Social Worker II

At Houston Methodist the Social Worker II (SWII) position comprehensively provides compassionate clinical socialwork psychosocial assessments diagnosis and treatments and complexdischarge planning to patients and their families of a targetedpatient population on a designated unit(s). In collaboration withphysicians and the interprofessional health care team this positionsensitizes other health care providers to the social and emotionalaspects of a patients illness to collaboratively facilitateefficient quality care and achievement of desired treatmentoutcomes and affect positive patient and family outcomes. Thisposition uses case management skills to help patients and theirfamilies address and resolve the social financial and psychologicalproblems related to their health condition. The SW II positionholds joint accountability with case manager assuring thatpsychosocial and continuing care issues are addressed and treatedas needed across the continuum of care and has responsibility forunit or departmental social work program development. This positionserves as a hospitalwide serviceline leader for psychosocialrelated issues complex discharge planning activities and populationdisease management.

PEOPLE ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

• Role modelscommunication in an active positive and effective manner to allhealth care team members and reports pertinent patient care andfamily data in a comprehensive and unbiased manner listens andresponds to the ideas of others. Uses therapeutic communication toestablish a relationship with patients and families andcommunicates the discharge plan facilitating transitions andhandoffs. Supports patients and families in clinical or ethicalissues.

• Provides staffeducation specific to patient populations and departmentalprocesses. Functions as a preceptor and mentor to new employees.Identifies opportunities for professional growth of self andpeers.

SERVICE ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

• Serves as ahospital/post acutebased leader for comprehensive case managementactivities including assessing highrisk patients and leading teamto identify atrisk patients participating in daily CareCoordination rounds and identifying and leading resolution tobarriers of efficient patient throughput. Completes a fullassessment based on the social work assessment leading andaddressing solutions of social determinants which is accomplishedby patient/family interview review of the medical record includingprevious episodes of care H&P lab and other testresults/findings plan of care physician orders nursing and progressnotes. Uses advanced knowledge and clinical expertise and screeningtools to identify need for case management and/or social workintervention.

• Addressesand manages conflict associated with a comprehensive psychosocialtreatment plan utilizing appropriate clinical social work diagnosestreatments and interventions including crisis intervention briefindividual marital and family therapies and patient family andcaregiver groups. Maintains ownership of the psychosocial componentassessments diagnosis and treatment of the discharge planningprocess on assigned units. Assists with screening identificationdiagnosis management and treatment of victims of abuse neglect anddomestic violence and of mental health and/or substance abuseproblems in patients and familymembers.

• Establishesmutual educational goals with patient and family providingappropriate resources incorporating planning for care afterdischarge. Provides education to physicians and otherinterprofessional health care team members on mutually identifiedgoals of care and uses knowledge of levels of care working withpatient and family to ensure discharge disposition is theappropriate level and facilitatestransfers.

• Uses knowledgefor different levels of care working with patient and family toensure discharge disposition is to the appropriate level andfacilitates transfers Provides brief goaldirected counselingservices to assist patients/families to cope more effectively withthetransition.

QUALITY/SAFETYESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

• Consistentlydocuments to reflect completed patient screening/assessment andreassessment upon admission and concurrently as needed. Modifiescare based on continuous evaluation of the patients conditiondemonstrates problemsolving and critical thinking and makesdecisions using evidencebased analytical approach. Considersvariables that impact treatment plans including diagnosis ofemotional social and environmental strengths and problems relatedto their illness treatment and/or lifesituation.

• Consistentlyreviews the total picture of the patient for opportunities for carefacilitation and needs for discharge planning. Works with casemanager for routine discharge and anticipates/prevents andmanages/elevates emergent situations with specific focus given todischarge plan and elimination of psychosocialbarriers.

• Collaborateswith staff from the interprofessional health care team concerningsafety data to improve outcomes and the safe transition of carethrough effective patienthandoffs.

FINANCE ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

• Completes timelyand thorough assessment on all unfunded patients to identifycommunity resources required for effective transition bydemonstrating an effective community resource knowledge base andjudgment/ability to effectively select and coordinate availableresources including referrals to regulatory agencies i.e.CPS/APS.

• Identifiesobtains and utilizes alternative resources to fill gaps inestablished communityresources.

• Guidesdischarge planning activities for assigned patients andcollaborates with the case managers and other members of theinterprofessional health care team as well as patient and family byintervening and coordinating costeffective complex dischargeplanning outcomes and decreased length ofstay.

GROWTH/INNOVATIONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides educationto hospital physicians nurses and other healthcare providers oncommunity resources and psychosocial impact on careneeds.

• Identifies areasfor improvement based on understanding of evidencebased practiceliterature. Completes and updates the individual development plan(IDP) on an ongoingbasis.

• Identifiesinitiates and leads evidencebased practice/performance improvementprojects based on observations by offering solutions andparticipating in unit projects andactivities.

This job description isnot intended to be allinclusive; the employee will also performother reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. HoustonMethodist reserves the right to revise job duties andresponsibilities as the need arises.EDUCATION

• MasterDegree in Social Work from accredited University(MSW)

WORKEXPERIENCE

• Three (3) yearssocial services experience in a healthcaresetting

LICENSES ANDCERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• LCSWLicense Clinical Social Worker State Licensure No additionalcredential needed if LCSWOR
• LMSW Licensed MedicalSocial Worker State Licensure if LMSW need one additionalcredential AND
• ACMSWAccredited Case ManagerSocial Worker (ACMA)OR
• CCM Certified CaseManager OR
• ACM AccreditedCase Manager (NBCM) OR
• ACMAccredited Case Manager (ACMA)OR
• CSWHC Certified SocialWorker in Health Care (NASW)

KNOWLEDGE SKILLSAND ABILITIES

• Demonstratesthe skills and competencies necessary to safely perform theassigned job determined through ongoing skills competencyassessments and performanceevaluations

• Sufficientproficiency in speaking reading and writing the English languagenecessary to perform the essential functions of this job especiallywith regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety orsecurity

• Ability toeffectively communicate with patients physicians family members andcoworkers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus andapplication of positive languageprinciples

• Knowledge ofcommunity resources and health care financial and payer issues andeligibility for state local and federalprograms

• Maintainsindividual competencies around critical Social Work functionsincluding; payor rules and regulations psychosocial assessments anddischarge planningmethods

• Ability to workindependently and exercise sound judgment in interactions withphysicians payors and patients and theirfamilies

• Well versed incomputer skills of the entire Microsoft Office Suite (Access ExcelOutlook PowerPoint andWord)

• Critical thinkingcollaboration negotiation and mediationskills

• Time management andprioritizationskills

• Adherence to theclinical practice standards set forth by NASW practice standardsfor healthcare settings and more specifically in hospitals andmedical centers

• Maintainslevel of professional contributions as defined in Career Pathprogram

SUPPLEMENTALREQUIREMENTS

WORKATTIRE

• UniformNo
• Scrubs No
• Businessprofessional Yes
• Other (department approved)No

ONCALL*
*Notethat employees may be required to be oncall during emergencies (ie.DIsaster Severe Weather Events etc) regardless of selectionbelow.

• On Call*Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travelspecifications may vary bydepartment**

• May requiretravel within the Houston Metropolitan areaYes
• May require travel outside HoustonMetropolitan areaYes

CompanyProfile:

Houston Methodist CypressHospital scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025 will beHouston Methodists ninth hospital and will incorporate the mostadvanced technology available from the day the doors open. With 100beds (at our opening; licensed for 276) and a prime location in theheart of the rapidly growing U.S. 290 corridor the hospital will beequipped with technologically advanced innovations implementedduring COVID many of them designed to make patient communicationwith physicians staff and families the very best and most effectivein any health care facility. Even though the hospital wont be fullyoperational until 2025 we have several services and specialtiesopening in 2024.

Houston Methodist is an equalopportunity employer inclusive of women minorities disabled personsand veterans.

Equal EmploymentOpportunity

Houston Methodist isan Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal employmentopportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodistis firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage indiscrimination against or harassment of any person employed orseeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of racecolor religion sex sexual orientation gender identity nationalorigin age disability status as a protected veteran or othercharacteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractorpriority referral Protected Veteransrequested.

Remote Work :

No

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