Job Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

The Social Worker reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates and participates in the coordination of screening, assessment, and discharge planning activities in high risk patients and their families with complex psychosocial and economic needs.
• Utilizes expertise and problem solving skills to achieve optimal clinical outcomes within effective resources and timeframes.
• Promotes a seamless and safe discharge throughout the continuum of care
• Collaborates with the care team for discharge planning and community linkage for patients and families with complex social, economic, and emotional needs. 
• Participates in care conferences and unit rounds. Keeps all members of the care team apprised of the current state and plan of care. 
• Develops positive relationships with co-workers, members of the care team, and community resources.
• Collaborates with care team members to identify at risk populations and opportunities to improve care delivery and on-going support, thus increasing efficiencies and effectiveness. 
• Makes timely and appropriate referrals to ancillary support staff in order to facilitate progress toward a safe discharge.
• Partners with the post-acute care providers and shares appropriate and pertinent information in order to create a seamless and safe discharge plan.
• Identifies, assesses and responds to patient and family needs, incorporating age specific developmental, psychological, cultural and spiritual needs. Emphasis is placed on addressing the social and emotional needs of the patient and family that may impact on the patient's response to medical treatment. These needs may include, but are not limited to, adjustment to illness, poor or limited coping abilities, functional impairment, mental illness, guardianship issues, compliance, need for additional resources due to limited funds available, substance abuse, cultural differences, death, dying, bereavement, and family welfare, including abuse, neglect, and domestic violence. 
• Provides timely and effective interventions for patients and families in emergency and crisis, including referrals to appropriate support resources. 
• Educates team members regarding the socio-economic, emotional and cultural issues that impact care delivery, coping skills, and response to treatment. 
• Serves as an advocate for the patient and family. Serves as a lead resource and assists with referrals in coordinating charity and financial resources, guardianship issues, family problems or conflicts, and competency issues. 
• Assists with the maintenance of information and referral lists relative to post-acute care resources.
• Administers and interprets tests and measures of psychosocial functioning for the purpose of diagnosing mental, emotional, behavioral, addictive, and development disorders and disabilities.
• Develops and implements appropriate assessment- based treatment plan. Consults with team managers, statutory and voluntary agencies and patient’s relatives to ensure compliance with treatment plan. 
• Provides crisis oriented Psychotherapy and connects patient and family with the appropriate resources.
• Supervises and trains lower level social workers, students or interns. 
• Applies specialized clinical Knowledge and advanced clinical skills in the areas of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, behavioral, addictions disorders or conditions and makes appropriate referrals or transfers to the correct level of care.

Qualifications

Required :

• One full year experience and/or internship in a medical social work role in and acute hospital setting or agency.
• Experience with maternal/child populations
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

Preferred:

• Two years’ experience in an acute hospital setting
• Experience in a level III nursery for maternal child area
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• ACSW (Academy of Certified Social Workers)

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our  Benefits section to learn more.

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