Social Worker II; LMSW

Position: Social Worker II (LMSW)
At Houston Methodist, the Social Worker II (SW II) position comprehensively provides compassionate, clinical social work, psychosocial assessments, diagnosis and treatments, and complex discharge planning to patients and their families of a targeted patient population on a designated unit(s). In collaboration with physicians and the interprofessional health care team, this position sensitizes other health care providers to the social and emotional aspects of a patient's illness to collaboratively facilitate efficient quality care and achievement of desired treatment outcomes and affect positive patient and family outcomes.

This position uses case management skills to help patients and their families address and resolve the social, financial and psychological problems related to their health condition. The SW II position holds joint accountability with case manager, assuring that psychosocial and continuing care issues are addressed and treated as needed across the continuum of care and has responsibility for unit or departmental social work program development.

This position serves as a hospital-wide, service-line leader for psychosocial related issues, complex discharge planning activities, and population disease management.

FLSA STATUS
Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Master's degree in social work from accredited university

EXPERIENCE

• Three (3) years social services experience in a healthcare setting

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• LMSW
  - Licensed Medical Social Worker
  - State Licensure
  - Texas Department of Licensing and  
  and
• Magnet ANCC-recognized Case Management certification

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Knowledge of community resources and health care financial and payer issues, and eligibility for state, local and federal programs
• Maintains individual competencies around critical Social Work functions including; payor rules and regulations, psycho-social assessments and discharge planning methods
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in interactions with physicians, payors, and patients and their families
• Well versed in computer skills of the entire Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word)
• Critical thinking, collaboration, negotiation, and mediation skills
• Time management and prioritization skills
• Adherence to the clinical practice standards set forth by NASW practice standards for healthcare settings and more specifically in hospitals and medical centers
• Maintains level of professional contributions as defined in Career Path program

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Role models communication in an active, positive and effective manner to all health care team members and reports pertinent patient care and family data in a comprehensive and unbiased manner, listens and responds to the ideas of others. Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients and families and communicates the discharge plan, facilitating transitions and hand-offs. Supports patients and families in clinical or ethical issues.
• Provides staff education specific to patient populations and departmental processes. Functions as a preceptor and mentor to new employees. Identifies opportunities for professional growth of self and peers.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as a hospital/post acute-based leader for comprehensive case management activities including assessing high-risk patients and leading team to identify at-risk patients, participating in daily Care Coordination rounds, and identifying and leading resolution to barriers of efficient patient throughput. Completes a full assessment based on the social work assessment, leading and addressing solutions of social determinants which is accomplished by patient/family interview, review of the medical record including previous episodes of care, H&P, lab and other test results/findings, plan of care, physician orders, nursing and progress notes.
  
  Uses advanced knowledge and clinical expertise and screening tools to identify need for case management and/or social work intervention.
• Addresses and manages conflict associated with a comprehensive psychosocial treatment plan utilizing appropriate clinical social work diagnoses, treatments and interventions, including crisis intervention, brief individual, marital and family therapies, and patient, family and caregiver groups. Maintains ownership of the psychosocial component, assessments, diagnosis and…