Psychiatric Social Worker-PD

Stamford Health is looking for a Per-Diem Psychiatric Social Worker to join the team

Psychiatric social worker provides direct, professionally skilled psychotherapeutic services to mentally and/or emotionally disturbed patients and their families, to reduce psychological, mental, and emotional disabilities and/or improve overall functioning. Provides high quality and timely discharge planning, for patients admitted to Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES/CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• When possible and with the patient’s consent, actively involves patients and their families in discharge planning upon admission to the inpatient unit.

• Completes psychosocial assessments on all patients and best practice to be documented within 72 business hours of admission.

• Reports all acute clinical patient concerns to the Nurse Manager, Attending Psychiatrist, or Charge Nurse on the unit. Interactions with patients, family or outpatient staff that promote concern and are found inappropriate will be reported to the Nurse Manager and Attending Psychiatrist promptly as well.

• In collaboration with the patient and the treatment team the Psychiatric Social Worker will design a plan of care that is suited to the strengths and areas of improvement of the individual patient.

• Provides direct, professionally skilled services to mentally and or emotionally disturbed patients and their families by conducting individual, group, and family therapeutic interventions.

• Coordinates, facilitates, and leads group therapy including substance abuse topics with patients, as well as patients with other psychiatric diagnoses, and completes Activity Therapy Assessment and ongoing treatment plans.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker establishes a safe plan for the discharge of psychiatric patients, admitted to Psychiatry, by working collaboratively with the patient, multidisciplinary team, and community agencies. The Psychiatric Social Worker will ensure that discharge criteria have been met according to our Discharge Policy.

• Consistently engages Dual Diagnosis individuals in treatment using a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques including individual, supportive, behavioral, group and insight-oriented therapies.

• Each patient’s plan of care will be individualized with objectives, goals, and interventions.

• Incorporates the hospitals’ mission, vision, and values and promotes the Planetree model in everyday practice.

• Performs other duties as may be required by Nurse Manager, Director or Chair, Department of Psychiatry.

• Performs charting requirements on patients and in accordance with The Joint Commission and other regulatory agencies. Assures compliance with the requirements of State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Inpatient Psychiatric Grant.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker will be CPI trained.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker will adhere to our policy for Dress Code, to include wearing a wireless panic alarm pendant while on duty, always.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker will keep track of the legal status and length of stay of each patient in their care. Physician’s Emergency Certificate will be reviewed closely and appropriate steps will be taken to address expiration date in a timely fashion.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker will collaborate with the treatment team regarding expiration of a PEC and move to convert Commitment to a voluntary status if appropriate or file for probate with the court.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker will complete all paperwork requirements for court proceedings e.g., Commitment, Probable Cause, Conservatorship, and Involuntary Medication Administration Hearing, and submit the paperwork to the courts within the required timeframe.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker will coordinate and attend court proceedings on site, as appropriate or needed.

• The Psychiatric Social Worker will notify the court of any cancellations for pending hearings within required timeframe.

• Completes required continuous training and education, including department specific requirements.

• Demonstrates professional work behavior by following Service Standards and Success factors. Complies with departmental organizational policies and procedures and adheres to external agency requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work required.

Connecticut State License in Social Work or MSW working towards LCSW.

State Certification for Substance Abuse Counselor or equivalent preferred and/or within 6 months of hire.

Preferred one year work experience in a psychiatric agency performing related duties.