Social Worker I

Work Shift

Day

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Summary

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing our patients and their families support and resources to manage the many psychosocial aspects of illness. A social worker works with patients and their identified support system to access the needed resources to cope with illness and life changes triggered by illness. This may include referral to needed community resources, assistance in applying for financial assistance programs or the provision of supportive counseling in coping with illness and the life changes resulting from illness.

Job Description

Job Duties/Essential Functions

• Job Duties
• Ensure that all accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families and co-workers at hand offs and other times as needed. Take all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information in order to allow for the best possible patient outcome.
• Assesses patient/family social, emotional and economic factors through initial assessment and ongoing evaluation/assessment and reassessment.
• Serves as a resource to the patient/family assisting them with accessing appropriate resources to address concerns/needs.
• Actively participates in multidisciplinary team meetings advocating for the patient and educating team regarding psychosocial issues impacting ability to cope with health care concerns and safely preparing for care transitions/discharge planning.
• Documents in the medical record accurately, timely and in accordance with professional and department-specific standards.
• Demonstrates an understanding and an ability to work effectively with the community professionals/agencies providing patient services throughout the continuum of care.
• Maintains current knowledge of community and other resource networks for planning/provision to meet patients' needs.
• Performs supportive counseling services and crisis intervention to patients and families.
• Demonstrates skills in advocacy for all populations served.
• Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.

Department Specific Duties

Behavioral Health

• Assists in re-certification and utilization review process for Medicaid Behavioral Services for patients placed on medical floors.
• Demonstrates an ability to de-escalate patient situation utilizing CPI techniques. (ED; Behavioral)
• Assists in transfer, change in level of care and discharge planning by implementing and coordinating services required for discharge throughout the hospital
• Works with inter-disciplinary team (Doctors, Nurses, Access, and Social Workers) to facilitate discharge planning.
• Assists with psychiatric bed placement.
• Completes substance abuse use/chemical dependency consults in ED and throughout the hospital.
• Provides back-up coverage to Behavioral Unit Social Worker, as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates critical thinking when assessing and assisting patients and their families in managing health care needs.
• Upholds the required legal standards for reporting situations, including child/dependent adult abuse, and domestic violence.
• Keyboarding and able to work with multiple computer software programs.

Professional Experience

• Social Work experience in a Health Care setting is preferred

Education

• Bachelor's degree is required, strongly prefer Bachelor's in Social Work.
• Bachelor's in a related area i.e. psychology, human services may be considered.

Licensure, Certification, Registration

• Social Work licensure preferred
• Current and valid driver's license, own transportation and automobile insurance required.
• Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse/Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required. Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Mercy is an independent, community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years.

Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.