Medical Social Worker Inpatient/ED

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Location

Battle Creek- 300 North Ave - Bronson Battle Creek Hospital

Title

Medical Social Worker Inpatient/ED *PRN*

Responsible for the delivery of social work services for a variety of patients including infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations to all medical areas of the hospital.  Provides direct intervention with patients and families in such areas as mental health, suicide, domestic violence, sexual assault, child/adult abuse/neglect, death/grief, crisis intervention, adjustment to illness, advocacy, and substance abuse. Partners with multidisciplinary team to proactively support behavior management and safety. In conjunction with assessment, provides clinical interventions and facilitates the coordination of care for families and patients for discharge planning, etc.  Collaborates with other members of the patient care team including external agencies to assess each situation to determine the best plan of care.  Coordinates and manages systems and activities for referred patients to ensure discharge in a timely manner to psychiatric facilities, substance abuse treatment, outpatient services, etc.

Education and/or Experience Master’s Degree in Social Work.  The minimum level of educational attainment and/or length and character of experience needed to perform the job effectively.

1-2 years professional level of work experience in healthcare or mental health, preferred.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications master’s degree in social work and Licensed Master’s Social Work (LMSW) or Limited License Master’s Social Work (LLMSW) in good standing with the State of Michigan. LMSW preferred.

*For those hired prior to 7/16/2024 Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification accepted

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a clean, well-lighted & temperature-controlled environment. The employee may sometimes be exposed to infectious disease from blood/air borne pathogens. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

May be exposed to threatening behavior or violence as an acute care hospital is an emotionally charged environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

INTERPERSONAL REQUIREMENTS A brief paragraph that summarizes the communication responsibilities, including with whom, written/verbal, frequency, reporting relationship, etc.

Demonstrates excellent human relation skills including verbal and written communication, problem solving, advocacy, crisis intervention, assertiveness, and empathy skills. Has a customer service orientation.

Regularly communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, as a demonstration of the function of effective process and relationships with the patient and members of the interdisciplinary team.  Communicates with internal customers such as, physicians, multi-disciplinary team, finance, and management. Demonstrates effective skills in motivational interviewing, problem-solving and critical thinking in providing services to patients.  Communicates effectively with external customers such as, patients, third party payers, community agencies daily and often simultaneously. Regularly utilizes effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Work variable shifts (i.e., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8hr or 12 hr), holidays and weekends to support the needs of an acute care hospital. 

• Respond to Call Downs- Prioritize workload demands to respond and support acute care call downs and codes (i.e., trauma, stroke, AMI, Code blue, etc.).

• Considerable ability to communicate effectively with distressed persons under adverse conditions.

• Cover multiple units (i.e., ICU, med/surg, specialty, etc.) and prioritize needs according to acuity.

• Basic understanding of the patient acute care model and coordinating report for smooth transfers within the hospital, healthcare system and external facilities.

• Reduce workplace violence- Collaborate with hospital security, Risk, nursing, and other multidisciplinary colleagues to assist with crisis interventions using de-escalation techniques and behavior plans to reduce violence in the workplace.

• Collaborate with hospital security and the police when violent injuries (i.e., gun violence, etc.) present to the hospital to reduce further risk to patients, staff, and the community.  

• Knowledge of hospital-based programs, physician practice characteristics, utilization management, and professional referral networks.

• Considerable knowledge of/and ability to utilize empathy, crisis assessment, intervention, and counseling techniques.

• Assesses the nature of a crisis and the immediate social/emotional needs and strengths of the patient, family, and staff to provide appropriate intervention.

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of mental health and suicide.

• Basic knowledge of DSM V diagnostic criteria for mental health.

• Able to complete mental health assessments, coordinate with Psychiatry Consult service and community resources to facilitate psychiatric transfers or establish safe discharge plans.

• Assess when discharge planning process is not progressing appropriately and a complex care meeting may be needed, reaching out to CM/MSW Leadership.

• Develop creative interventions, collaborate with the multidisciplinary team (i.e. psych, child life, nursing, PT, etc.) to address behaviors when limited to no placement options are available.

• Conduct brief solution focused/strategic clinical interventions utilizing motivation interviewing.

• Complete legal paperwork to purse involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations and probate court guardianship hearings.  Collaborate with hospital attorney and testify when required.

• Specialized knowledge of chronic illness and the impact on patient mental health.

• Knowledge of community service organizations (i.e. CMH, DHHS, shelters, transportation, etc.) and the types of assistance they provide.

• Work by consult (i.e., physician, RN, patient, family, etc.).

• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and provides necessary report to advance patient care.

• Collaborates with other members of the patient care team to understand each situation from different perspectives and recommends or provides immediate treatment and solution focused interventions.

• Identifies needs, develops plan of care, and makes referrals to community agencies and other healthcare specialists and plans for patient discharge to ensure the appropriate follow-up treatment and support is available and provided to support a safe discharge.

• Thoroughly documents each case and enters appropriate information in patient’s electronic medical record in an effective and timely manner.

• Participates in the development of departmental policies, procedures, and protocols.

• Identifies and provides for learning needs of patients, families, and health care co-workers.

• Assumes responsibility for professional development. Participates in required in services, staff meetings, and completes all required competencies.

• Develops and supports a positive work climate and the overall team effort of the department.

• Participates in orienting new MSW hires when assigned, following orientation checklist, best practice and standard work.

• Demonstrates commitment to providing outstanding customer service to all customers in a manner reflective of our mission, values, and customer service standards. 

QUALIFYING STATEMENT The above duties and responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees assigned to this job.  They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated it.  To fully perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the minimum qualifications, meet the accompanying physical demands, and be able to work in the described environment.  However, reasonable accommodations will be made to hire and/or retain individuals who are qualified under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

I.      DOCUMENTATION: Demonstrates the competencies associated with the paperwork or charting aspect of the job.  For some jobs, e.g., clerical, this is a major function of the job.  For others, e.g., direct patient care jobs, it demonstrates that the employee documents their work appropriately and not how well the work is performed.  Data is gathered from charts, notes, paperwork, completed documents, etc.

II.     JUDGMENT/DECISION MAKING: Demonstrates the ability to evaluate the factors relevant to a situation and make timely decisions that add value to the services provided.  Data is gathered from peer review, observation, customer comments/suggestions, etc.

III.    TECHNICAL SKILLS: Demonstrates competency in the skills or tasks required for the employee’s job.  Data is gathered via peer review, observation, chart review, etc.

IV.   TEAMWORK: Demonstrates the competencies necessary for developing and maintaining cooperative relationships with others at all levels of the organization by sharing information, workload responsibilities, decision-making and recognition of others in pursuit of a common purpose.  Evidence is gathered via peer review, observation, etc.

V.    PRODUCTIVITY: Demonstrates the ability to achieve the desired work result effectively and efficiently with the minimum of time and resources.  Evaluated through peer review, observation, chart review, etc.

VI.   QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: Demonstrates competencies necessary for the integration of quality control into the job, department and/or organization-wide improvements.  Data is gathered through documented improvement processes.

VII.  COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Demonstrates appropriate communication skills with patients, visitors, coworkers, supervision, physicians, and others.  Includes verbal and telephone skills.  Data gathered via observation, workshop/presentation evaluation form, written or verbal feedback from customers.

VIII. PROFESSIONAL GROWTH: Participates in a program of self-development and continuous education.  This is for all employee mandatory in-services, other in-services, educational activity, and community service as required by the job.  Data gathered from sign in sheets and department records.

IX.   EXTENDED ROLES: This itemizes extended roles (if any) the employee performs, i.e., charge, preceptor, etc.  For each advanced role, a separate competency list is required.

X.    CUSTOMER SERVICE: Demonstrates adherence to the standards as provided in the Bronson “Commitment to Customer Service”, i.e., Commitment Statements, Quality Service Standards and the Interaction Process which includes the Service Recovery “AAA Action Plan”.  Data gathered via observations, customer surveys, and other written and verbal feedback from customers.

XI.   AGE SPECIFIC (Direct patient care jobs only.): The employee must be able to demonstrate the competencies necessary to provide services appropriate to the age of the population served.  Data gathered from observation and department records.

Shift

Variable

Time Type

Part time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

10

Cost Center

2450 Case Management/Medical Social Work (BBC)

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