Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Geriatric ED

About GW MFA

MFA physicians provide comprehensive patient care, offering one practice for the whole person with 52 medical and surgical specialties. As members of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences faculty, MFA providers are teachers and mentors for medical students, residents, fellows, and researchers preserving the rich tradition of academics, research, and healing. In addition to maintaining a closely integrated alliance with The George Washington University and The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) which is separately owned and operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), the GW MFA has active referring relationships with 12 area hospitals.

The GW MFA's leading healthcare presence in the DC metro region is complemented by a network of community-based practices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Given its geographic location in central NW Washington, DC, and proximity to more than 175 resident embassies, the MFA continues to evolve its international clinical outreach.

Position Summary

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (SW) (MSW required, LGSW or LICSW preferred) for the Geriatric Emergency Department is responsible for providing psychosocial and clinical support services specifically to older adult patients and their families, starting with their visit to the emergency department (ED). The SW assesses patients from a diverse population and will establish plans for effective management of identified needs in the acute care setting.

The SW acts as an advocate for patients and provides supportive, short-term counseling and crisis intervention to individuals and/or their families. The LCSW will also provide clinical and resource support services to patients and their families, for both short and long term services. Additionally, the candidate will develop and facilitate ongoing educational support groups and programs. Competitive candidates will have an in-depth understanding and will be particularly sensitive to the unique needs and standards of care for older adults in the ED setting. Through their understanding of the complexities of aging, the right person for this position will show dedication to improving patient and family experience and outcomes.

This position represents an incredible opportunity for the right candidate to develop a program and enhance their career.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (please note that other duties may be assigned as the position evolves):

• Work on an interdisciplinary healthcare team

• Act as a liaison between internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative care

• Conduct initial and ongoing comprehensive psychosocial assessments and develops a care plan with patients and their family members

• Advocate for better meeting of those needs with appropriate agencies or with further program development

• When appropriate, provides patients and families with mental health counseling and therapy, crisis intervention counseling, this may at times involve the psychiatry team

• Demonstrates an ability to discuss goals of care, manage expectations regarding ED or hospital stay, and when needed, grief counseling

• Maintains comprehensive, timely and accurate documentation in the electronic health record

• Provides patients and families with long-term planning consultation, information and referrals to appropriate community resources, financial and/or healthcare resources.

• Collaborates with representatives of community services to enable patients to resolve non-medical problems and to facilitate referral of patients to other sources of assistance.

• Provides referrals for community resources

• Provides intervention with older adult populations presenting to the Emergency Department for Substance Use Disorder and Acute Intoxication

• Engages in medical case management with patients in the ED to address social determinants of health and provide advocacy, patient education and support/referral to community-based resources and services when issues are identified

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Masters Degree in Social Work and current licensure in clinical social work (LCSW), LGSW or LICSW preferred.

Licensure

• A current social work license in the District of Columbia.

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years of clinical social work experience. Knowledge of mental health resources available in Washington, DC preferred.

• Knowledge of psychosocial resources available in Washington, DC preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Sit, walk, reach, bend, or twist for long periods of time in a clinical setting.

• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 100 lbs. as part of the role.

• Regularly exposed to healthcare settings that may require personal protective equipment.

• Requires manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, calculator, copier machine, and other equipment.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)

• Dental insurance

• Employee assistance program

• Flexible spending account

• Health insurance

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Tuition reimbursement

• Vision insurance