Social Worker

Department/Unit: Psychiatry Resident Clinic Work Shift: Day (United States of America) Job Description Emergency Consultation Liaison Social Worker Albany Medical Center JOB TITLE: Psychiatric Social Worker Primary Role/Function: This position serves the psychiatry emergency population within the Psychiatric Consultation Liaison Service. The Psychiatric Social Worker’s (PSW) primary role is to conduct and assist with crisis assessments for patients with acute psychiatric needs who present to the Emergency Department (ED). The PSW should be skilled in utilizing their clinical knowledge of assessment, discharge planning, and brief counseling to support patients with clinically significant levels of mental health distress. This role will also focus upon the coordination of resources in the continuum of care for the patient by working to address social determinants of health. This position reports to the Practice Administrator with daily clinical supervision occurring at the direction of the Director of the Consultation Liaison service and Chair of the department. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Conduct comprehensive and solution-focused assessments of assigned patient(s) in the Emergency Department (ED). Facilitate post-discharge care for patients which includes but is not limited to case conferencing with established providers, making appointments and referring to various social services in the community. Facilitate transfer of patients who need inpatient level of care to other hospitals. Provide educational support as needed to house staff within psychiatry team to meet patient care needs. Assist the ED and Psychiatry team in care planning for chronic ED visitors. Provide brief individual and family therapy, education and coordination of care to assigned patient(s) in the ED. Participate in educational programs both within and outside the Medical Center to improve levels of expertise within professional practice. Promotes Albany Medical Center and its Psychiatry programs and promotes quality care in all areas. Furthers own professional development through participation in educational programs and professional programs as appropriate. Participate in committees and attends meetings as necessary to enhance and/or coordinate the services for the psychiatry service patient population. Participate in the reporting of and serves as a resource within the treatment team for child abuse and adult abuse reporting for psychiatry staff. Responsible for timely completion of all annual mandatory educational requirements for this position. Employee understands and demonstrates the importance of satisfying the needs of the patient and supports by interacting with him/her in a friendly and caring way, being attentive to all needs, both psychologically and physically, and by taking the initiative to maintain effective communication with the patient and supports in order to provide a secure and pleasant experience with the Medical Center. Provides age appropriate care to assigned patients. It is understood that this job description lists typical duties for the classification and it’s not to be considered inclusive of all duties. Other duties may be assigned by the Lead Psychiatric Social Worker, Administrator, Director of the CL service, and/or Chair of Psychiatry. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of various psychotherapy techniques including motivational interviewing and solution-focused interventions. Knowledge of substance abuse, domestic violence, crisis intervention, case management, housing, and social services Ability to work with patients of varying risk Ability to assess for crisis intervention needs Strong documentation skills Ability to communicate verbally and orally in a concise manner Ability to coordinate data and present in a meaningful way Strong interpersonal skills including ability to work with agencies in the community and other departments at AMC Knowledge of abuse reporting guidelines and ability to follow them Ability to conduct case management related tasks Strong skills using Microsoft Office EDUCATION: Master’s degree in Social Work for a C.S.W.E approved school. LICENSURE: New York State LMSW licensure EXPERIENCE: Two or more years of prior clinical experience in a behavioral health setting required. Inpatient or emergency behavioral health experience preferred but not required. Previous experience working in an academic medical center preferred but not required PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Some physical effort. Light objects lifted, come reaching and stooping. Required to be on feet much of time. Use of computer and other technical equipment. INFECTION CONTROL: Performs all aspects of universal precautions when engaging in patient care. EXPOSURE CATEGORY: Category II. Tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues. But employment may require performing unplanned Category I tasks. Thank you for your interest in Albany Medical Center! Albany Medical is an equal opportunity employer. This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Medical Center, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that: Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification. Albany Med is the centerpiece of medicine, research, and medical education in New York’s Capital Region and is the area's largest private employer with more than 10,000 employees. Albany Med offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of roles in both patient care and administration. We value all our staff members and offer outstanding employee benefits including: Excellent health care coverage with lower copays at most Albany Med providers. A wide array of services and programs to support emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing Anchored in the state’s historic capital city, Albany Med offers a full range outpatient and inpatient care and is home to the region’s largest hospital, only Level 1 trauma center, and only children’s hospital. The downtown campus also offers opportunities at Albany Medical College. Albany Med partners with Columbia Memorial Health, Saratoga Hospital and Glens Falls Hospital to form the Albany Med Health System, serving more than three million people over 25 counties.