The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor is responsible for providing thorough and clinically appropriate, culturally competent and trauma informed social work interventions including, but not limited to, Social Work psychiatric emergency evaluations, psychosocial assessments, person-centered treatment planning, group and individual therapy/psychoeducation, crisis interventions, family/collateral engagement and coordination of aftercare. The Psychiatric Social Worker achieves the expected productivity standard and thoroughly completes all documentation within the required timeframe. The Psychiatric Social Worker serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, communicating and escalating issues as they arise to help ensure excellent patient care.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Individual evaluation and assessment: The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor utilizes available records to gather psychosocial and diagnostic information relevant to a patients, conducts patient interviews and interviews of family members/caregivers and providers in the community, assesses patients’ mental status, psychosocial functioning, and the nature and extent of symptoms. The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor also helps identify needs and coordinate resources after discharge to promote recovery. In the Emergency Department setting, the Psychiatric Social Worker, in addition to above, conducts the Social Work Psychiatric Emergency Evaluations, whereas, the Mental Health Counselor in the Emergency Department performs a discharge planning function.
• Treatment and discharge planning: Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team to help determine appropriate, evidenced based interventions, eligibility of individuals for programs and services; provides services in accordance with hospital policy and Federal/State regulations.
• Engagement and supportive counseling: The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor rapidly builds rapport and establishes a therapeutic alliance with patients; provide crisis intervention and stabilization as well as brief supportive and solution-focused therapy to patients and their caregivers
• Documentation of services: Maintains timely, ongoing and thorough documentation of social work assessments, interventions, planning and relevant communications with internal and external stakeholders
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team: The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor works collaboratively, respectfully and effectively with others, communicating frequently and efficiently to coordinate timely and streamlined patient care
• Functions as a liaison: Acts as a community and family liaison by initiating and maintaining contact with the patient’s family, outpatient providers, schools, probation/parole officers and other relevant supports including, but not limited to, obtaining collateral information and notification of disposition.
• Provides culturally competent care: Psychiatric Social Workers/Mental Health Counselors demonstrate cultural competence, responding to the unique needs of minority populations and are sensitive to the ways in which people with disabilities experience the world. Within mental health services, cultural competence is a guiding principle, so that services are culturally sensitive and provide culturally appropriate prevention, outreach, assessment and intervention. Cultural competence recognizes the broad scope of the dimensions that influence an individual’s personal identity.
• Serves as a patient advocate: Acts in the patients’ best interest and advocates on the patients’ behalf. The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor maintains patient confidentiality
• The Psychiatric Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor practices according to the hospital and departmental policies and state and federal regulations.
• Supervises and orients students, support staff and new staff
• Cross trains and provides Social Work/Mental Health Counselor coverage, as needed and assigned, in other parts of the hospital
• Participates in continuing education and completes all mandatory hospital and department trainings before deadline
• Represents their Department on Hospital committees and external meetings
• Participates in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement programs as appropriate
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Serves as brand ambassador by upholding the WMCHealth Mission, Vision, and CARE values and promoting excellence in the patient experience, during every encounter.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

EXPERIENCE

• Two years post-graduate experience in a medical, mental health or human services setting as a member of a multi-disciplinary team is preferred.

EDUCATION

• Master’s Degree in Social Work or Mental Health Counseling from an accredited Graduate Program

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• New York State Social Work or Mental Health Counseling license required.

OTHER

• If applicable, the individual performing this job may reasonably anticipate coming into contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials. Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the therapeutic treatment modalities, i.e. individual, family, group or couples therapy, and with cases that present the more difficult treatment issues
• Excellent oral and written skills, basic computer skills, including typing, and has the ability to function independently with minimal selective use of consultation.