Psychiatric Social Worker

General Summary:

• The Psychiatric Social Worker would be a part of our psychiatric partial hospitalization program, utilizing various therapy modalities of individual, group, and family psychotherapy. The role involves facilitating the Dual Diagnosis Track, focusing on the Disease Concept of Addiction, Harm Reduction, 12-Step Methodology, AA, and Rational Recovery. The Psych Social Worker will provide individual psychotherapy sessions once a week for each of their patients. There is an expectation to help cover for fellow clinicians during times of vacations or other planned times off. Flexibility, collaboration, and partnership are vital for the position.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provision of clinical interventions to maximize patient and family benefit from treatment.
  •     1)• Independently provides individual, family, and/or group therapy consistent with the treatment plan and program philosophy.
  •     2)• Utilizes clinical expertise to provide patient and family with education and support to assist them in dealing with their condition.
  •     3)• Serves as an advocate for the patient and family.
  •     4)• Shares expertise with other departments to facilitate treatment to patients.
  •     5)• Demonstrates initiative and teamwork in facilitating unit process (i.e., assisting in nursing station activities, assisting patients to group).
  •     6)• Demonstrates knowledge and utilizes skills in addressing changes in patients’ status and/or milieu.
• Responsible for completion of a social services assessment/history on all patients with appropriate time frames.
  •     1)• Evaluates the treatment needs of routine and specialty psychiatric populations at all levels of care.
  •     2)• Utilizes clinical assessment skills to determine significant psychosocial factors which contribute to the patient’s disorder and which precipitate dysfunctional behavior.
  •     3)• Identifies dynamics of the patient and family’s interactional patterns which reinforce and maintain dysfunction behavior.
  •     4)• Evaluates quality of patient and family support network in the community.
  •     5)• Ascertains patient’s history of illness, evaluates patient’s functional level prior to admission, and evaluates patient’s ability to utilize effective coping and strategies.
  •     6)• Utilizes clinical expertise to provide patient and family with education and support to assist them in dealing with the disorder.
• Responsible for the development of an individualized treatment plan based on the social assessment, implementation of the plan, and evaluation of the patient’s progress.
  •     1)• Identifies desired patient and family outcomes based on diagnostic and developmental circumstances outlined in the assessment/history.
  •     2)• Identifies specific intervention plans that accommodate the distinct developmental and diagnostic needs of the patient.
  •     3)• Updates treatment plan based on an evaluation of the patient’s progress.
  •     4)• Identifies patient and family strengths and utilizes them in planning care.
  •     5)• Prepares, documents, and maintains accurate patient records including assessment, progress and discharge notes, as well as attendance and services rendered.
• Participation in the multidisciplinary team, bringing expertise to assist in the diagnostic and treatment planning process.
  •     1)• Provides leadership in the development of specialty program tracks to address patient needs at all levels of care.
  •     2)• Assists in program development, evaluation, and implementation.
  •     3)• Maintains good working relationships with the medical staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
  •     4)• Provides consultation to other psych and non-psych units/departments.
  •     5)• Participates in unit and program meetings.
• Coordination of discharge planning, based on assessment of patient and family need and available resources.
  •     1)• Contact with patient and family regarding discharge planning and aftercare management to identify patient/family needs and problem areas.
  •     2)• Collaborate with other psych and non-psych units/departments to enhance discharge planning resources for patients.
  •     3)• Representation of the hospital as a liaison between the hospital and community resources to procure services that insure the aftercare management of the patient and family.
  •     4)• Assumption of responsibilities as a resource person to the staff, the community, patients and families, for information regarding referrals to enhance or augment treatment.
• Maintenance of professional standard and responsibilities for his/her own professional practice according to hospital, department, state regulations and NASW Standard and Code of Ethics.
  •     1)• Provide documentation of all casework activities per system, and hospital standards.
  •     2)• Attain quality management monitoring standards established by the system and hospital.
  •     3)• Participate in continuing education activities to promote professional growth and development and participate in peer review.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with internal customers, community resources and the community at large.
  •     1)• Keeps abreast of new resources in the community.
  •     2)• Maintains a good working relationship with state agencies and programs.
  •     3)• Stays current in knowledge of legislation, regulations, and court actions impacting patient population.
  •     4)• Provides presentations on relevant topics to community as requested.
  •     5)• Provides psych education and inservice training to staff, medical residents, other psych units and non-psych units/departments.

Licensure:

• LCSW or LCPC within state of IL.

Education/Experience Required:

• MSW or MA/MS in Behavioral Health/Counseling related field.
• 2 years post-graduate experience.
• This position will need to recognize the needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups. The incumbent will need to be familiar with normal growth and developmental issues from childhood through older adulthood and be comfortable in providing intervention across the treatment continuum (outpatient, partial, inpatient). Prior experience with various age groups is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Good time management and organization skills necessary.
• Ability to understand and facilitate group process.
• A solid understanding of mental illness, developmental stages, and treatment.
• Comfortable in working with multidisciplinary team.
• Therapeutic communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability.
• Provide individualized therapeutic interventions independently as required by federal and state law.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• .Familiarity with dual-diagnosis assessment, treatment and discharge issues across the continuum of services.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and in difficult situations.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases.
• Knowledge of universal precautions is a must.
• Works within and supports a shared governance model.
• May at times come in contact with violent patients and may be involved in restraining patients. Ability to flex hours and days in order to meet patient care needs.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.