange in-home supportive services and equipment. Serves as lead on making placements in the long-term care setting.
Provide supportive counseling to residents and families; assists residents and families in understanding and accepting medical recommendations; makes interventions and professional support referrals as needed.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, care conferences, and MDS data collection.
Manage assigned caseload; documents results of psycho-social assessments and plans in the residents' medical chart. Documentation is timely and meets The Joint Commission (TJC), CMS and departmental standards.
Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the admission/transfer/discharge programs of the LTC facilities and works collaboratively with the team. Find, develop a strong referral network, screen, process, facilitate, manage case mix, and work with hospital discharge planners while keeping financial and care needs in consideration. Responsible for assuring that the incoming resident’s medical records are available and that the orders for admission include medications, treatments, diets, and any specific needs for that admission. Serve as the liaison between resident/family and the team to ensure development, planning and follow through of appropriate discharge plans and referral to resources. Assists in coordinating/arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
Advise and assist with financial resources, Medicaid applications, entitlement programs, eligibility issues, advance directives, power or attorney and guardianships as needed. Coordinate and submit all state documentation required for LTC authorizations and re-authorizations.
Work closely with finance management to improve system change to maximize third party payer reimbursement for services.
Coordinate and manage patient data to direct patient outreach including Medicaid renewals and patients turning 65. Ensure Medicaid and other coverage submissions are monitored and entered into the electronic medical records for billing.
Other duties as assigned.