Psychiatric Social Worker​/Lmhc

PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER/LMHC at Westchester Medical Center Health Network

The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor is responsible for providing thorough and clinically appropriate, culturally competent and trauma informed social work interventions including, but not limited to, social work psychiatric emergency evaluations, psychosocial assessments, person-centered treatment planning, group and individual therapy/psychoeducation, crisis interventions, family/collateral engagement and coordination of aftercare. The Psychiatric Social Worker achieves the expected productivity standard and thoroughly completes all documentation within the required timeframe.

The Psychiatric Social Worker serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, communicating and escalating issues as they arise to help ensure excellent patient care.

• Individual evaluation and assessment: utilize records to gather psychosocial and diagnostic data, conduct patient interviews and interviews of family members/caregivers and community providers, assess mental status, psychosocial functioning, and symptom extent. Identify needs and coordinate discharge resources.
• Emergency Department duties: conduct social work psychiatric emergency evaluations and, in the ED, partake in discharge planning.
• Treatment and discharge planning: participate in an interdisciplinary team to determine appropriate evidence-based interventions, program eligibility, and services following hospital policy and federal/state regulations.
• Engagement and supportive counseling: rapidly build rapport and a therapeutic alliance, provide crisis intervention, stabilization, and brief supportive/solution-focused therapy to patients and caregivers.
• Documentation of services: maintain timely, thorough records of assessments, interventions, planning, and communications with internal and external stakeholders.
• Team collaboration: work collaboratively, respectfully, and effectively with others, communicating efficiently to coordinate streamlined patient care.
• Liaison functions: initiate and maintain contact with patients’ families, outpatient providers, schools, probation/parole officers, and other supports, obtaining collateral information and notifying on disposition.
• Provide culturally competent care: respond to the unique needs of minority populations and people with disabilities, offering culturally sensitive prevention, outreach, assessment, and intervention.
• Patient advocacy: act in patients’ best interests and advocate on their behalf while maintaining confidentiality.
• Policy compliance: practice according to hospital and departmental policies, and state and federal regulations.
• Supervision and orientation: supervise and orient students, support staff, and new staff.
• Cross training and coverage: provide Social Work/Mental Health Counselor coverage in other hospital areas as assigned.
• Continuing education: participate in continuing education and complete all mandatory hospital and department trainings before deadlines.
• Committee participation: represent the department on hospital committees and external meetings.
• Quality assessment and performance improvement: participate in QA and PI programs as appropriate.
• Other duties: perform any duties as assigned and serve as a brand ambassador by upholding the WMCHealth Mission, Vision, and CARE values.

• Experience
  : two years post-graduate experience in a medical, mental health, or human services setting as a member of a multidisciplinary team is preferred.
• Education
  :
  Master’s degree in Social Work or Mental Health Counseling from an accredited graduate program.
• Licenses/Certifications
  :
  New York State Social Work or Mental Health Counseling license required.
• Other
  : anticipate contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials; exercise universal precautions, use PPE, and learn infection control policies. Demonstrated experience in individual, family, group, or couples therapy and with complex cases. Excellent oral and written communication and basic computer skills, including typing, with the ability to function independently with minimal supervision.

• Entry level

• Full-time

• Other

• Hospitals and Health Care