Medical Social Worker - Bronson Womens Services Downtown Kalamazoo - Bronson Healthcare

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Location

BMH Bronson Methodist Hospital

Title

Medical Social Worker - Bronson Womens Services Downtown Kalamazoo

Hospital Medical Social Worker:

Responsible for the delivery of social work services to all medical areas of the hospital to a variety of patient populations. Provides direct intervention with patients and families in such areas as mental health, suicide, domestic violence, sexual assault, child/adult abuse/neglect, death/grief, crisis intervention, advocacy, and substance abuse. In conjunction with assessment provides intervention for families and patients for discharge planning, etc. Educates and counsels patients/families on available community resources and facilities. Collaborates with other members of the patient care team including external agencies to assess each situation to determine the best course of action. Coordinates and manages systems and activities toward the end that referred patients are discharged in a timely manner to psychiatric facilities, substance abuse treatment, etc. Employees providing direct patient care must demonstrate competencies specific to the population served.

Practice Medical Social Worker:

Responsible for the delivery of care management and behavioral health social work services in the ambulatory medical practice setting to a variety of patients including pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations. Coordinates care to ensure patient/family access to an array of community services.  Administers behavioral health screenings and conducts and arranges for more detailed assessments when indicated.  Delivers brief interventions to support necessary lifestyle and behavioral changes.  Responds to crisis situations in the ambulatory setting.  Identifies high-risk psychosocial needs of patients/families.  Collaborates with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team to ensure understanding of the impact the disease or illness has on the patient's mental and emotional health.  Offers a range of brief, focused prevention, treatment and recovery services for patients with mild to moderate risk factors.  Works effectively as part of the interdisciplinary health care teams.  Provides culturally competent clinical services which are relevant to patients/families.  Emphasis of duties may vary depending upon the area of assignment. 

Advanced Illness Management Medical Social Worker:

Responsible for the delivery of palliative care social work services to all medical areas of the hospital to a variety of patients including pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric populations. Social work in hospice and palliative care can be defined as the discipline that provides a professional continuum of services that address the psychosocial needs of patients and families affected by serious and life-limiting illness in order to maintain, or improve, their optimal quality of life. Social work activities are focused on the biopsychosocial components of health and mental health from a strengths-based perspective, and intervention is based on an evolving plan of care that is developed in the context of, and contributes to the interdisciplinary team’s comprehensive plan of care.  In addition to providing direct services to patients and their families, social workers provide leadership in their organizations through community education and the development of resources, services, and programs to meet patient and caregiver needs. Social workers also advocate for policies that promote equal access to care for all populations and ensure high quality and state of the art social work services in all communities. Social workers in palliative and end of life care shall demonstrate a working knowledge of the theoretical and biopsychosocial factors essential to effectively practice with clients and professionals.

Hospital Medical Social Worker:

Master’s Degree in Social Work and Licensed Master’s Social Work (LMSW) or Limited License Master’s Social Work (LLMSW) in good standing OR Master’s Degree in Psychology or Counseling Psychology and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Limited License Professional Counselor (LLPC) or License Psychologist (LP) or Limited License Psychologist (LLP)will be considered.

Fully licensed within two years of hire including state required supervision hours and licensing exam, required.

1-2 years professional level of work experience in healthcare or mental health, preferred.

Current driver's license in the state of Michigan and proof of insurance required for BAH.

• Ability to move about the hospital to meet with patients and/or families in the patient care units
• Basic Word Processing Skills
• Demonstrates excellent human relation skills including verbal and written communication, problem solving, advocacy, assertiveness and empathy skills
• Has a customer service orientation
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, as a demonstration of the function of effective process and relationships with the patient and members of the interdisciplinary team
• Demonstrates effective interviewing, problem-solving and critical thinking in providing services to patients
• Regularly utilizes effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills as needed.

Work which produces high levels of mental/visual fatigue, e.g., interactive and repetitive or small detailed work requiring alertness and concentration for sustained periods of time, the operation of and full attention to a personal computer or CRT between 40 and 70 percent of the time.
Involves regularly lifting of bulky or moderately heavy weights (i.e., up to 50 pounds), and occasionally assisting with heavier tasks or expending the equivalent effort in pushing, pulling, or otherwise handling material, equipment, and other objects.
Depending on department of assignment
• Assesses the nature of the crisis and the immediate social/emotional needs and strengths of the patient and family in order to provide appropriate intervention.
• Performs appropriate screenings based on patient population and need.
• Identifies problems surrounding the crisis situation and may act as patient advocate to ameliorate such problems.
• Collaborates with other members of the patient care team to understand each situation from different perspectives and recommends or provides immediate treatment and solution focused interventions.
• Works effectively as part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, collaborating and communicating regularly with the team and other members on cases and as issues arise.
• Identifies the need for, develops plan of care and makes referrals to community agencies and other healthcare specialist and plans to ensure the appropriate follow-up treatment and support is available and provided for after leaving the department.
• Thoroughly documents each case and enters appropriate information into the patient’s medical record.
• Participates in the development of departmental policies, procedures and protocols.
• Identifies and provides for learning needs of patients, families, and healthcare co-workers.
• Assumes responsibility for professional development.
• Develops and supports a positive work climate and the overall team effort of the department.
• Mentors and supervises students.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Practice Medical Social Worker:

• Masters of Social Work degree with one-year recent medical or mental health experience.

• Limited License Social Work may be considered with the following requirements: minimum one-year medical or mental health experience. Required to be fully licensed within two years of hire including state required supervision hours and licensing exam. Limited License Social Work (LLMSW) with proof of passing licensing test.

• Masters of Social Work (LMSW) or Master’s of Clinical Psychology and Licensed Social Work in the state of Michigan.

• Masters Degree Limited License Professional Counselor (LLPC) or Masters Degree Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Required.

• Work which produces high levels of mental/visual fatigue, e.g., interactive and repetitive or small detailed work requiring alertness and concentration for sustained periods of time, the operation of and full attention to a personal computer or CRT between 40 and 70 percent of the time.
  Involves regularly lifting of bulky or moderately heavy weights (i.e., up to 50 pounds), and occasionally assisting with heavier tasks or expending the equivalent effort in pushing, pulling, or otherwise handling material, equipment, and other objects.

• Regularly communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, as a demonstration of the function of effective process and relationships with the patient/family and members of the interdisciplinary team. Communicates with internal customers such as, physicians, multi-disciplinary team, finance, and management. Demonstrates effective interviewing, problem-solving and critical thinking in providing services to patients. Communicates effectively with external customers such as patients, third party payers, community agencies on a daily basis and often simultaneously. Regularly utilizes effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills as needed.

• Assesses the nature of the crisis and the immediate social/emotional needs and strengths of the patient and family in order to provide appropriate intervention.

• Performs appropriate screenings based on patient population and need.

• Identifies problems surrounding the crisis situation and may act as patient advocate to ameliorate such problems.

• Collaborates with other members of the patient care team to understand each situation from different perspectives and recommends or provides immediate treatment and solution focused interventions.

• Works effectively as part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, collaborating and communicating regularly with the team and other members on cases and as issues arise.

• Identifies the need for, develops plan of care and makes referrals to community agencies and other healthcare specialist and plans to ensure the appropriate follow-up treatment and support is available and provided for after leaving the department.

• Thoroughly documents each case and enters appropriate information into the patient's medical record.

• Participates in the development of departmental policies, procedures and protocols.

• Identifies and provides for learning needs of patients, families, and healthcare coworkers.

• Assumes responsibility for professional development.

• Develops and supports a positive work climate and the overall team effort of the department.

• Mentors and supervises students.

Advanced Illness Management Medical Social Worker:

Masters of Social Work degree with experience of 4 or more years combined in medical social work and hospice or palliative care.  Licensure in the state of Michigan as a Social Worker required  (Must be fully licensed, limited license not acceptable).  Must obtain certification as Hospice & Palliative Social Worker within 12-18 months of hire. Masters Degree Limited License Professional Counselor (LLPC) or Masters Degree Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Required.

• Work which produces high levels of mental/visual fatigue, e.g., interactive and repetitive or small detailed work requiring alertness and concentration for sustained periods of time, the operation of and full attention to a personal computer or CRT between 40 and 70 percent of the time.

• Involves regularly lifting of bulky or moderately heavy weights (i.e., up to 50 pounds), and occasionally assisting with heavier tasks or expending the equivalent effort in pushing, pulling, or otherwise handling material, equipment, and other objects.

• Demonstrates excellent human relation skills including verbal and written communication, problem solving, advocacy, assertiveness and empathy skills. Has a customer service orientation.

• Demonstrates an attitude of compassion and sensitivity to clients, respecting clients’ rights to self-determination and dignity. Social workers shall be aware of their own beliefs, values, and feelings and how their personal self may influence their practice.

• Will show, and continue to develop, specialized knowledge and understanding about history, traditions, values, and family systems as they relate to palliative and end of life care within different groups. Social workers shall be knowledgeable about, and act in accordance with, the NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice (NASW, 2001).

• Regularly communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, as a demonstration of the function of effective process and relationships with the patient and members of the interdisciplinary team.  Communicates with internal customers such as, physicians, multi-disciplinary team, finance, and management. Demonstrates effective interviewing, problem-solving and critical thinking in providing services to patients.  Communicates effectively with external customers such as, patients, third party payers, community agencies on a daily basis and often simultaneously. Regularly utilizes effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills as needed.

• Functions as part of an interdisciplinary effort for the comprehensive delivery of palliative and end of life services. Collaborates with team members and advocates for clients’ needs with objectivity and respect to reinforce relationships with providers who have cared for the patient along the continuum of illness.

• The MSW will be assigned Palliative Care patients by the Palliative Care provider per provider clinical judgment. Once assigned the PC MSW will follow the patient’s psychosocial needs from that time until PC MSW has obtained a clinically appropriate safe discharge plan, as agreed upon by PC provider.

• PC MSW will meet with patient and family routinely, providing support and information regarding direction of discharge planning. Assessing and enhancing patient/family strengths and coping skills, along with assessing for psychosocial distress and complicated grief.

• Identifies patient’s/family’s unique psychosocial & emotional needs

• Identifies problems surrounding the crisis situation and may act as patient advocate to ameliorate such problems.

• Assesses patient/family risk for psychosocial distress or complicated grief.

• Assesses and enhance patient/family strengths and coping skills in order to provide appropriate intervention.

• Assesses and enhances the responsiveness of the environment and connecting the patient, family, caregiver with community resources as needed

• Identifies psychosocial interventions to be offered as part of the evolving comprehensive plan of care developed in accordance with the patient’s/family’s wishes and the interdisciplinary team

• Incorporates assessments in developing and implementing intervention plans that enhance the clients’ abilities and decisions in palliative and end of life care.

• Provides intervention for specific symptom relief and to reduce risk for distress

• Assesses and manages psychosocial aspects of pain

• Screens for psychopathology and abuse and educating and intervening accordingly

• Evaluates the efficacy of treatment interventions

• Advocates for the needs, decisions, and rights of clients in palliative and end of life care.

• Advocates for legislative and organizational policies and procedures that seek to ensure all patients and families facing serious and life-limiting illness have equal access to quality palliative and end of life care.

• Identifies the need for, develops plan of care including coordination and scheduling of family meeting, and makes referrals to community agencies and other healthcare specialists.  Plans for patient discharge to ensure the appropriate follow-up treatment and support is available and provided for after leaving the department or hospital. PC MSW will obtain gas cards, meal passes etc. for patients on service when applicable. PC MSW will assist with applications for community-based services and provide financial assistance information.

• Collaborates and communicates with other members of the patient (providers, chaplain, unit MSW, etc.) care team to understand each situation from different perspectives and recommends or provides immediate treatment and solution focused interventions.

• Thoroughly documents each case and enters appropriate information into the computer and on the patient chart. PC MSW will use EPIC “sticky notes”, along with DCP documentation to communicate to patient care team (i.e. physicians, nurses, unit MSW, etc.) the assigned PC MSW. 

• Participates in the development of departmental policies, procedures and protocols.

• Attends departmental meetings to keep informed of department policies and practices and facilitate team goals, such as performance improvement, staff meetings, speaker presentations, etc. Attend the daily Palliative Care team meetings. Attend monthly MSW team meetings and present annually at these meeting to provide PalliativeCare education and information to the MSW department. Also present at two departments other that MSW and PC annually to provide education and Palliative Care information.

• Social workers shall have, and shall continue to develop, specialized knowledge and understanding about history, traditions, values, and family systems as they relate to palliative and end of life care within different groups. Social workers shall be knowledgeable about, and act in accordance with, the NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice (NASW, 2001).

• Assumes responsibility for one’s own professional development in the field of palliative care.

• The hours will flex to the team and patient needs. This includes weekend coverage for the MSW approximately twice each year and holiday rotation. 

• Identifies and provides for learning needs of patients, families, and health care co-workers.

• Develops and supports a positive work climate and the overall team effort of both the Social Work and Palliative Care departments. 

Bronson Lakeview Neurobehavioral Health is required to have all their employees participate in recipient rights education.  This education is assumed by the Recipient Rights Offer.

• Provide or coordinate the protection of recipient rights for all directly operated or contracted services.

• Ensure that recipients, parents of minor recipients, and guardians or other legal representatives have access to The Rights Booklet of their rights guaranteed by the Michigan Mental Health Code and are notified of those rights in an understandable manner, both at the time services are initiated and periodically during the time services are provided to the recipient.

• Ensure that the telephone number and address of the Office of Recipient Rights and the name of Rights Advisor are conspicuously posted in all service sites.
• Maintain a record system for all reports of apparent or suspected rights violations received including a mechanism for logging in all complaints and a mechanism for secure storage of all investigative documents as evidence.
• Ensure that each service site is visited with the frequency necessary for protection of rights but in no case less than annually.
• Serve as consultant to Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee, Risk Management Department, and other directors and to the associates of BLH in matters related to recipient rights.
• Ensure that all reports of apparent or suspected violations of rights within Bronson LakeView Hospital are investigated in accordance with section 330.1778 of the Michigan Mental Health Code. The policy requires that the rights office must conduct investigations in a manner that does not violate employee rights. Those reports that do not warrant investigation are intervened upon and recorded in accordance with subdivision (d) of the Michigan Mental Health Code.
• Semiannually provide summary complaint data consistent with the annual report required by the Code, together with a summary of remedial action taken on substantiated complaints by category, to the State of Michigan and to the Recipient Rights Advisory Committee.
• The Recipient Rights Officer and Advisors will have the education, training, and experience to fulfill the responsibilities of the Office of Recipient Rights. The Recipient Rights Officer and Advisors will receive training in recipient rights protection.
• Coordinate meetings and activities of the Recipient Rights Advisory Committee and be the holder of the record of this committee.
• Serve as advocate to all recipients and their families. Provide recipients assistance to make contact with other advocacy groups, as needed.
• Collaborate with Community Mental Health when appropriate.

• Staff of the Office of Recipient Rights to receive annual training in patient rights protection.  [MHC 755 (2)(e)]

• All rights officers, advisors and alternates attend MDHHS-ORR ORR Basic Skills Training Programs within 3 months of hire.  [LPH/CMHSP Contract]

• ​Rights officers, advisors and alternates will attain 36 hours of continuing education every 3 years, with 12 credits in "operations" or "legal". The policy requires that rights staff acquire at least 3 continuing education credits each calendar year (CMHSP/LPH Contract)

The Recipient Rights Officer shall submit to the governing board of BHG and to the State of Michigan Office of Recipient Rights an annual report prepared by the Office of Recipient Rights on the current status of recipient rights at Bronson LakeView Hospital and a review of the operations of the Office of Recipient Rights. The report shall be submitted no later than December 30, of each year for the preceding fiscal year or period specified in contract. The annual report shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

• Summary data by category regarding the rights of recipients receiving services from Bronson LakeView Neurobehavioral Health, including complaints received, the number of reports filed, and the number of reports investigated by the Office of Recipient Rights.
• The number of substantiated rights violations by category.
• The remedial actions taken on substantiated rights violations by category.
• Training received by associates of the Office of Recipient Rights.
• Training provided by the Office of Recipient Rights.
• Desired outcomes established for the Office of Recipient Rights and progress toward these outcomes.
• Recommendations to the BHG governing board.

Shift

First Shift

Time Type

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Cost Center

8610 Bronson Womens Services Downtown (BMH)

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