Social Worker, Child and Adolescent Services, Beverly Hospital – Amesbury, MA (PRN/On Call)

Patient-Centered Care

We treat everyone seeking care as we would a family member or a dear friend. We manifest this commitment in the manner in which we interact with patients and referral sources and in the timeliness of our responses to enquiries for care. We demonstrate empathy and patience even when consumers and family members may be unable to manage their own behavior as a consequence of their illness, fears and frustrations. We strive to incorporate patient and family needs in the design and function of treatment space, intake and registration processes, medical charting, billing practices, and other operations.

• Calm, courteous, and thoughtful patient and family interactions
• Answers phone with courtesy
• Professional presentation in dress, appearance, and speech
• Accurately gathers and appropriately conveys patient and family concerns and feedback
• Adheres to all policies and procedures pertaining to the confidentiality of Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Effectively communicates information to patients, families, physicians, treatment team, community agencies and other healthcare providers
• Promotes a positive, non- punitive atmosphere in all interactions with patients and families
• Contributes to maintaining a clean, organized and pleasant treatment space
• Adheres to all Sheppard Pratt and host hospital policies and procedures relating to patient-centered care
• Participates in patient-centered care training
  
  
  

Teamwork

We treat all caregivers and support staff as valued team members. We strive to work across departmental barriers in pursuit of our common goal to create healthy, sustainable health care. We utilize structured feedback captured through evaluations, job dialogues, and surveys of team members, patients, and referral sources as an essential management tool to evaluate individual performance and organizational health and success.

• On-time and ready to work according to scheduled hours
• Conveys an attitude of respect, teamwork, and colleagueship with all fellow care givers
• Works cooperatively with all ancillary department personnel
• Accepts and incorporates feedback from peers, subordinates, and supervisors
• Attends or reads all staff meeting documentation
• Demonstrates conflict resolution skills
• Helps to maintain an environment of trust, respect, and fairness
• Promptly returns phone calls
• Finishes duties and assignments on time
• On-time for appointments and meetings
• Dependable colleague for all scheduled shifts; provides sufficient notice for absences
• Provide ongoing collaboration with members or the interdisciplinary treatment team to ensure understanding of patient’s treatment goals and plans
• Provide supervision, as requested, to MSW and/or BSW students. Adhere to all training requests from the host college/university
• Participate in the orientation of all new employees with respect to Social Work functions at host hospital
• Provide clinical supervision to LCSWs when requested, including appropriate documentation of supervisory encounters
• Maintain clinical leadership position through effective role modeling, training and communication with staff
• Participate in the assessment of training and performance improvement needs on the Unit and collaborate with management and staff in the development of appropriate programming, e.g. human rights, cultural diversity, family educational programs, substance abuse, domestic violence, trauma assessment, family systems training.
  
  
  

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Evidence-Based Assessment and Therapies

We utilize evidence-based assessments and patient interventions, and we collect and use data to assess the quality and success of our clinical efforts. We strive to create organizations of open-minded learners informed by sources within and outside health care. We comply with all Joint Commission, Regulatory and host hospital standards and Policies and Procedures.

• Completes Psychosocial Assessment of all patients within hospital policy, including meeting with family and/or guardians whenever possible
• Participate in and clearly document the development of a multidisciplinary treatment plan based on patient strengths, diagnoses and psychosocial profile
• Develop a comprehensive discharge plan that is responsive to the needs of the patient, their family and the Make appropriate referrals for aftercare in collaboration with Utilization Review Coordinator.
• Coordinate and participate in discharge meeting with patient, family, and community providers whenever possible. Timely completion of discharge summary
• Provide individual, family and/or group therapy as outlined in the multidisciplinary treatment plan
• Contact outpatient providers and agencies (e.g. PCPs, DSS, DMH, DMR, DYS, school systems, therapists, psychiatrists, residential program staff, probation officers, and attorneys) as soon as possible following patient admission to coordinate treatment and discharge planning. Maintain ongoing collaborative relationships with outside providers including telephone consultation, systems meetings as appropriate, and off-site visits
• Participate in all legal and/or regulatory hearings as required
• Participate in Utilization Management activities, including level of care reviews, appeals, and communication with families/guardians regarding managed care parameters
• Complete all documentation requirements in a timely manner, including psychosocial assessments, discharge summaries, clinical summaries, and social work notes in the medical chart. All documentation must be concise, legible, and consistent with the policies of Psychiatric Services
• Maintains licensing requirements, Restraint Training, CPR, and other host site required in-services and certifications
• Is aware of and participates in current CQI activities and projects
• If designated, serves as Human Rights Officer for the unit. Acts as a knowledgeable resource for patients, families and staff regarding regulatory and human rights, effectively investigates complaints, and ensures follow-through with unit Director. Attends annual DMH human rights officer training
  
  
  

Fiscal Responsibilities

We prescribe and implement treatment services that are financially and operationally sustainable within the limits of reimbursement and hospital allocations of charitable giving. We use data-driven process improvement to guide our interventions and business operations. We provide services up to the full limits of inpatient bed capacity, ambulatory care availability, and staff expertise.

• Is aware and supportive of importance of treating all appropriate patients up to unit census capacity
• Participates in “right-staffing” within the limits of our reimbursement for services
• Acts as a responsible steward of expenses through punching in and out within scheduled hours; avoids unnecessary overtime expense
• Accurately documents all clinical activities in support of appropriate reimbursement and regulatory requirements
• Supports our positive image as a quality health care services provider and helps to project this image to our patients and customers
• Is aware of patient and hospital costs and avoids excessive or unnecessary costs
• Maintains confidentiality of Sheppard Pratt and host hospital financial information.
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Requires Masters or Doctorate degree; compliance with host hospital standards including CPR and Restraint Training.
• Masters or PhD in Social Work with appropriate licensing. Prior experience working within an inpatient behavioral health care setting is preferred.
• Social Workers must have advanced level knowledge and experience in the application of clinical behavioral health treatment modalities for patients with psychiatric illnesses.
• Must demonstrate competency in the areas listed in this job description and possess the knowledge base, skill and ability to work in an acute inpatient setting
• Ability to complete BLS Training and Avade workplace violence prevention training.
  
  
  

Working Conditions: Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability(s) to perform the essential functions of this position.

• This position requires direct care to patients including lifting, moving and assisting. Regular standing, bending, walking and lifting.
• Capacity to participate in physical restraints of patients and to perform all aspects of Basic Life Support (BLS).
• The work environment is a locked inpatient psychiatric program for children and adolescents aged four through seventeen that operates 24 hours/day seven days a week.
• Must possess adequate strength and stamina to work on their feet for the work day.
• Should possess an ability to recognize patient care problems as they arise. In response to these situations, Social Workers effectively assist their colleagues in the implementation of appropriate interventions for patients, their families, and the milieu.
• May be exposed to violent/aggressive behavior, communicable diseases, blood/body fluids, and hazardous waste.