The Emergency Department (ED) Social Worker is part of a multidisciplinary team focusing on the treatment, plan of care, and safe progression of patients in the hospital emergency department with a strong focus on those with mental health concerns and/or substance use disorder. This unique position is a critical component of the emergency department's psychiatric evaluation team, in partnership with trained registered nurses, for those individuals presenting to the emergency department with psychiatric or behavioral concerns.
The ED Social Worker supports works to identify barriers to outpatient self-management - appropriately engaging with the patient and their respective care team to mitigate those barriers where able. The ED Social Worker is a subject matter expert in community-based resources, transportation, mandated reporting, and efforts to serve some of the community's most vulnerable populations.
The ED Social Worker interacts with all hospital departments, employees, patients and families, as well as community-based organizations and practices. They focus on the patient's social, financial, and discharge planning needs in support of high quality care and fiscal integrity.
Job Responsibilities include:

• Assess the patient's health insurance plan and facilitate insurance navigations as indicated.
• Performs/facilitate health assessments as indicated and within established times.
• Attends multidisciplinary rounds, working with the team to develop safe/sustainable transitions of care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and collaborates regularly with community-based organizations and partners.
• Appropriately documents client interactions and intended plan of care.
• Routinely communicates with patient family/caregivers/decision makers as indicated.
• Monitors and appropriately escalates issues affecting patient safety. Actively intervenes to facilitate patient progression and safe care transitions.
• Works in collaboration with ancillary personnel (i.e. physical therapy, pharmacy, diabetes education) to support identified patient care needs.
• Follows regulatory guidelines and completes associated authorizations for transportation and related transitions of care to alternative agencies/levels of care.
• Assists in the delivery of timely notifications to allow patient and their care teams to make informed decisions regarding the plan of care.
• Demonstrates emotional stability and organizational skills necessary to meet the demands of the busy healthcare environment.
• Appropriately shares knowledge with coworkers.
• Flexible in taking additional assignments as needed to cover for planned and unplanned events.
• Seeks learning opportunities to optimize job performance.
• Participates in system taskforces and other collaborative activities with community partners to support facility growth and transitions of care.
• Maintains high visibility and is readily approachable and accessible to care teams.
• Communicates effectively with care teams, patients, families and guests. Supports social-related inquiries of other units/colleagues as indicated.
• Remains calm in stressful scenarios and able to resolve conflict independently, appropriately escalating concerns as indicated.
• Regularly attends team meetings. Seeks information missed where unable.
• Demonstrates and promotes teamwork.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills. Enforces appropriate written and verbal communication among team members
• Exemplify satisfactory attendance and punctuality record as set forth by CHS policies.
• Exemplify a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation.
• Maintains patient confidentiality in the provision of high quality care.
• Is flexible in assuming other responsibilities not noted above.

Requirements:
Education/Licensure - Master's Degree in Social Work with active NY State licensure.
Experience - Inpatient/hospital social work experience preferred. Computer literacy and knowledge of EMR systems. Demonstrates resilience in coping with challenging situations.
Physicality - Ability to stand, sit or ambulate for long periods. Ability to mobilize freely around units, transport self to site locations, and perform required data entry into EMR and alternate data management systems. Ability to participate as part of a team trained to physically subdue and restrain individuals of all weights and sizes, who are in behavioral decontrol. This activity includes but is not limited to lifting, holding, straining, and running.
Schedule: 12-Hour shifts (7:00 pm - 7:00 am), weekend rotation.
Cayuga Health System Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Cayuga Health System commits to treat all people with dignity so that everyone who comes to us is safe, cared for, and respected. We will support the growth of our employees and the health of our community by embracing the rich diversity of social and cultural identities, needs, and life circumstances of all people. We strive to recognize and overcome personal biases and systemic policies that marginalize others and contribute to disparities in healthcare access, equitable care, and good health outcomes.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $32.12 - $46.03 per hour