LCSW/LMFT

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.   

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do — in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

Benefits Eligible

Full-Time Benefit Eligible

Work Shift

Variable - 12 Hour Shift (United States of America)

Department

8360 Patient & Family ServicesThe LCSW/LMFT provides comprehensive psychosocial/clinical assessments to meet the care needs of the patients the Kaweah Health serves. The LCSW/LMFT provides education, referral and support in a psychosocial aspect in the situations of individuals, families, or groups; helping to improve social or health services.

QUALIFICATIONS

License /Certification
Required:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT)

Kaweah Health approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire/transfer.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

Gathers information about the patient's social, psychological, cultural, environmental and financial situation for a psychosocial assessment and treatment plan.

Counsels individuals and their families regarding psychosocial needs and problems related to their medical condition.

Provides discharge planning, coordinating equipment and/or home care, placement of patient in appropriate facility, transportation, patient-family training, financial needs and necessary follow-up. Documents activity in medical record according to policy.

Intervenes in crisis situations, providing needed assessment, counseling and information to patients and their families.

Provides consultation to physicians, hospital staff and community as it relates to patient care needs.

Makes rounds and responds to referrals from physicians and staff providing guidance to necessary social services.

Charts all necessary patient information carefully and accurately and according to procedure.

Arranges transportation for patients leaving hospital for transfers to other levels of care (nursing home, other acute care hospitals) and for standard patients with no means of getting home. Accumulates information on community resources and links patients, families, and staff to appropriate services.

Assists in financial counseling, linking patients and their families to appropriate resources.

Provides education to department, hospital staff, and community on psychosocial aspects of illness.

Provides support and knowledge on medical-social issues through structured community outreach programs.

Addendum (essential for specific dept)

PATIENT & FAMILY SERVICES ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Provides consultation, direction, guidance and supervision as requested for Medical Counselor and ASW/MFTI.

Provides Team Lead coverage for PFS Staff in absence of Patient and Family Services Manager.

Provides supervision and delegate's duties to the Social Work Assistants as appropriate within the scope of practice.

Provides field supervision to Master's prepared students as requested.

PSYCH SERVICES ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Using sound clinical judgment provides effective and dynamic therapeutic groups on a consistent basis which meaningfully address the client's needs and goals as stated in the treatment plan.

Performs thorough psychosocial assessments within specified timeframes.

Formulates a discharge plan as soon as possible after admission in collaboration with other disciplines based on diagnostic summary.

Facilitates treatment planning process and assures that all treatment team functions are thoroughly documented.

Completes family/significant other education/support meetings on a group and individual basis as needed to support family/significant other's ability to support patient upon discharge.

Provides client and family with all necessary information regarding legal proceedings during admission to Kaweah Health Mental Health, including involuntary detention, 14-day Certification, Conservatorship process as well as possible Adult Protective Services or Child Welfare Services reporting.

Acts as a resource to the physician and treatment team to support all efforts in fully realizing the regarding the client's broad scope psychosocial and recovery needs and recovery potentials.

MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH (NICU/PEDS) ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Completes assessment for NICU within 2 days. Assessment will be done by interviewing at least one NICU parent.

Develops case plan with NICU parent within 5 days of admission that includes: family stress, environmental health and psychosocial factors.

Completes NICU progress note weekly.

Attends team conferences and rounds. Responds to referrals from physician, staff, family and patient, providing guidance for necessary social or case management services.

Identifies Pediatric high risk psychosocial issues and will have a case plan in place that will include but not be limited to the following: Family stress level and reaction to the child's hospitalization, social and emotional support available to family and patient, and support services needed and provided.

Documents pediatric progress reports weekly.

Provides psychosocial assessments to all patients under the age of 21 regardless of bed and/or service/department assignment who remain inpatient for three days or more. NICU families are seen in 2 days.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Provides assessment and safety planning for patients in mental health crisis.  Includes writing 5150/5585 holds.

When eligible, supervises ASW/AMFT as assigned.

INPATIENT ONCOLOGY AND SRCC ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Manages the support groups; may be a facilitator.

Provides supportive literature to patients and works with American Society to maintain current information and available resources.

Community Events Liaison- Acts as a liaison between KH, SRCC and other organizations sponsoring community activities for cancer patients. Participates in planning and represents the Kaweah Health at the events.

Inpatient Oncology

Provides the communication link between the outpatient services and inpatient care.

Identifies high risk psychosocial issues and will have a case plan in place that will include but not limited to the following: family stress level and reaction to current medical status, social and emotional support available to patient and family, and support services needed and provided.

Coordination of discharge planning and linkages to appropriate resourced (i.e. American Cancer Society, Support Groups, Financial, etc.).

Communicates and works collaboratively with Oncologists regarding services provided including discharge planning and coordination /linkage to outpatient services.

Follows up with the patient and outpatient treatment providers once he/she resumes outpatient care.

Radiation Oncology

Provides psychosocial assessments and treatment plans for every patient encounter at SRCC Visalia and Hanford.

Provides comprehensive services and support that includes but not limited to: transportation, financial assistance, emotional support, cancer specific resources, and linkages to community support.

Coordinates equipment or continuity of care.

Collaborates with interdisciplinary team regarding education of biopsychosocial aspects of oncology treatments.

NEPHROLOGY ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Participates in gathering information regarding a potential new patient for admission to the clinic. Alerts the clinic's nursing leadership of areas of question or concern in a timely manner.
Conducts and completes assessments within the specified timeline delineated in the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Conditions of Coverage by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).
Prepares initial psychosocial evaluation of all patients admitted to assigned outpatient clinic, to include hemodialysis and home dialysis patients.
Provides annual update regarding psychosocial status for all patients per regulatory requirements.
Monitors for and identifies patients at risk for involuntary discharge and initiates unstable status. Appropriate interventions are identified.
Collaborates with other community agencies both in providing service to individual patients and in promoting development of health and welfare programs geared to special needs of patients with ESRD.
Actively participates in monthly patient review conference.
Orients new members of the renal team to the psychosocial aspects of the patients' overall treatment and participates in renal in-service program.
Consults with other regional social workers regarding patients seeking to transfer into the clinic or out of the clinic or traveling and need clinic support on a temporary basis.

Additional

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area. Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Pay Range

$42.10 -$63.16

If you want to use your talents alongside people who face each day with courage and purpose, in an environment that empowers you to do your absolute best, this is where you belong.