Medical Social Worker - Specialty Programs

Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters; Norfolk; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's healthcare facility in New Zealand is seeking a Medical Social Worker to assist patients with biopsychosocial issues resulting from illnesses and provide comprehensive assessment and treatment planning. This role involves counseling, advocacy, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care. Candidates must have a Master’s degree in Social Work and exceptional interpersonal skills. The position requires working in an inpatient hospital environment and offers the opportunity to engage in community activities promoting chronic illness awareness.

Qualifications

• Experience with implementing evidence-based treatments with children and families required.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills necessary.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing psychosocial assessment and counseling services.
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments for medical interventions.
• Advocate on patients' behalf within the healthcare system.
• Facilitate community agency referrals and collaborate with schools.

Skills

Psychosocial assessment

Counseling services

Interpersonal communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work

Job description

• GENERAL SUMMARY

  • The Medical Social Worker – Specialty Programs is responsible for assisting patients with biopsychosocial problems resulting from acute or chronic illness, disability and/or trauma. The Medical Social Worker completes comprehensive assessment with patients and/or caregivers to obtain psychosocial history and develop individualized treatment plan. Provides support, resources, and case management services. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to implement treatment plan and provides follow up as necessary. Functions in an on-call capacity as necessary to meet the needs of the department and organization. Reports to the Medical Social Work Manager.

• ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provides on-going comprehensive psychosocial assessment and counseling services to chronic disease patients and their families to promote their quality of life.
  • Completes mental health evaluations and makes diagnosis and recommendations as appropriate.
  • Completes biopsychosocial assessments to determine a patient’s appropriateness for medical interventions.
  • Provides casework services including counseling and conferences with patients, families, and support networks; crisis intervention goal‑directed counseling; and discharge planning.
  • Provides outpatient therapy focused on education, emotional support, self‑help, chronic illness, etc. Maintains a small outpatient caseload as needed by identification of patient needs.
  • Provides mediation between patients, families, and staff.
  • Facilitates community agency referrals.
  • Collaborates with schools and employers to provide medical accommodations for patients and their family.
  • Participates in interdisciplinary care planning and collaboration.
  • Completes needs assessments and provides resources/ intervention as appropriate.
  • Advocates on patients' behalf within the setting and with appropriate local, state and federal agencies and programs.
  • Provides ongoing patient and family education throughout all phases of care. Participates in team review of patient status and makes recommendations based on patient's current psychosocial needs.
  • Collaborates with other hospitals, and programs related to chronic illness or medical need in order to affirm best practice and maximize support.
  • Completes home visits as appropriate to determine appropriateness for complex procedures and recovery.
  • Maintains social work recording and statistics as applicable and participates in QI activities.
  • Conducts annual patient satisfaction and quality of life surveys as directed.
  • Completes transition to adult care as directed by and with the medical team.
  • Provides travel, accommodations, and additional support to families traveling from outside of the area to obtain medical care.
  • Engages in community/hospital activities to promote chronic illness awareness.
  • Participates in professional diagnosis specific social work organizations and in other community organizations/activities serving specialty patient population.
  • Keeps abreast of research/literature/developments in disease management social work and attends appropriate continuing education institutes and conferences.

  Additional responsibilities within the hospital:

  • MH clinic response as assigned
  • Precepts and provides orientation support to new staff
  • Supports our intern program as well as taking on supervisee’s and residents once certified as a LCSW supervisor
  • Provides coverage to specialty medical clinic, inpatient, and crisis needs
  • Supports inpatient mental health assessment team in surge time when need arises
  • Completes billable mental health assessment, follow up, and ongoing care
  • Functions in an on‑call capacity as needed by the organization

• LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

  • Current Virginia license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LSCW).

• MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

  • Graduate of an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in Social Work.
  • Experience with implementing evidence‑based treatments with children and families required.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills necessary.
  • Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.

• WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Inpatient hospital with little exposure to dust, temperature and the like.

• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Click here to view physical requirements.