Psychiatric Social Worker LSW

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Completes a comprehensive bio psychosocial assessment of patients/families then evaluates patient and family information, selects appropriate Social Work methods, develops, implements and evaluates a plan in conjunction with the Case Manager and the multidisciplinary team.

2. Actively participates and provides pertinent information in length of stay meetings, discharge planning rounds, during unit daily report, clinical practice teams and department meetings.

3. Initiates patient/family and provider team meetings to develop and plan strategies related to psychosocial and economic issues, particularly those related to care progression and transition. May act as the liaison between patients/families and all providers of care within and external to the organization on social issues.

4. Serves as the lead in obtaining legal guardianship and competency determinations. Completes and disseminates all necessary legal and clinical documentation as required.

5. Facilitates patient appointment setting and addresses patient perceived barriers to care. Provides daily follow-up communication for the purposes of referral, assessment of needs, and assistance in making appropriate healthcare choices, etc. for patients seen during non-coverage hours.

6. Monitors patient's length of stay in coordination with the Utilization Review Department, and initiates discharge planning process within first 24 hours of admission. Alerts department management of potential length of stay issues.

7. Participates in the development of effective treatment plans for assigned cases. Presents summaries of social service assessments, involvement, and recommendations for each case at the regular multidisciplinary patient staffing, as assigned.

8. Is knowledgeable of psychiatric disorders and population served in the Behavioral Medicine Is able to develop individualized treatment plan, perform individual counseling and group therapy.

9. Provides leadership for group therapy and documents the participation and progress of each patient assigned to group in the progress notes, once per week.

10. Provides family assessments and family therapy when ordered by the psychiatrist.

11. Assists in milieu management, and appropriately works with other staff in rule and limit setting within the unit. Also included are de-escalation skills.