Cameron Memorial Community Hospital is a 25-bed, independent, not-for-profit facility that proudly serves Angola and Steuben County. We have been a cornerstone of this community and the surrounding area in northeast Indiana dating back to 1926. Over the years, we have helped generation after generation of area residents enjoy better health and live comfortably. Today, Cameron Hospital has grown into something more than a simple community hospital. Filled with advanced equipment and skilled specialists, Cameron is a modern, high-tech facility that provides advanced diagnostics, a variety of specialties and cutting-edge treatment options that are combined with highly personalized and compassionate care.

DEPARTMENT: Clinical Integration – Documentation

JOB TITLE: Clinical Social Worker

SHIFT: 80 Hours Bi-Weekly, 1st Shift

JOB SUMMARY

Reports to the Clinical Integration – Documentation Director. Provides short-term counseling and crisis intervention services to diverse patient populations throughout the hospital. Utilizes a variety of assessment tools and appropriate interventions to identify psycho-social concerns and potential discharge needs. Actively coordinates the planning and implementation of a continuity of care plan. Has extensive knowledge of community resources, programs and agencies. Provide counseling services in Behavioral Outpatient clinic as needed and licensed appropriately for billing.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) required.
• Master’s degree in social work (MSW) preferred.
• Licensure in the State of Indiana as a social worker required within one year from date of hire.
• Knowledge of current trends, developments, treatment modalities, etc. for patients with psychiatric and/or psychological disorders.
• Discharge planning or case management experience desired.
• Minimum two years of professional experience performing essential hospital or healthcare social services functions preferred.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Exemplifies exceptional customer service/professional mannerism.
• Regular reliable attendance.
• Ability to get along with others.
• Within the hospital, provides short-term counseling and crisis intervention services to patients and families in order to facilitate/expedite a timely discharge from the hospital.
• Rounds daily in all nursing departments to see if there are any Social Work needs.
• Initiates screening for potential need for social work coordinator based on criteria established within the Social Service Department (i.e., transfer from another facility, age, high risk with potential for re-admission, complex discharge planning needs, financial need, etc.).
• Reviews the patient’s progress, psychosocial status and ongoing assessment of level of care.
• Interviews the patient and/or family in order to obtain pertinent medical, financial, social and/or psychological data needed to assess patient status and potential needs.
• Collaborates with appropriate medical, nursing and multi-disciplinary staff in order to ensure seamless coordination of efforts within the healthcare associates.
• Assists with developing a treatment plan based on consultation with the multi-disciplinary healthcare associates, professional knowledge of treatment modalities, available resources, medical data and psycho-social information.
• Involves the patient and family in care planning and treatment decisions.
• Documents assessments, interventions and outcomes in order to maintain appropriate case records and statistics in accordance with the Hospital’s requirements and outside agency standards.
• Uses a variety of treatment modalities to provide services for patients with complex medical, emotional, social and financial needs, which are affecting the patient’s illness, recovery and/or rehabilitation by providing short-term therapeutic counseling for patients, families and/or significant others.
• Assists patients/families in understanding the psycho-social implications of diagnosis and complexities of the medical situation.
• Participates in and/or facilitates meetings with other healthcare associates in order to present case summaries and assist in recommending, developing and/or coordinating an adequate treatment program for the patient.
• Identifies patients and families who may qualify for state, federal and other funding programs and refer to appropriate financial department (i.e., Eligibility Specialists or Financial Counselors).
• Works collaboratively with departments to obtain and share information regarding patient’s disposition.
• Ensuring quality care is provided by identifying and resolving barriers that hinder effective patient care in order to move the patient efficiently through the continuum of care.
• Actively assists with discharge plan for the patient by identifying patient/family needs for services and refer patients and families to community agencies and resources based on patient’s medical and psychosocial situation.
• Gathers information through assessment and from a variety of sources, including multi-disciplinary healthcare associates.
• Acts as a patient advocate.
• Provides conflict management between patients and families or between patients/families and the multi-disciplinary healthcare associates.
• Participates in appropriate community activities related to social services/behavioral health functions by providing consultation and education to agencies and groups as requested. Develops and maintain collaborative working relationship with community providers, agencies, groups, etc.
• Maintains professional knowledge, skills and competence in areas of responsibility by staying abreast of recent developments in their field of expertise. Attending in-services and department meetings, participating in continuing education and conference as approved. Maintains professional affiliations as appropriate. Reads current professional literature and journals.
• Attends outside agency meetings when needed.
• Participates in hospital activities and committees when appropriate. Serves as a resource to the hospital and the community in area of expertise. Completes other job-related assignments and special projects as directed.
• Requires the skills necessary to provide self-directed social services.
• Requires solid clinical assessment skills needed to provide clinical problem solving. Also requires general knowledge of illnesses, current treatments and their psycho-social effects.
• Has thorough knowledge of community agencies, services, entitlement programs and financial resources available on a federal, state and local level to assist patients and families in Indiana and other states.
• Has knowledge of state and local adult and child protective legal mandates and understanding of family systems.
• Solid understanding of medical insurance and managed care concepts.
• Knowledge of the discharge planning process, hospital transfers and referrals to home care. Must be comfortable with patients in the acute care setting including end of life care.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain professional composure under pressure, work with difficult personalities, and the ability to handle crisis and difficult situations effectively. Requires a strong work ethic, independent professional judgment, initiative and problem solving organizational and planning skills.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-specific care appropriate to the patients served. Also understands and respects cultural, ethnic, religious and economic differences among patients.
• Demonstrates ability to develop and maintain effective and positive working relationships. Also requires the ability to be emphatic and abide by mutual respect policy.
• Demonstrates the interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) and listening skills necessary to counsel patients and families with psychological and/or psychiatric disorders. This requires the ability to communicate in a tactful, sincere and effective manner with patients from a variety of back grounds, healthcare professional, various hospital staff and agencies outside the hospital.
• Is proficient in basic computer skills (i.e., data entry, work processing and related applications); also requires the ability to access information on the Internet.
• Able to maintain flexibility and a positive attitude.
• Maintains ethical conduct and the ability to exercise discretion. Also requires a solid understanding of hospital policies/practices related to patient confidentiality.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and a commitment to Cameron Memorial Community Hospitals’ guiding principle and values.
• Collaborates with Care Coordinator to identify areas of performance improvement and opportunities for improved utilization of resources.
• Assists with discharge phone calls.
• If LCSW cross train to Behavioral OP clinic LCSW role to fill in if needed.