Hospital Social Worker - FT - Day Shift

HOURLY RANGE: $31.80 - $42.82

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves providing professional social work services at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation or hospital-based ambulatory care setting to patients and their families to aid them in
dealing with medically related social and emotional problems. The incumbent serves as a member of an inter-disciplinary health care team in identifying needs and in formulating and implementing the restorative and discharge potential of patients. The work is performed within prescribed guidelines with leeway permitted in determining the scope of social work services to be provided in helping patients adjust to their medical or emotional condition and the environment. Employees in this position consult and cooperate with professionals in other disciplines and agencies to aid them in recognizing the significant social components of health care and understanding their impact on patients and their families. Work is performed under the general supervision of higher-level social work personnel. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Assesses psycho-social needs of patients upon admission and during continued stay in the facility by participation in inter-disciplinary health care team formulation of the patient care plan;
• Establishes social work goals to aid patients, their families or responsible parties in dealing with the problems identified;
• Provides counseling and supportive social work services to help patients adjust to their illnesses, disabilities and stay in the facility or community;
• Provides consultation to facility staff regarding the social and emotional aspects of patient health care and treatment;
• Records significant social services progress data and periodic reassessment of inpatient medical records;
• Determines psycho-social implications of potential discharge or transfer to different levels of health care in accordance with utilization control requirements and aids facility staff and patient families in implementation of arrangements;
• Modifies social service goals or treatment consistent with changes in patient care needs;
• Maintains information on community and health resources which can be utilized during patient care and subsequent discharge;
• Prepares a variety of records and reports related to work.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of the practices and procedures of social work and of the social and psychological factors related to disease and disability; working knowledge of State and Federal rules, regulations and requirements related to health care facilities; ability to counsel hospital patients and their families; ability to function as a member of an inter-disciplinary health care team; ability to interpret Federal, State and local laws and regulations regarding the delivery of social work services in a health care
facility; ability to prepare records and reports related to social services activities; ability to utilize community resources effectively to meet facility, patient and family social service needs; ability to confer with and provide social services consultation to other health care professionals; sympathetic attitude toward the sick and disabled; tact; capable
of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Possession of a Master’s Degree* in Social Work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a license and current registration as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) as issued by the New York State Department of Education at the time of appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.
• Section 424-A of the Social Services Law requires that local social services district to inquire whether the applicant is the subject of an indicated child abuse or maltreatment report on file with the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. All potential employees for this position will be requested to sign the necessary clearance
  form prior to being advised that they will be hired. Refusal to sign will be cause for automatic non-selection.

NOTE*: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.

NOTE 2: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements