Medical Social Worker (Social Services Practitioner III - Per Diem)

Full Job Description

Social Service Practitioner III - Per Diem - Patient and Family Services This Social Services Practitioner III (SSP III - PD) - Per Diem position supports the night coverage at RUHS Medical Center. The SSP III - PD has a significant role in the efficient through put process of patient care coordination and timely discharge planning. A competent SSP III - PD assists medical and other professional staff in addressing clinical situations and complex cases related to children or adults and their families. The SSP III - PD conducts Social Determinants of Health Screenings, psychosocial assessments, provides crisis counseling, assists with discharge planning, and provides linkage to community resources and funding sources.

• Thursday through Saturday - 12 hour night shift and every other Wednesday 8 hour night shift

Under general direction, performs difficult social service casework dealing with complex individual and family problems or social service casework for patients and their families in healthcare facilities; plans, organizes, implements, and evaluates all clinical services provided to pediatric patients and needs of children in required assignments; may participate in and assist with conducting in-service training programs; may provide leadership as a program consultant in the utilization of casework concepts and methodology; performs other related duties as required.

The Social Services Practitioner Ill - Per Diem is a broad range journey to advanced level classification of the professionally trained social caseworker in the Social Services Practitioner - Per Diem series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager level position. Incumbents are characterized by the responsibility for performing full scope social service casework often requiring difficult diagnosis and intensive treatment services.

Depending on area of assignment, incumbents may be required to have a master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, social welfare, social or behavioral sciences, or social/ human services.

The Social Services Practitioner Ill - Per Diem is distinguished from the Social Services Supervisor by the latter's responsibility to provide full time supervision of staff performing casework. The Social Services Practitioner Ill - Per Diem is not a natural progression underfill to the Social Services Supervisor.

Per Diem personnel are distinguished from regular employees in that they receive additional compensation in lieu of County fringe benefits and work assignments are flexibly scheduled or on an as needed basis.

Meet the Team!

Founded in 1893, Riverside University Health System Medical Center has grown into a cornerstone of healthcare excellence and medical education in the region.

Our highly skilled healthcare professionals and dedicated support staff are committed to delivering exceptional, state-of-the-art care to the diverse populations of Riverside County.

Located in Moreno Valley, our 439-bed Medical Center is home to a Level I Trauma Center, a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, and the county’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

If you’re passionate about making a meaningful difference and helping others, RUHS Medical Center is the place for you!

For more information about RUHS Medical Center, please visit www.ruhealth.org

Requirements

• Carry a caseload of the more difficult types of social service cases requiring a high degree of technical competence where social or family problems or environmental forces adversely affect family life; assess client's problems and develop treatment plans; lead self-care, well-being and educational courses to community participants and/or staff.

• Complete case studies for the purpose of assessing problems and determining appropriate types and methods of treatment; develop intensive long or short-term treatment plans to improve or restore individual or family functioning.

• Act in a lead capacity for a small group of Social Services Practitioners or services employees, such as aides and volunteers.

• Act as a casework consultant to staff members without professional training.

• Function at a highly skilled level in such areas as counseling, protective services, medical social work, family services, community organization, and adoptive services.

• Take part in staff development programs to increase knowledge of the social work processes and augment personal technical competence.

• Provide therapeutic marital, family interrelationship and adoptive parent counseling.

• Investigate and provide services to clients where their physical or emotional welfare is involved; work with cases involving neglect, abuse, emotional or behavioral problems, physical/mental disabilities, or other health conditions affecting a client's personality, family relationships, child, or in-home care arrangements.

• Provide services and counseling in cases of desertion or impending loss of a spouse, child, or caretaker.

• Interpret public social service rules, regulations and policies to clients and the public.

• Maintain casework records and prepare reports and correspondences.

• Frequently conduct field visits, away from the home office, which may include long distances in order to carry out service plans, observe and assess client needs, and provide information and social work services.

• Assess client family environment in order to determine potential or imminent risk to the safety of children/disabled adults/elderly residing in the household; when safety needs dictate, remove child/ disabled adults/elderly from home and transport them, complying with all safety regulations, including the use of age appropriate California safety mandated equipment, when assisting with initial removal or facilitating a placement change, which may include managing/lifting the client's necessary assistive equipment (e.g., wheelchair).

• Maintain up-to-date electronic records of all aspects of client case management in a centralized database.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE LISTED DUTIES, ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES MAY PERFORM THE FOLLOWING:

• Perform studies of patients and their families to determine the nature of their problems; learn to develop the most effective treatment methods and treatment plans according to need.

• Interview patients, families and friends to obtain information for case records.

• Assess the psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and initiate appropriate interaction accordingly.

• Coordinate and consult with medical and other staff members and with outside agencies regarding available resources.

• Learn to interpret significant emotional, social and economic factors to healthcare team members.

• Participate in seminars of other types of training programs to enhance social work capabilities; may participate in group therapy.

• Assist in conducting training of social service aspects of medical treatment for healthcare personnel outside of the social services unit.

• Under close supervision, provide social casework services to help patients and their families adjust to social, emotional and financial problems created by illness or disability.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE LISTED DUTIES, ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN THE CHILD LIFE PROGRAM MAY PERFORM THE FOLLOWING:

• Plan, implement and evaluate the Child Life Program.

Qualifications

POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO A HEALTHCARE FACILITY
Education: Graduated from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in Social Work.

Knowledge of: Principles and techniques of social casework and of the function of public social service agencies; individual and group behavior with emphasis on normal growth, development, and family relationships; social casework objectives, principles, and methods; socioeconomic and cultural factors which promote stable family life, and an understanding of the factors that affect family security; physical and mental illnesses and their impact on personality; community organizations and the services they provide; laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of public social services agencies; basic computer skills.

Ability to: Establish rapport with clients and their families; effectively apply casework knowledge and skills; apply the principles of general and/or child psychology and family relationships; evaluate personal and psychological factors in the client and/or family's situation; work constructively within an agency and community setting; effectively utilize appropriate resources and services; provide consultation to others; demonstrate skill in planning and analysis; control personal bias and apply social work ethics; maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public; provide consultation to and assist in the professional development of less experienced Social Services Practitioners; input and retrieve data from computerized system.

Additional Information

Other Requirements

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License may be required.

Possession of a valid certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from American Heart Association is required upon hire or within 6 months of hire.

County of Riverside Human Resources Contact:

For more information regarding this position, please contact the recruiter, Jammie Smith, at jasmith@rivco.org or (951) 955-6965