We Are Hiring!

At Riverside, everyday brings new and exciting challenges. You can expect an interesting environment where you’re part of making sure our organization is running optimally and safely, helping keep the community healthy. We provide the kind of paid training and opportunities that long-term careers are built on and we recognize hard workers who strive to make a difference. You will be able to succeed in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as a team. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us!

FTE: 1.000000

Shift: Days

Location: Riverside Medical Center

Summary:
The Social Services Specialist provides support and advocacy to patients and their families as part of an interdisciplinary health care team to overcome barriers to progression-of-care and facilitate a safe and coordinated discharge to the community. Services may include parenting issues, substance abuse, stress management, adjustment to illness, trauma and bereavement, geriatric depression, and other mental health or emotional difficulties that impede the patient’s progression-of-care, elder abuse, child abuse, sexual assault and patient abuse.

• Graduate degree preferred in psychology, family counseling, social work, or other similar disciplines. MSW required
• Recent work experience in the health care or insurance industry.

License or Certification Requirements:

• LSW or LCSW required within 2 years of hire

Responsibilities:

• Actively participate in daily huddles, flash rounds, patient care conferences, and/or morning hand-off reports to stay up to date and to maintain knowledge about treatment plan .
• A ssessments include application of age specific growth and growth and development and cultural influence, and includes review of the medical record, patient/family interview, consultation with physician, nursing and allied health staff and evaluation of need for community resource linkage.
• C ommunicates relevant aspects of assessment to patient/family and health care team.
• A ssists in developing and revising policies to support counseling/progression of care activities.
• C ollaborate with PACC in facilitating referrals to local, state and federal resources and arranging patient/family counseling or support groups after discharge
• C ollaborates with transitionalists or community based case manager to help patient resume life in the community
• C onduct an appropriate psychosocial assessment (including family relationships, home environment, emotional status, resources for coping and post hospital options) to evaluate potential progression-of-care barriers, appropriate post hospital needs, ability to cope with social issues surrounding patients illness and risk of re-hospitalization.
• D ocuments intervention in the medical record in accordance with department standards (85% Peer Review compliance).
• E ncourage healthcare team members in collaborative problem solving acting regarding plan of care and appropriate use of resources.
• E stablish and maintain effective professional working relationships with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members, payers and external case managers
• F acilitates or participates in family conferences as needed.
• K eeps team members apprised of outcomes.
• H elps patient/family understand, accept and follow medical recommendations within the context of self-determination.
• H elps team members understand the psychosocial issues that are impacting progression of care
• I dentify and record episodes of preventable delays or avoidable days due to failure of progression-of-care processes.
• I n collaboration with case manager and healthcare team, develops timely, effective discharge and continuity of care plans (including home care and alternate care placement) with patient/family which minimize non-acute days.
• I ndividual workload is organized and prioritized within a team context to meet patient care needs based on medical plan, patient needs and departmental policy and standards to minimize non-acute days.
• I nitiate appropriate plan of care to address holistic, age-specific needs and reflect the patient's changing condition.
• U ses appropriate skills related to knowledge of specific age needs and behaviors when communicating with and treating patients.
• K eeps current on all regulatory changes that affect delivery or reimbursement of acute care services
• M atches counseling technique to patient age culture, language and cognitive status.
• U ses appropriate skills in working with the geriatric population, such as speaking distinctly and slowly, providing time for decision making, verbalizing and moving, addressing patient as preferred, involving family or caregiver and considering barriers and limitations when planning for discharge.
• P ro-actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary clinical team to confirm appropriateness of the treatment plan relative to the patient's preference, reason for admission, and availability of resources.
• P rovide crisis intervention, supportive counseling and advocacy to assist patients and/or family with adjustment associated with chronic illness, hospitalization and/or alternative care placement based on assessment, principles of development and patient/family needs.
• F acilitates decision-making process as needed.
• R ecognize and respond appropriately to emotional risk factors.
• R eport and coordinate mandated child and elder abuse/neglect and domestic abuse and patient abuse as required by law.
• S erve as a resource person to physicians, case managers, physician offices, and billing office for coverage and compliance issues.
• T imely response to referrals of patients/families requiring psychosocial advocacy.
• U pdate all involved parties regarding progress, revisions and other information related to progression-of-care and the discharge plan
• U ses interpersonal skills which convey a positive and supportive attitude to patients, families, physicians, and staff(e.g., active listening, good communication, telephone etiquette)

Riverside Healthcare is revolutionizing care using leading-edge technology to diagnose and treat patients. We are ranked top in the nation for performance in neurosurgery, orthopedics, and heart surgery and have also been named one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics seven times. Riverside is nationally recognized for our specialty programs in obstetrics, trauma, oncology, rehabilitation, geriatrics, occupational health, psychiatric services, and treatment of alcohol and chemical dependency, as well as patient safety. We combine innovation and convenience at state-of-the-art facilities located in communities throughout the greater Kankakee area.

Riverside Medical Center proves that truly progressive medicine is being delivered in Chicago's southwest suburbs and East Central Illinois. Join a team that is not only concerned with providing the best care possible but also with offering a work environment of advancement and growth. Riverside is a place that embraces a culture where opinions count and dedications is respected, where superior performance is rewarded with competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Other information:

Exposure/Sensory Requirements

Exposure to:
Chemicals: NA
Video Display Terminals: Average
Blood and Body Fluids: Minimal exposure - to follow universal precautions.
TB or Airborne Pathogens: Potential risk for exposure, however, the degree of exposure is to be determined on an individual basis.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):
Speech: Needed for communicating, interviewing and counseling patients, families, staff and community agencies.
Vision: Needed to read memos and literature, and for interviewing and counseling..
Smell: NA
Hearing: Needed for communicating, interviewing, and counseling.
Touch: Needed for documentation.

Activity/Lifting Requirements

Average Hours per Week: 40

Shift: Days

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:
Sit: 70%
Twist: 3%
Stand: 10%
Crawl: 0%
Walk: 30%
Kneel: 1%
Lift: 1%
Drive: 0%
Squat: 1%
Climb: 0%
Bend: 1%
Reach above shoulders: 1%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:
Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
Up to 20 lbs: Not Required
Up to 35 lbs: Not Required
Up to 50 lbs: Not Required
Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.):
May occasionally carry books, charts, or printed material to specified locations for program set up.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:
Sit: 378
Twist: 0
Stand: 54
Crawl: 0
Walk: 162
Kneel: 5.4
Lift: 5.4
Drive: 0
Squat: 5.4
Climb: 0
Bend: 5.4
Reach above shoulders: 5.4

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):
Simple grasp up to 10 lbs. Normal weight occasional
Pushing & pulling Normal weight occasional
Fine Manipulation: Writing, use of computer keyboard, telephone use, push patient in wheelchair.

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: None

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards

Environmental Factors (Time Spent) :
Inside hours: 8
Outside hours : 0

Temperature: Normal Range
Lighting: Average
Noise levels: Average
Humidity: Normal Range
Atmosphere:

Special Hazards : NA
Protective Clothing Required: None

To apply please email your resume to hr@rhc.net