Social Worker, Acute Psychiatry Service & IP Consult Services

Social Worker/ 40 Hours/ Evening Shift (3:00/ 4:00 PM - 11:30 PM/ 12:30 AM)

Acute Psychiatry Service/ Emergency Department/ Consult Liaison Services

LICSW/ LCSW/ LMHC/ New Grads

Highlights:

• The Social Worker works collaboratively with the medical, psychiatry, and system behavioral health teams, to provide direct administrative support to the discharge planning processes, and under the supervision of the Clinical Program Manager for ED & Inpatient Care Coordination.

• The primary responsibility of the Social Worker is to ensure patient dispositions are secured in an efficient manner and to assure a seamless and timely transition of these patients from the unit/service to the next level of care.

• The person in this position will support the clinical units and have direct interaction with patients and their families, clinical and ancillary hospital staff, and other internal and external stakeholders.

• Additional responsibilities of this position include obtaining all necessary insurance authorizations for admissions and assuring timely transitions for patients out of the Acute Psychiatry Service (APS)/ED or med/surg unit and into an appropriate level of care. This position includes phone/fax contact with other mental health facilities and collaborative discussion with MGB and outside hospitals to address barriers to placement. Additionally, in this role, one would also arrange partial hospitalization, outpatient treatment and community supports when indicated.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

• Ensure timely disposition of patients from the referring unit. This duty includes contacting the patient's insurance for pre-authorization and liaising with the MGB Central Access team to relay patient needs and clinical information. In cases where placement may not be necessary, the Social Worker finds and refers patients to appropriate community resources.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the MGH medical floors and the MGB Central Access team and Psychiatry when working on the Consult services.

• Collaborate and consult with professionals and providers inside and outside of MGH to develop and implement pre-admission and outpatient care.

• Refer to and collaborate with interdepartmental specialists and programs, outside agencies, Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHC), facilities, payers, and other relevant community resources.

• Arrange outpatient follow-up appointments for patients being discharged, which may include obtaining new psychiatry and therapy appointments, obtaining new PCP or medical appointments, referring for additional community resources, and documenting appointments in the electronic health record.

• Serve as a point of contact for patients and their families with questions about services and resources.

• Facilitate the appropriate and efficient use of hospital and community resources.

• Serve as the point of contact for the patient's insurance provider and communicate updates as required.

• Arrange for and track delivery of paperwork prior to discharge or transfer.

• Work collaboratively with the inpatient floor Case Manager and Ambulance Services Transportation Liaison for the hospital to coordinate the various modes of discharge transportation for patients supported by CL or Child Consults on medical/surgical floors served inpatients.

• Access and navigate the electronic health record to obtain essential information and document progress per department standards.

• Research and secure resources utilizing the central resource database and maintain a current list of active resources.

• Attend and participate in monthly APS staff meetings and daily APS rounds.

• May provide coverage for other APS clinical social workers and other psychiatry staff as appropriate.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• License required: Massachusetts Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) OR Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)/ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with relevant clinical experience required, or must obtain MA Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) within 4 months of start date.

• Master's degree required: Master's of Social Work (MSW), Master's in Mental Health Counseling (MHC).

• Experience in acute/emergency psychiatric care strongly preferred.

• 1-3 years of experience preferred.

Skills & Competencies Required:

• Independent, responsible, and determined self-starter with ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment to help formulate assessment, disposition, and treatment planning.

• Comfort with learning new technology and learning digital tools.

• Exceptional ability to remain calm and focused in a challenging and highly dynamic setting.

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task.

• Ability to be flexible and resourceful.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.

• 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.

• Advanced crisis intervention/treatment/management skills preferred.

• Knowledge of community agencies/resources. Ability to advocate/negotiate systems for/with patients.

• Maintains a basic understanding of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC).

Professional Conduct:

• Achieves licensure at LICSW/LCSW/LMHC level and complies with licensure requirements.

• Keeps current with social work and health care developments pertinent to job and profession.

• Adheres to the profession's clinical standards and Code of Ethics.

• Adheres to the Department and Hospital standards, policies, and procedures.

• Attends pertinent 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.