Performs screenings, intake assessments and consultations with patients in the Medical Clinics or the Emergency Room to evaluate service and treatment needs, including admissions and referrals for services.

Provides on-going social work intervention and education to patients, families and significant others for health-related psycho-social problems, based upon goals agreed to by the patient, family, significant others and the inter-disciplinary team. 

Completes a comprehensive psycho-social assessment on a timely basis.

Utilizes individual, family and crisis intervention methods to identify and to intervene in problems that influence participation in the continuum of care and treatment. Services provided include counseling, crisis intervention, discharge planning, adult protective services, advocacy, information and referral, collaboration and patient rights.

Provides direct services to patients in the Medical Clinics, the Emergency Room/Acute Care and referred from the community, utilizing appropriate modalities, including individual, family, and crisis intervention with a knowledge of age specific growth and development aspects of the patients served.

 Serves as resource to interdisciplinary team regarding issues of aging, neglect, and abuse; based upon knowledge of rules and regulations for reporting these issues, identifies, assesses, coordinates resources for treatment and assistance, makes community and in-patient referrals for patients, families and significant others facing these problems.

Provides case management services to ensure care and treatment plan is being followed and to assist patients in obtaining supportive services and resources.

Interprets nature of illness and any impacting age-related issues and the plan of care to patients and families, the interdisciplinary team and to community services. 

Acts as a liaison to inter-disciplinary team in understanding patient and family dynamics, facilitating timely and pro-active coordination with in-patient, out-patient and community services, including long term care services, home health care services and healthcare appointments in other facilities.

Acts as advocate for the patient with other Bergen Regional Medical Center services, i.e. in-patient medical, long term care and behavioral mental health treatment units, and functions as liaison with other health care providers in the community, assisting in supportive care and services for patients and families.

Makes presentations on health related issues and social services programs, including long term care, respite care and rehabilitation care, admissions. Advance Directors and family care giving with aging parents.

Participates in inter-disciplinary care planning conferences, including case presentations, and makes recommendations regarding the needs of the patient and the family from a social work perspective.

Fulfills all case recording, statistical reporting and other documentation requirements on a comprehensive and timely basis.

Provides clinical supervision to para-professional staff and students as assigned.

Provides consultative services to Long Term Care, Acute Care and Department of Medicine and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center staff and to other community agencies/ facilities regarding social work issues and services to our patient population.

Coordinates discharge plan and post-hospital care and services in the Emergency Room for patients and families unable to facilitate their own plan, i.e., homeless or abandoned patients or families unable or unwilling to continue with care giving and suggests appropriate services for Medical Clinic patients.

Assessment, treatment and patient care responsibilities are delivered with comprehensive knowledge of patient growth and development, as is age appropriate.

Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance and performance improvement program, corporate compliance, safety, environmental and infection control standards, HIPPA standards, including standards mandated by regulatory and survey agencies.

Customer Service: respect, flexibility, knowledge, confidence, professionalism, pleasant attitude, patience, and helpfulness. All responses should be timely, professional,

caring, and respectful in accordance with Customer Service Performance expectations.

Understands and adheres to the Medical Center’s Code of Conduct.

Familiar with the Medical Center’s Mission, Vision, and Values Statements.

Other Job Duties:

Works cooperatively with interdisciplinary staff to ensure social work services for patients in absence of a regularly assigned social worker

Participates in studies, surveys or research, initiated or approved by the Department of Medical Social Services, in order to develop knowledge about effective treatment, or improve quality of delivery of service.

Secure translation services for patient/family interviews, as is possible.

Identifies performance issues of services provided to patients within the hospital and also from community health services where previous referrals were made and brings them to the attention of the department director.

Participates in departmental meetings, committees, in-services, educational conferences and programs as required.

Enhances professional growth and development through participation in continuing education, literature review, conferences, workshops and community training sessions and educational programs.

Participates in surveys and survey preparation and meetings.

Must maintain current levels of licensing, education and skills as required for the discipline and title and participate in employee performance evaluations.

Performs all other duties as required including rotation to other areas than the one assigned.

Education: 

Masters Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work.

Must have valid NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license.

Position Qualifications:

1-2 years of experience in a healthcare setting, either a clinic or a hospital, working with adults and families.

Demonstrates ability to work with geriatric population and their families and ability to work with adults having issues with homelessness, addictions, emotional issues, housing, fragmented healthcare and services, financial issues.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills.

Must read, write and speak English to the extent required by position; knowledge of second language preferred.