General Summary

This is a 9 month fellowship position. Attends advanced training seminars, grand rounds, clinical supervision, and journal club to further advance social work knowledge and skills. Under direct supervision of an LCSW, provides therapeutic intervention and social work services to patients and their families to enhance comprehensive, integrated and uninterrupted care in the hospital and to have continuity of care in the community. Demonstrates positive interpersonal relations with patients, families, visitors, medical teams, and co-workers in accordance with UMMC and departmental policies and procedures. Mobilizes resources to reduce risk, and serves as ambassador between hospital and community.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Attend advanced training seminars, grand rounds, supervision, journal club and LMSW study group to further advance social work knowledge and skills.

1. Under direct supervision from an LCSW:Assess the patient's psychosocial situation in relation to the medical and psychiatric needs by providing brief admission assessments of each patient, family, or significant other to extend support and determine willingness. Ability to understand and comply with the D/C treatment plan, and understand availability of the caregiver to care for the hospitalized patient upon discharge.
2. Interviews patients, family members, and/or significant others identified through case finding or referral to assess needs for social work services.
3. Reviews patient chart and nursing care plans for pertinent medical care or nursing care information.
4. Provides preventive, protective, or supportive services, including mandatory reporting for patients who are in or who are threatened by situations detrimental to their well-being.
5. Interprets psycho-social services programs and procedures to client, staff and community organizations.
6. Works with the Care Coordinator and the treatment team to develop a safe and timely discharge plan A and B that complies with regulations and laws regarding patient and family wishes. Responsible for mental health placements, homelessness plans, pharmaceutical plans, guardianship procurement, residential care, other psycho-social related placements and hospice/palliative.
7. Identifies the need for and conducts family meetings that result in comfort, decisions, and other important outcomes.
8. Provides brief counseling and crisis intervention to remove barriers to health care and/or discharge planning.
9. Conducts comprehensive psychosocial evaluations and documents appropriate data from psycho-social assessments, individual contacts, family interventions and discharge planning according to department policy and procedures and State, Federal, and Joint Commission stipulated requirements. This includes the distribution of the Important Message from Medicare document.
10. Develops a social service network with city, state or other governmental services that serve the needs of the assigned patient population, to assist patients in obtaining such services as, food stamps and other financial supports and assistance in obtaining transitional housing.
11. Helps create function and productivity on the many teams to which the SW belongs, facilitating the resolution of conflict in order to present a united message to patients and families.
12. Actively participates in clinical performance improvement activities.

Renowned as the academic flagship of the University of Maryland Medical System, our Magnet-designated facility is a nationally recognized, academic medical center with opportunities across the continuum of care. Come join UMMC and discover the atmosphere where talents and ideas come together to enhance patient care and advance the science of nursing. Located in downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, you won't find a more vibrant place to work!

Education and Experience

1. Less than 2 months remaining in accredited MSW program required.
2. 6 months of health care social work internship experience is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Knowledge of social work practices, individual, family and group counseling, case recording, chart documentation, community referrals, and effective networking techniques to coordinate services for patients outside of the hospital is required. Familiarity with general medicine, psychiatry, psychology and sociology and how social, familial, economic and individual factors affect how an individual functions is required.
2. Highly effective verbal and written communication skills are necessary in order to conduct successful counseling, social services, supervision of students, consultation with colleagues and documentation of patient counseling sessions.

Patient Safety

Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives.

1. Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.
2. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
3. Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.

.