Clinical Social Worker- Inpatient Psych

Inpatient Psych - Clinical Social Worker (LCSW or LICSW) Full Time/ 40 Hours/ MGH Boston

The Inpatient Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, is an integral member of the interdisciplinary team who provides and oversees the provision of psychosocial care for patients and families. Conducts rapid clinical biopsychosocial assessments, provides intervention and treatment as indicated.  Identifies high risk psychosocial factors that impact health status and helps care teams understand the influence of those factors on the course of medical care. Drives evaluation, intervention and planning for patients with complex psychosocial risk (e.g., safety concerns, protective services, homelessness, etc.). Works effectively as part of social work and interdisciplinary health care teams.  Provides clinical services to patients/families that address psychosocial, environmental, age specific and cultural issues to maximize emotional, social and physical wellbeing and the effective use of health care and community resources. Vital collaborator on the care team to help reduce length of stay and readmission due to psychosocial factors. Collaborates with and provides social work consultation to other disciplines within the Hospital and community.  Participates on Departmental, Hospital, community task forces and committees. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES                    

Clinical Practice:

• Rapidly performs clinical biopsychosocial assessments to include evaluation of social history, current functioning, mental health, substance use, psychiatric history, support system, coping styles, understanding of illness, barriers to care, cultural issues, abuse/neglect/safety concerns, intimate partner violence. 
• Provides psychosocial assessment of families to determine family relationships/systems as they relate to care of the patient. Identifies family decision makers and caregivers, family understanding of illness and trajectory of care and coping styles. 
• Formulates diagnostic impressions, recommendations, and plan. Collaborates with care team to develop and optimize plan of care and disposition to reduce length of stay and readmission.
• Works in a very fast-paced, dynamic, demanding environment, receiving consults throughout the day to evaluate a broad range of issues and concerns acutely. Manages consultation requests by understanding and prioritizing needs relative to patient acuity and barriers to safe discharge. 
• Consult reasons include but are not limited to: adjustment to new diagnosis/illness/injury, end of life and complex bereavement needs, safety concerns including child, disabled, elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, trauma, mental health and psychiatric concerns, complex relationship and family dynamics, coping, advanced directive/guardianship and custody concerns, limited support and accessing resources. Several inpatient practice areas require specific consultation, e.g., high-risk OB GYN, transplant, burns.
• Provides mandated assessments when abuse is suspected (child, disabled adult, elder) and specialized safety assessment when violence is suspected. Files mandated reports as indicated. Provides consultation and guidance to mandated reporters of other disciplines when they must file.
• As the primary mental health clinician on care teams, employs a range of clinical interventions such as psychotherapy (individual, couples, families, and group), short-term counseling, crisis intervention, safety planning, care coordination, complementary therapies, information and referral.  Advocates on behalf of patients and families to gain access to services and resources.
• Works effectively as a vital collaborator with the interdisciplinary care team.  Provides psychosocial consultation on patient/family care and management.
• Facilitates the appropriate and efficient use of Hospital resources.
• Collaborates with many internal collaterals to include but not limited to: Patient Advocacy, Office of General Counsel, Optimum Care Committee, Child Protection Team, HAVEN, Police and Security, International Office, Office of Decedent Affairs, and external collateral contacts and agencies to optimize the plan of care for patients and families.
• Works effectively as part of a social work team, providing cross coverage for social work colleagues on a broad range of inpatient services.
• Provides risk management.
• Identifies clinical and systemic problems/issues for quality improvement.  Leads/participates in formal QI programs and committees.
• Facilitates, presents, and/or participates in formal and informal case reviews and educational seminars.
• Receives weekly clinical supervision from LICSW staff to continue to develop knowledge, skills and expertise.
• May participate in research projects.  May initiate/implement psychosocial programs based on patient/family identified need.  Programs may be intermittent, informal or ongoing, formal.
• Participates in on-site and on-call duties as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.  

 PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching and Education:

• Assesses patient/family learning needs, styles and readiness.  Educates patients/families based on treatment plan, identified barriers to care, diversity and equity issues and learning styles.
• May mentor staff.  May teach in Departmental and Hospital seminars/workshops/rounds.
• Provides education and consultation to interdisciplinary health care providers, social work staff, students and community on psychosocial issues for patients.
• Facilitates, leads, or participates in Departmental and Hospital committees.

Collaboration:

• Collaborates and consults with patient, families, and providers within the Hospital and community to develop and implement patient care plans.  Refers to and collaborates with Departmental programs, Hospital programs, outside agencies, facilities, payors, and other relevant community resources.

Organizational/Administrative Skills:

• Takes responsibility for own administrative duties, including timely and accurate reporting of time worked.
• Completes timely clinical documentation including psychosocial assessment and progress notes.
• Attends and participates in Social Work Staff Meetings, Social Work Team Meetings, and interdisciplinary meetings/rounds.
• Participates in Departmental and Hospital committees.

Professional Conduct:

• Adheres to the profession's clinical standards and Code of Ethics.
• Adheres to the Department and Hospital standards, policies and procedures.
• Promotes Departmental and Hospital public relations. Provides risk management.

Teaching and Education:

• Assesses patient/family learning needs, styles and readiness.  Educates patients/families based on treatment plan, identified barriers to care, diversity and equity issues and learning styles.
• May mentor staff.  May teach in Departmental and Hospital seminars/workshops/rounds.
• Provides education and consultation to interdisciplinary health care providers, social work staff, students and community on psychosocial issues for patients.
• Facilitates, leads, or participates in Departmental and Hospital committees.

Collaboration:

• Collaborates and consults with patient, families, and providers within the Hospital and community to develop and implement patient care plans.  Refers to and collaborates with Departmental programs, Hospital programs, outside agencies, facilities, payors, and other relevant community resources.

Organizational/Administrative Skills:

• Takes responsibility for own administrative duties, including timely and accurate reporting of time worked.
• Completes timely clinical documentation including psychosocial assessment and progress notes.
• Attends and participates in Social Work Staff Meetings, Social Work Team Meetings, and interdisciplinary meetings/rounds.
• Participates in Departmental and Hospital committees.

Professional Conduct:

• Adheres to the profession's clinical standards and Code of Ethics.
• Adheres to the Department and Hospital standards, policies and procedures.
• Promotes Departmental and Hospital public relations. Provides risk management.
• Adheres to Departmental and Hospital quality/safety standards.

Professional Development:

• Participates in weekly individual clinical supervision as appropriate to level of licensure/professional development.
• Is responsible for own professional development.  Attends continuing education and professional activities related to job responsibilities and career goals.  Keeps current with social work and health care developments pertinent to job and profession.
• Achieves licensure at LICSW level when eligible.  Complies with licensure requirements.

Patient Population:

• Each Clinical Social Worker has responsibility for a specified patient population(s) as deigned by service and agreed upon by Clinical Leader.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's of Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program required.
• Massachusetts Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) required or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with relevant clinical experience.
• If hired as an LCSW, the Social Worker is expected to fulfill the requirements to obtain their LICSW when eligible.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED    

• Knowledge of specific medical/psychiatric illnesses, procedures and treatments, related medications (i.e., psychotropic, chemotherapy, etc.), acuity versus chronicity, effect on normal growth and development specific to service. Through ongoing clinical supervision and by gaining additional experience will further refine and expand this knowledgebase.
• Ability to rapidly conduct and develop comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments responsive to age-appropriate patient/family needs and concerns. Through ongoing clinical supervision and by gaining additional experience, will further expand and refine this skillset.
• Ability to provide short term or long-term treatment/management with individuals, families, couples and groups.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to prioritize effectively to complete work in a timely way in the acute care environment.
• Strong assessment, crisis intervention and treatment skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills enabling effective collaboration.
• Experience in assessing and intervening or willingness to learn how to assess and intervene in abuse/neglect, violence, trauma, grief, loss and bereavement. Though ongoing clinical supervision and by gaining additional experience, will further expand and refine this skillset.
• Competence working with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Demonstrates ability to understand the role of a Clinical Social Worker in a health care setting, highly motivated and capable of performing effectively in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• High degree of flexibility, independence, ability to prioritize multiple acute concerns, advanced management skills, Strong sense of initiative and perseverance to carry through to completion of tasks.
• Develops an effective working relationship with patient/family to engage, collaborate, advocate and problem solve to enhance their functioning.
• Develops effective working relationships with interdisciplinary colleagues, multiple rotating care teams, internal collaterals and external collateral agencies to engage, collaborate, advocate and problem solve to optimize a plan of care, reduce length of stay and avoid readmission.
• Demonstrated competency in age specific behaviors; cultural issues; impact of illness on patients/families.
• Provides consultation, information, and professional support to interdisciplinary team members and social work colleagues.
• Knowledge of community agencies/resources.
• Ability to navigate complex systems with patients/families and to effectively advocate on their behalf.
• Documents in medical record according to Departmental policies and procedures.
• Maintains patient/family confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and MGH policies.

WORKING CONDITIONS             

• Inpatient Clinical Social Workers provide care at the bedside, in treatment areas and offices. They are required to be fitted for PPE to conduct care with patients on specific infection control precautions and to adhere to those infection control protocols and standards.