Social Worker- BSW

WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital; Buckhannon (WV); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

STJ St. Joseph's Hospital in Buckhannon, WV seeks a qualified social worker to provide counseling, emotional support, and discharge planning within the Obstetric Unit and outpatient clinic.

You will conduct comprehensive assessments, collaborate with the care team, refer to community resources, and guide patients and families through Living Wills, MPOA, and advance directives as requested. This role requires licensure in WV, OH, MD, or PA and involves flexible hours including weekends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field.
• Must possess current state licensure where services are provided.
• Certification in Case Management (preferred).
• Two years of social work experience (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Complete a comprehensive assessment to develop a safe discharge plan considering psychosocial, emotional and financial needs with the care team.
• Assess changes in the physician’s plan of care and update the discharge plan accordingly.
• Review and document the discharge plan in the electronic medical record and coordinate with the care team.
• Identify post-discharge needs and initiate referrals to promote appropriate use of hospital resources.
• Assist in identifying alternatives for care when not requiring acute hospitalization and advise on financial impact.
• Collaborate with hospital and community resources to meet patient needs and refer to income assistance, transportation, meal programs, etc.
• Assess for signs of abuse/neglect and refer to Adult or Child Protective Services as appropriate.
• Assist in completing Living Will, Advance Directive and MPOA forms; identify etc. as requested.
• Work with legal counsel on guardianship/conservatorship when necessary.
• Educate physicians, patients, families and staff about payer coverage issues (Medicare/Medicaid).
• Communicate deviations from norms, quality or care concerns to case management leadership.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field

Licensure by state board (LSW/LBSW)

Certification in Case Management

Job description

Provides social work services to patients, their families and/or significant others through counseling, emotional support, assisting with environmental needs, crisis intervention, and group leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field.
• Must possess current license as required by state board where services will be provided:

WV: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) through the West Virginia Board of Social Work

OH: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) through the Ohio Board of Social Work

MD: Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) through the Maryland Board of Social Work

PA: No state licensure required

Preferred Qualifications

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE

• Certification in Case Management.

Experience

• Two (2) social work experience.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned.

• Complete a comprehensive assessment to develop a safe, realistic discharge plan of care appropriate for the patient, in consideration of psychosocial, emotional and financial needs, and in collaboration with the care management team and documents in the electronic medical record.
• Assess changes in the physician’s plan of care and any impact on the discharge plan.
• Reviews discharge plan on an ongoing basis and communicates any changes to the appropriate party. Documents the discharge plan in the electronic medical record.
• Identifies potential problems with post-discharge care and /or initiates early referrals to promote proper utilization of hospital resources and timely transfer to the appropriate level of car.
• Assists the interdisciplinary team in identifying alternate methods and level of care when patient does not require acute hospitalization and takes appropriate action to minimize financial loss to the hospital and improve the quality of patient care delivery (discuss cases with patients and families, consult with physician).
• Explore and collaborate with resources within the hospital and community to meet defined patient needs and refers patients and/or families to resources including but not limited to income assistance programs, transportation services, meal assistance, etc.
• Assess for signs and symptoms of abuse and/or neglect and make referrals to appropriate agencies (Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services).
• Assist in identifying a decision maker of medical (Health Care Surrogate) or if there is an existing Medical Power of Attorney designee and presence of a Living Will or other advance directive. Assist patient in completing Living Will, Advance Directive and Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA) forms as requested.
• Work with hospital legal counsel in pursuing and expediting guardianship, and/or conservatorship actions when necessary.
• Provides education and guidance to physicians, patient, family and other health care professionals about Medicare, Medicaid and other third party payers coverage issues and regulations.
• Communicates to case management leadership or designees and/or appropriate physician, medical staff director/peer review regarding deviations from expected norm, quality or appropriateness of care; length of stay issues; risk management issues.

For Facilities With Specialty Accreditation Requirements

• Completion of annual required education related to specialty accreditation as defined by accreditation standards. Training may be completed through CBLs, trainings, In-services, and competency validation.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prolonged periods of standing or sitting.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Flexible hours to include weekends and holidays.

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with health care professionals at all levels to achieve established goals and improve quality outcomes.
• Basic computer knowledge and ability to operate standard office software.

Additional Job Description

Sees patients on the Obstetric Unit as well as the outpatient clinic. Case Manager for Drug Free Mom and Baby Program. This program involves statewide meetings and data entry. Enrollment and case management of patients with substance use or substance use history. In addition, working with all prenatal care patients, assessing SDOH needs and ACEs. Work closely with our peer counselor and our tobacco cessation program.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Shift

Day (United States of America)

Exempt/Non-Exempt

United States of America (Exempt)

Company

STJ St. Joseph's Hospital

Cost Center

507 STJ Grants

Address

100 W. Main Street

Buckhannon

West Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.