Social Worker

Responsibilities

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River, this brand new, 128-bed facility, will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley.  The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff and administration.

We are currently seeking a forward thinking and compassionate SOCIAL WORKER (MSW) to be part of our Social Services Team. Clinicians will be utilizing therapeutic treatment skills, the social services clinician performs social services functions to include a full biopsychosocial assessment, individualized treatment plan, brief consultation for patients and families preparing for discharge and the development of a safe discharge plan including referrals for continued treatment and housing when appropriate. The social services clinician also provides therapeutic group-based interventions and crisis interventions to assist the patient in achieving his/her optimal level of emotional health.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy, or related discipline.  Registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

 Experience: Social Worker requires a minimum of one (1) year experience in a psychiatric health care facility, with direct experience in family and group therapies, crisis intervention, and treatment skills; must have strong clinical assessment skills.

  Additional Requirements: CPR certification and successful completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training.  CPI Training may be obtained during new hire orientation.

Qualifications

THIS POSITION WILL BE EVALUATED BASED UPON SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTICE/COMPETENCIES, AS WELL AS THERAPEUTIC PRACTICES COMPETENCIES AS LISTED BELOW.

 Professional Competencies

1. Demonstrate a professional attitude and supports the objectives of the facility’s business development/marketing and guest relations philosophy through internal and external communications and interactions with all levels of staff, patients, family members, guests, community and referral sources.
2. Demonstrate appropriate therapeutic boundaries.  Consistently follow established procedures.

Performance

1. Respond to requests for social work services in a timely manner.
2. Uses self as a role model to promote health communication.
3. Meet the social work needs of the patient population being serviced.
4. Contribute to the effective functioning of the patient’s program and other facility-wide activities.
5. Assure that patient’s rights are upheld.
6. Maintain confidentiality in compliance with professional ethics according to professional and facility standards.
7. Identify opportunities for the program and participate in Performance Improvement projects and activities.
8. Continue professional development in individual, family, and group therapy and maintain professional development in personnel file.
9. Assist in the orientation of new colleagues and supervising student interns.
10. Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting situations (i.e. child abuse, dependent adult abuse, psychiatric commitment).
11. Represent the facility at legal hearings as requested, submits paperwork for legal holds in a timely fashion, act as liaison with conservator’s office.

Interventions& Milieu

1. Utilize a variety of techniques to assist in the resolution of patient problems.
2. Effectively employ principles of communication, interviewing techniques, problem solving skills and crisis interventions when performing psychotherapeutic interventions.
3. Utilize appropriate verbal and physical interventions in accordance with Verbal De-escalation and Handle with Care practices during psychiatric emergencies. Potential physical interventions include escape techniques, blocking techniques, the Primary Restraint Techniques (PRT) and Takedown techniques alone and with assistance.
4. Utilizes universal precautions when caring for a patient.
5. Document and report infections to the Infection Control Nurse.
6. Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
7. Assists with ensuring patients are adequately oriented to the program.
8. Monitor program activities and encourage patient participation.
9. Formulate and conduct educational, therapeutic, and/or support groups on scheduled timetables.
10. Develop an effective working relationship with patient and/or family (engagement, collaboration, advocacy, problem solving).
11. Communicate effectively with patients, families, treatment team members and community providers regarding patient status and progress.
12. Provide liaison and referral services to community agencies and appears in court when requested or subpoenaed.

Assessment

1. Assess and identify psychosocial, educational, developmental and behavioral functioning of the patient/family system through established case finding mechanisms.
2. Document assessment update when there are significant changes in patient’s condition or readmission in the last thirty days.
3. Consult with families on emotional, social and financial aspects of care.
4. Interact and communicate with community agencies in assessment of and service to patients.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of biopsychosocial factors and DSM-V related to the ages of the patients served, and incorporate the knowledge base into the treatment plan.

Treatment Planning

1. Participate in the development of an interdisciplinary treatment plan based on patient assessment/needs in compliance with facility time frames.
2. Ensure that the treatment plan has specific measurable goals, objectives and interventions defining actions unique to each patient’s needs.
3. Evaluate and document effectiveness of interventions and patient responses.
4. As appropriate, when goals/objectives are met, participate in revision and update.
5. Ensure interventions are carried out in the patient’s plan of care.
6. Inform and collaborate with patient and families on stated treatment plan goals and document patient participation through routine signatures by patient and each member of the treatment team.

Teaching

1. Provide education to patients and families based on their identified needs and limitations in learning.
2. Promote learning experiences and provide educational materials to patients and their families.
3. Evaluate and document effectiveness of all patient teaching.
4. Provide opportunities for patients and families to question, discuss and explore their feelings about prescribed therapies/interventions/diagnosis.

 Specific Standards for the Care of Child Patients Ages 5 through 11

1. Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines.
2. Maintain knowledge of children's stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for the behavior related to child development arise.

1. Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and make note of any deviations in behavior.
2. Recognize acting out behavior of child specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient.
3. Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning-disabled child.

1. Relate to child patients in an age-appropriate manner.
2. Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with a understanding of the need of modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adolescent Patients Ages 12 through 18

1. Maintain knowledge of the Adolescent Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines.
2.  Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and makes of any deviations in behavior.
3. Recognize acting out behavior of adolescent specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgement terms based on the age of the patient.
4. Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning-disabled adolescent.                            

1. Relate to adolescent patients in an age-appropriate manner.
2. Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of adolescent, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual issues.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adult Patients Ages 19 through 64

1. Gather information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use judgments based on knowledge of adult behaviors in treatment planning and interventions.
2. Recognize behaviors and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behaviors and non-judgement terms.
3. Utilize seclusion/restraint procedures applicable to adult body size and past history of violent or emotional behaviors and/or history of physical and/or sexual abuse issues.
4. Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of adult care within Specific Standards of Care for this age group.
5. Maintain knowledge of the Adult program rules, protocols and handbook guidelines.

Specific Standards for the Care of Geriatric Patients Ages 65 and older

1. Maintain a knowledge of the developmental tasks and sociological theories of aging.
2. Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of gerontological health care and behavioral care.

1. Gather the appropriate information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use
   therapeutic judgments based on knowledge of gerontological health/behavioral care practices to develop a comprehensive plan of care.

 Specific Standards for the Care of Chemically Dependent Patients:

1. Knowledgeable of special patient needs as related to chemical dependency.
2. Effectively collaborate with other chemical dependency staff professionals in facilitating the plan of care.
3. Maintain an awareness of how personal issues relating the co-dependency can impact work performance/relationships.

Specific Standards for the Care of Dual Diagnosis Patients

1. Assesses patient needs as related to dual diagnosis and document the plan of care from the admission through discharge.
2. Collaborate with other dual diagnosis staff professionals in planning for discharge and follow-up care.
3. Maintain an awareness of how personal issues relating the co-dependency can impact work performance/relationships.
4. Recognize and establish limits on medication-seeking behaviors.
5. Act as a resource to other staff in regards to the Dual Diagnosis Patient Programs.

Additional Standards

1. Adhere to facility, department, corporate, personnel, ethical, legal and standard policies and procedures.
2. Attend all mandatory facility in-services and staff development activities as scheduled.
3. Adhere to facility standards concerning conduct, dress, attendance, punctuality and service excellence.
4. Support facility-wide quality/performance improvement goals and objectives.
5. Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

THIS SECTION DESCRIBES WHAT KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES AN EMPLOYEE IN THIS POSITION SHOULD CURRENTLY POSSESS.  THIS LIST MAY NOT BE COMPLETE FOR ALL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND MENTAL ABILITIES  REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION.

1. Knowledge of crisis intervention procedures.
2.  Knowledge of individual and group therapy techniques.
3. Knowledge of therapeutic treatment planning and techniques.
4. Strong clinical assessment skills
5. Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
6. Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.
7. Effective oral and written communication skills.
8. Ability to communicate effectively with patients, co-workers and supervisor.
9. Ability to adhere to safety policies and procedures.
10. Ability to use good judgment and maintain confidentiality of PHI
11. Ability to work as a team player.
12. Ability to demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience and dedication.
13. Ability to accept direction and adhere to policies and procedures.
14. Ability to work effectively with various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric).
15. Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric).
16. Ability to work independently in a consistently fast-paced environment.
17. Ability to meet corporate deadlines.
18. Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.

Additional Requirements:

A strong knowledge of The Joint Commission, HCFA, OSHA regulations, and patient rights standards and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing mental health care facilities.

One of the nation’s largest and most respected hospital companies, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Steadily growing from a startup to an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenue nearing $10 billion. UHS is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #276 on the Fortune 500, and listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America’s Top 500 Public Companies.  

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We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.

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