Social Worker - Sub Acute Rehab

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

The Social Worker provides social work services to patients and families throughout the rehabilitation process to promote optimal functioning. The role assesses patient and family functioning, adjustment to disability, and coping skills; provides counseling and education; and coordinates care, transitions, and discharge planning. The Social Worker also maintains current social work skills through continuing education, research, and program development. The position works as an internal case manager and liaison with external case managers, coordinates transitions from inpatient to outpatient services and community resources, and communicates patient and family needs, resources, and funding issues to the disability team. It documents patient and family status and progress, participates in team meetings and conferences, advocates for patients, and maintains confidentiality. The role also supports education for visitors, students, physicians, and other professionals in its area of expertise. The position requires age-specific knowledge and skills to assess and provide care appropriate to the patients served. It also calls for strong customer service, teamwork, direct communication, discretion with confidential information, and participation in quality improvement efforts.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work; equivalent degrees are accepted if granted by an accredited school of Social Work.
Licensure as a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Michigan.
Demonstrated competence in an identified area of clinical expertise.
Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served, including knowledge of life-span growth and development and the ability to assess and interpret patient status and needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in interdisciplinary team management.
Membership in NASW.

Responsibilities

Provide social work services to patients and families.
Assess patient and family functioning, adjustment to disability, and coping skills.
Provide counseling and education to support adjustment, problem solving, and coping.
Serve as an internal case manager and liaise with external case managers.
Coordinate transitions from inpatient to outpatient services and other community resources.
Develop and implement discharge plans.
Document patient and family status and progress in evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries according to established time standards.
Communicate patient and family needs, resources, and funding issues to the disability team.
Participate actively in staff meetings, in-services, and team conferences.
Advocate for patients and maintain patient confidentiality.
Instruct visitors, medical students, physicians, and other professionals in the methods and objectives of the area of expertise.
Demonstrate excellent customer service and behavioral standards, and encourage, coach, and monitor these standards in team members.
Promote teamwork and direct communication and handle confidential information discreetly and sensitively.
Identify quality improvement problems and seek solutions; promote patient and family satisfaction and participate in departmental customer-service monitoring and reporting.
Keep social work skills current through continuing education, research, and program development.
Provide care appropriate to patients' age-specific needs, applying knowledge of growth and development across the life span.