Clinical Social Worker, Integrated Emergency Department Addiction Consult Team (ED-ACT)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Integrated Emergency Department Consult Team (ED-ACT) is an interdisciplinary team comprised of addiction attending physicians, advanced practice practitioners, social work staff, and a patient care coordinator.  The service provides consultation in the emergency department (ED) for patients with addictions and substance use problems.  The goal of the service is to increase the quality of care for patients with addictions and substance use disorders receive in the ED and improve discharge addiction treatment planning. The social worker is an integral member of the ED-ACT team and will conduct substance use disorder screenings and assessments of patients. He/she will work with ED and outpatient clinicians (physicians, nurses, social workers) to formulate successful discharge plans that link patients to outpatient prevention and treatment care, as well as reduce the likelihood of ED-representation and ED left without being seen. The clinical social worker is responsible for consulting, assessing, and intervening with high-risk patients regarding the impact/amelioration of emotional and social problems. Duties also include, but are not limited to, referral and linkage to outpatient methadone and buprenorphine care, conducting bio-psychosocial assessments to assist with care transitions and discharge planning, making a psychosocial diagnosis, planning and implementing effective treatments including one-on-one therapy, evaluation, education,  coaching and mentoring of the patients. He/she will also assist in the development of the ED-ACT team, specifically designed to provide patient-centered, efficient, and flexible care to those individuals who seek emergency care and who use substances. He/she consults with, collaborates and communicates with a wide range of social, governmental and legal agencies, courts, outpatient clinics, other hospitals, physicians and other sources in the overall care of the patient.

Position: Clinical Social Worker

Department: Integrated Emergency Department Addiction Consult Team (ED-ACT)        

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Assesses patient to ascertain those emotional and social problems. Utilizes the department’s psychosocial assessment tool as a guideline.
• Conducts substance use disorder screenings and assessments among ED patients to inform the development of patient risk reduction, diagnosis, and treatment plans by the ED-ACT
• Conducts brief intervention counseling with patients for whom it is indicated.
• Outreaches to families, emergency contacts, and support network of hospitalized patients with addictions, as needed.
• Identifies those issues which must be addressed during the patient’s care, and develops a plan using a team-based approach that takes into account the patient’s goals (and patient’s guardian’s goals, when appropriate).
• Reports any and all suspected cases of abuse and neglect and follows up to ensure patient receives timely comprehensive consultations and compliance with legal mandates.
• Consults and collaborates with healthcare team members to insure that patient’s emotional and social needs are addressed.
• Participate in daily team huddle with the ED on behalf of the ED-ACT
• Acts as a liaison between ED physicians/APPs, ED nurses, as well as variety of BMC-based collaborating addiction treatment and care coordination programs, including but not limited to: Project ASSERT, Faster Paths, Multi-Visit Patient Project (MVPP)
• Works collaboratively with other staff to reduce the number of patients who leave ED without being seen and formulate successful discharge plans that link patients to outpatient prevention and treatment care, as well as, reduce the likelihood of ED-representation
• Acts as a liaison with outpatient addiction treatment providers to coordinate ED to outpatient care transitions.
• Work collaboratively with Opioid Treatment Programs to confirm methadone doses for ED patients and to assist with linking patients to OTP when patient navigator unavailable
• Provides for psychotherapeutic treatment and/or psychosocial support to patient to reduce the impact of identified problems.
• Utilizes Social Work technique and theory to assist patient and family in coping with illness or social problem to achieve improved functioning and emotional state.
• Maintains patient confidentiality according to hospital policy. Practices professional discretion when determining the inclusion of any patient information into medical record or department clinical record notes.
• Notes in medical record the exclusion of critical patient information and its availability.
• Documents each patient encounter in the medical record or the Department clinical record concurrently according to Department policies. Specifically, documents ongoing treatment work in the Department clinic records. Each recording shall include date, time, title and signature.
• Provides clinical supervision to other department personnel, as assigned.
• Complies with departmental, regulatory and professional requirements for documentation recording, and data collection.
• Submits department statistics and other records and reports within required time frames.
• Maintains competency in areas of responsibility to ensure quality care.
• Attends scheduled staff meetings and in-service education program offerings with punctuality and consistency.
• Attends monthly MVPP meetings and updates ED-ACT team about relevant patients.
• Obtains continuing education units necessary to maintain licensure.
• Assists management in the operation of a quality department by participating in department programs and complying with department policies and procedures.
• Helps lead and/or co-facilitate groups including: group curriculum development, recruitment and content delivery.
• Identifies weaknesses in operation and recommends improvements.
• Works diligently on department committees, per Director’s appointments.
• Represents department throughout hospital and outside community regarding department’s practice and field of social work.
• Maintains a complete understanding of emergency procedures.
• Conforms to hospital standards of conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights, so that the best possible customer service and patient care may be provided.
• Consistently uses clear, concise and effective communication written/oral and complies with departmental policies when sharing/documenting relevant patient care data.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Participates in grant writing, grant reporting, and in the preparation of program summaries
• Assists in the preparation of abstract writing and presentations for national conferences
• Provides other administrative and special project assistance as required or assigned by Medical Director
• Utilizes hospital's behavioral standards as the basis for decision making and to facilitate the hospital’s mission.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
• Adapts to changing departmental needs, including but not limited to, offering assistance to other team members, adjusting assignments, and other functions as determined by Medical Director
• Assists in orientation/training of new staff members and volunteers.
• Performs other duties assigned or as necessary.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

Requires Master’s Degree from an accredited school of Social Work.

EXPERIENCE:

Previous experience working with patients in with substance use disorders and/or previous inpatient social work experience, preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Requires knowledge of Social Work process and community resources and agencies relative to health, protective services, crisis intervention, disability, substance use, etc.
• Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to be socially perceptive in accepting and relaying confidential information, communicating policies and procedures, interact effectively with various healthcare professionals, to develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Must be comfortable in a fast paced and dynamic work environment (sense of humor is valued).
• Empathetic attitude towards people suffering from substance use disorders as having a chronic health condition; positive attitude towards delivery of evidence/science-based care for people with substance use disorders and absence of a dogmatic inflexible approach to such patients/participants
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, utilize time and resources efficiently and establish priorities and coordinate and complete competing demands within established timeframes
• Excellent English language skills to summarize and communicate orally and in writing moderately complex information in varied formats to internal and external customers.
• Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations. Bicultural/Bilingual competency a plus.
• Computer literacy with ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheet programs and e-mail (i.e. MS Word, Excel, Outlook) and web browsers.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans