Social Worker

Olney, MD, United States

General Summary of Position The Social Worker functions as part of the interdisciplinary health care team and serves as a patient liaison between the hospital and the community. The Social Worker practices from a psychosocial perspective and has a key role in facilitating a smooth and timely transition between acute hospital care and post hospital services.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities Social Work Services: Provides social work and discharge planning services to include assessment, planning, and intervention to patients and their families.

Identifies patients requiring social work intervention through established case finding mechanisms. Performs biopsychosocial assessments with patient and/or family involvement according to departmental policy and procedures.

Develops effective working relationship with patient and/or family (engagement, collaboration, advocacy, problem-solving).

Develops discharge plans responsive to patient/family concerns. Incorporates knowledge of biopsychosocial factors related to the ages of the patients served into the treatment plan.

Counsels patients and families regarding issues of emotional adjustment to the illness, disability, hospitalization, and/or discharge plan. Communicates effectively with health care team members and community providers regarding patient status, progress and discharge planning needs.

Coordination: Coordinates activities with hospital staff and referral agencies in order to facilitate patient care and departmental goals. Takes initiative and provides leadership in developing discharge care plans which align with patient care demands.

Collaborates with members of interdisciplinary team, especially regarding issues of patient flow. Develops effective working relationships with health care team members based on an awareness of their roles.

Assists health care team members as needed in meeting interdisciplinary patient goals by engaging them in efforts toward problem-solving when appropriate.

Coordinates communications between hospital system and community agencies regarding patients' post discharge needs

Administration of Quality Improvement: Complies with departmental standards regarding attendance, documentation, continuous quality improvement, and statistical requirements as well as adherence to departmental policies and the NASW Code of Ethics

Documents Social Work assessment, plans, intervention and outcome in the medical record in a clear, concise manner to afford communication with the medical team (in accordance with department standards for timeliness and content.)

Completes and submits accurate and legible required statistical reports and other departmental information requested on a timely basis according to department guidelines. Continuously updates and incorporates information regarding preferred providers and case management organizations and insurance companies into the transition planning process.

Team Support: Supports and assists colleagues with workload. Identifies and reports both opportunities to improve and barriers to department and hospital effectiveness.

Engages with manager and/or peers in posing potential solutions to problems and participates in quality improvement projects and activities. Assists with orientation and training of new department staff

. Provides educational experiences by a) supervising social work students; b) making formal presentations within the department to social work staff and students; c) making formal presentation to other hospital personnel; d) serving as a consultant to peers and to other disciplines; and/or e) making formal presentations to community groups in accordance with individual departmental guidelines.

Development: Maintains current knowledge, certification, and licensure. Identifies learning needs in self and initiates actions to address these education needs. Attends continuing education programs in order to maintain certification.

Attends hospital sponsored training programs as required by the department. Completes all mandatory requirements, certifications, and licensure within allotted timeframe for completion (License, PPD, Competencies, Age Specifics, etc.)

Organizational knowledge: Works effectively within and between departments. Participates on inter-departmental teams and committees, communicating unit knowledge as appropriate

Provides department/unit with information and knowledge acquired during participation with interdepartmental teams and committees. Demonstrates a constructive approach during all interactions with staff, supervisors, and managers both inside and outside the unit

Minimum Qualifications

Education Bachelor's degree in Social Work with experience required and

Master's degree in Social Work preferred

Experience 1-2 years Experience required

Licenses and Certifications Maryland licensure as Social Worker required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.

Basic Computer skills to perform data entry

HIPAA policies on Confidentiality

Why MedStar Health?

At MedStar Health, we understand that our ability to treat others well begins with how we treat each other. We work hard to foster an inclusive and positive environment where our associates feel valued, connected, and empowered. We live up to this promise through:

Strong emphasis on teamwork- our associates feel connected to each other and our mission as an organization. In return, our effective team environment generates positive patient outcomes and high associate satisfaction ratings that exceed the national benchmark.

Strategic focus on equity, inclusion, & diversity- we are committed to equity for all people and communities. We continue to build a diverse and inclusive workplace where people feel a sense of belonging and the ability to contribute to equitable care delivery and improved community health outcomes at all levels of the organization.

Comprehensive total rewards package- including competitive pay, generous paid time off, great health and wellness benefits, retirement savings, education assistance, and so much more.

More career opportunities closer to home- as the largest healthcare provider in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region, there are countless opportunities to grow your career and fulfill your aspirations.

About MedStar Health

MedStar Health is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation, and research. Our team of 32,000 includes physicians, nurses, residents, fellows, and many other clinical and non-clinical associates working in a variety of settings across our health system, including 10 hospitals and more than 300 community-based locations, the largest home health provider in the region, and highly respected institutes dedicated to research and innovation. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University for more than 20 years, MedStar Health is dedicated not only to teaching the next generation of doctors, but also to the continuing education, professional development, and personal fulfillment of our whole team. Together, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. It's how we treat people.

MedStar Health is an Equal Opportunity (EO) Employer and assures equal opportunity for all applicants and employees. We hire people to work in different locations, and we comply with the federal, state and local laws governing each of those locations. MedStar Health makes all decisions regarding employment, including for example, hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, benefit eligibility, discipline, and discharge without regard to any protected status, including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sex, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliations, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local EO laws. If you receive an offer of employment, it is MedStar Health's policy to hire its employees on an at-will basis, which means you or MedStar Health may terminate this relationship at any time, for any reason.