Hospital Social Worker (LSW/LGSW)

Job Description

Hutchinson Health

Job Title: Social Worker, MSW

Job Code:

3709006

Leader Title Level:

Supervisor, Hospital Care Management

Location:

Hutchinson Hospital

Department:

Hospital Care Management

Final Approval (Dir. or VP Level):

System Director, Hospital Care Management

Date Approved:

Date Revised:

POSITION SUMMARY STATEMENT:

The MSW Social Worker provides patient-centered care management services to patients and families in an inpatient hospital setting. This position serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and is responsible for identifying care coordination needs in collaboration with the inpatient and ambulatory care teams, along with the patient and the patient's external support systems. Within the context of an interdisciplinary team, the MSW Social Worker participates in progressing patients toward discharge/next level of care by identifying barriers, implementing appropriate interventions, and securing transition plans that are aligned with shared goals of care. The MSW Social Worker will consistently and thoughtfully apply social work values and continuous quality improvement in daily work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education, Experience or Equivalent Combination:

• Master's of Social Worker (MSW)

• Minimum of 1 year experience in a medical or mental health setting practicing social work

• Licensure/ Registration/ Certification:

• Current Minnesota license of Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the values, principles, and methodologies of social work

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education, Experience or Equivalent Combination:
• Prefer 2+ years of experience as a social worker with hospital experience

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• (60%) - Care Coordination and Clinical Social Work Practice

• Conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments utilizing a patient centered, strengths based, and trauma informed approach to identify psychosocial needs, barriers to care, safety concerns, and discharge planning needs.

• Assesses social determinants of health, support systems, mental health needs, coping strategies, substance use concerns, housing stability, financial challenges, and other factors impacting health outcomes.

• Obtains and integrates information from patients, families, caregivers, community providers, and interdisciplinary team members to support assessment and care planning.

• Collaborates with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team to develop and implement individualized care transition plans that promote safety, continuity of care, and optimal health outcomes.

• Facilitates referrals and connections to community resources, post-acute services, mental health services, and other supportive services as appropriate.

• Provides crisis intervention, emotional support, brief counseling, and supportive interventions related to adjustment to illness, hospitalization, grief and loss, trauma, mental health concerns and life stressors.

• Participates actively in interdisciplinary rounds, care conferences, and team meetings to advocate for patient needs and facilitate coordinated care planning.

• Assists patients and families with advance care planning, health care directives, guardianship considerations, and identification of surrogate decision-makers when appropriate.

• Demonstrates knowledge of community resources, healthcare funding sources, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations impacting patient care and discharge planning.

• Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, families, healthcare team members, and community partners to support coordinated, patient-centered care.

• Identifies and escalates complex psychosocial, mental health, or system barriers that may impact patient progression, discharge readiness, or access to services.

• Documents assessments, interventions, care plans, referrals, and patient outcomes accurately and timely within the electronic medical record.

• Maintains patient confidentiality and adheres to organizational, legal, and ethical standards of social work practice.

• Utilizes clinical judgement, available data, and organizational tools to support safe care transitions and identify patients at increased risk for adverse outcomes or readmission.

• Provide mental health crisis assessment, crisis intervention, suicide risk support, and coordination of mental health services in collaboration with care team.

• (15%) Patient, Family, and Team Education

• Provides education, guidance, and support to patients/families/caregivers regarding psychosocial concerns, coping strategies, available resources, and post hospital care needs.

• Serves as a psychosocial resource to the interdisciplinary team through consultation, collaboration, and informal education.

• Participates in educational activities, presentations, or departmental initiatives, to enhance staff knowledge and patient care practices.

• Educations patients, families, and health care team members on topics such as social drivers of health, mental health and substance use, community resources and support services, healthcare funding, guardianship, advance care planning, trauma informed care, grief, loss and adjustment to illness.

• (15%) Collaboration and Professional Relationships

• Develops and maintains collaborative working relationships with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members, community agencies, and external partners.

• Functions as an integral member of the interdisciplinary care team, contributing social work expertise to support patient centered care and effective care transitions.

• Participates actively in department meetings, team discussions, quality initiatives, and organizational activities.

• Contributes to a positive, inclusive, and respectful work environment through teamwork, professionalism, and shared accountability.

• Supports departmental and organizational goals through engagement in process improvement and problem-solving efforts.

• (10%) Professional Development

• Maintains current knowledge of social work practice standards, healthcare regulations, mental health trends, and evidence based care coordination practices.

• Demonstrates accountability for professional growth through ongoing education, licensure maintenance, clinical supervision, and incorporation of feedback into practice.

• Participates in quality improvement initiatives, committees, and special projects as assigned.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Job description rankings/percentages are intended to reflect normal averages over an extended period of time, and are subject to daily variances. Quality and efficiency standards should at no time be compromised to meet the average expectations expressed above. Job descriptions are subject to change to accommodate organization or department needs.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

Values

All colleagues are expected to live our values:

Excellence: We strive for the best results and always look for ways to improve.

Compassion: We care and show empathy and respect for each person.

Partnership: We are strongest when we work together and with those we serve.

Integrity: We are open and honest, and we keep our commitments.

Additional Expectations:

• Complies with safety instructions, observe safe work practices, provides input on safety issues, and promotes a safe work environment.
• Maintains regular and timely attendance.
• Protects confidentiality.
• Demonstrates participation in and support of the organization''s Corporate Integrity Program by participating in compliance-related education and training and complying with the organization''s policies and procedures.
• Timely completion of all mandatory education and organizational requirements (i.e., licensure/certification, Employee Health and Wellness requirements, annual training, etc.)

POPULATION SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

YesNoDoes this employee have direct patient contact?X

Departments will need to determine the appropriate competencies in their areas for their specific patient populations documented in the essential duties section.

Examples of items that can be included are:

• Identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the patient or situation specific to the needs of the population served.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, and team members.
• Integrates practices that supports patient safety, acknowledges variations in populations served.
• Anticipates the needs of the population served as well as the unique characteristics of the communities served.
• Anticipates the needs of the population in providing culturally responsive care and develops an individualized plan for patients and families.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY:

No supervisory responsibility of staff, may supervise social work interns.

Critical Job Demands

Section 1: Place an "X' next to ONE of the terms that best describes the frequency for each of the Critical Demands.

Critical Demands

N/A

0%

Rare

1-5% (Up to a 1/2 hour)

Occa

6-33% (1/2 hour to 3 hours)

Freq

34-66% (3 to 5½ hours)

Cont

67-100% (5½ to 8 hours)

Standing - Remaining on one''s feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about. x Walking - Moving about on foot. x Sitting - Remaining in a seated position. x Squatting - Assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent. x Reaching - Stretching out or extending to touch or grasp. x Lifting - Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling). x Carrying - Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder. x Pushing/Pulling - Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away/towards from the force. x Handling/Fingering - (includes typing, computer work, gripping, grasping, and pinching) x

Section 2: Place an "X" next to ONE of the terms that best describes the Strength Rating for this job classification which is expressed by one of five terms: Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, and Very Heavy.

xSedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. Light Work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible. Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. Heavy Work - Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Medium Work. Very Heavy Work - Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Heavy Work.

Note: During any patient handling task, if any caregiver is required to lift more than 35 lbs. of a patient's weight, assistive transfer devices should be used for the transfer.

HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Please contact the employer Employee Health & Safety (EHS) with any questions or assistance related to the completion of the Hazard Assessment for Personal Protective Equipment (HAPPE) Form.RELATED TO: Hazardous Substances and Harmful Physical AgentsYesNoTask DescriptionPotential HazardHazard controlPPE Required

X

Working with box cutters, knives or other sharp cutting devices.Penetration

• Cut away from body.
• Use proper tool for the job.

Safety knife or safety box cutter

Cut resistant gloves

Other ___

X

Working with liquid chemicals, acids, or caustics (Examples: reprocessing, cleaners, disinfectants, laboratory chemicals).

See MSDS online database for chemical list

Chemicals

Flammables

Toxic Gases

Corrosives

• Use only employer approved products.
• Use appropriate soaking containers with labels.
• Understand hazards of chemicals you use (read MSDS).

Goggles

Chemical face shield

Chemical resistant gloves

Chemical resistant aprons

Lab Coat

Closed toe shoes

Powered Air Purifying Respirator

Other ___

X

Exposed to extreme heat (Examples: Autoclaves, Blanket warmers, Ovens, Propane torches) or cold (Liquid Nitrogen, Winter temperatures).

Heat

Cold Stress, Burns, Frostbite

• Approach hot surfaces carefully.
• Use only approved liquid nitrogen dewars. Dispense only if trained.

Heat resistant gloves

Cryogenic (cold resistant) gloves

Goggles

Face shield

Other ___

X

Driving or riding in motorized vehicle equipment as part of the job.Vehicle crash, Impact

• Absolutely no text messaging while driving.
• Refrain from cell phone use while driving.

Seat belt

Other ___

X

Working in extremely wet or slippery conditions or working in 24/7 operations where floors are wet from mopping.Slip, Trip, or Fall

• For wet areas, mop excess water regularly.
• Place warning signs.
• Select footwear carefully

Slip resistant shoes

Rubber boots

Other ___

X

Preparing or handling hazardous drugs (Examples: cytotoxic drugs, chemotherapy agents).

Chemical

Genetic damage

Tumors

• Receive training
• PPE
• Use of biological cabinet
• Spill procedures
• Waste disposal SOP

Gloves appropriate for chemical

Disposable barrier gown

Goggles

N95/PAPR (spill cleanup)

Ventilation Hood

Other ___

X

Medical/surgical procedures involving heat generating tools or equipment (Examples: cautery/ lasers).Light radiation, burns to self or patient, smoke inhalation

• Receive laser training.
• Awareness and knowledge to minimize surgical or procedural fires.
• Code Red training
• PPE
• Restricted access

Specialized laser safety glasses

Other ___

X

Working with or near ionizing Radiation Hazards (Examples: Radioactive sources, X-Rays).Over exposure, Genetic damage

• Warning signage
• PPE
• Waste and spill procedures
• Personal monitoring
• Shielding, distance

Lead Aprons

Other ___

X

Working near MRI.Trauma resulting from missile effect

• Restrict access
• Screening
• Signage

X

Moving equipment/supplies.Strain, Sprain

• Proper body mechanics
• Get additional help
• Get Ergonomic help from EOHS.

x

Dealing with agitated persons or disturbances.Workplace violence, bodily injury, body fluid exposure

• Training in verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Code Green procedure

Gloves (Clean)

Barrier Gown or fluid resistant Lab Coat

HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)RELATED TO: Infectious AgentsYesNoDescriptionPotential HazardHazard controlPPE Required PERFORMING OR ASSISTING WITH THESE TASKS:

X

Potential for splash of blood/body fluid to face and clothing: examples but not all inclusive: suctioning, wound irrigation, eye & ear irrigation, close contact (within 3 ft.) of patient with frequent, productive cough, sigmoidoscopy, cystoscopy, colonoscopy.

Exposure to Infectious Agents

• Hand hygiene before and after task
• PPE

Facial protection (mask plus goggles OR face shield)

Gloves (Clean)

Barrier Gown if anticipate splash

X

Activity that requires touching patient's non-intact skin or mucous membranes.

Exposure to Infectious Agents

• Hand hygiene before and after task
• PPE

Gloves (Clean)

XActivity that includes touching patient's blood/body fluid or contaminated items or environment, examples, but not all inclusive: disposal of urine, blood canisters.

Exposure to Infectious Agents

• Hand hygiene before and after task
• PPE
• Use of Spill kits (as needed)

Gloves (Clean)

Barrier Gown if anticipate splash

Facial protection (mask plus goggles OR face shield) if anticipate splash

XPerforming duties with sharp devices that could result in exposure to blood or body fluids.

Exposure to Infectious Agent/sharp injury

• Use of sharps safety devices
• Avoid re-capping needles
• Proper disposal of sharps at point of care
• For reusable sharp, use safe transporting practices
• Use neutral zone for passing sharps
• PPE

Gloves (Clean vs. Sterile depends on the procedure)

Facial protection (mask plus goggles OR face shield) if anticipate splash

X Entering rooms where patients with airborne diseases are treated. Exposure to Infectious Agent/inhalation

• Mask patient
• Place patient in airborne infection isolation room if available
• Limit entry into room
• Keep door closed
• PPE

Follow Communicable Disease Guidelines and Tuberculosis Control Plan to determine if N95 respirator, PAPR, or surgical mask is needed

XWork with specimens from patients with airborne diseases.

Exposure to Infectious Agent/inhalation

• PPE
• Biological Safety hoods/cabinet instrumentation with automated/closed sampling mechanisms

N95 respirator or PAPR X

1. Procedures that enter deep tissue or body fluid, including but not limited to:

Central IV insertion, placing a catheter or injecting material into the spinal canal or subdural space (myelogram, lumbar puncture, spinal/epidural anesthesia), breast biopsy, temporal artery biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, OB vaginal delivery, incision & drainage.

Exposure to infectious agents

• Hand hygiene before and after procedures
• PPE

Gloves (Sterile)

Barrier Gown

Facial protection (mask plus eye protection or face shield plus mask required during these procedures)

X

2. a. Procedures that enter

subcutaneous tissue or are located

in the skin structure, including but

not limited to:

• Excision of mole, lump, or bump
• Excision of lipoma or sebaceous cyst, vasectomy

Exposure to infectious agents

• Hand hygiene before and after procedure
• PPE

Facial protection (mask and eye protection required during these procedures if anticipate splash)

Gloves (Sterile)

Barrier Gown if anticipate splash

x

2. b. Additional Procedures

• Shave biopsy, punch biopsy
• Joint injection, nerve injection, joint aspiration
• Peripheral IV insertion, ENT procedures
• Anal-rectal Biopsy

Exposure to infectious agents

• Hand hygiene before and after procedure
• PPE

Gloves (Clean)

Barrier Gown if anticipate splash

Facial protection (mask and eye protection required during these procedures if anticipate splash)

3. Handling Lab specimens in a laboratory

Exposure to infectious agents

• Hand hygiene after removing gloves
• PPE
• Biological Safety hoods/cabinet
• Splash guard
• Instrumentation with automated/closed sampling mechanisms

Lab Coat ( fluid resistant)

Gloves (Clean)

Facial protection (mask plus eye protection or face shield plus mask required during these procedures)

Other tasks with identified safety, health or infectious hazards requiring PPE?YesNoTask DescriptionHazardHazard controlList PPE required

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