Licensed Master Social Worker

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) at the WellQuest PACE Program contributes the profession’s unique psychosocial perspective to the interdisciplinary evaluation, assessment, plan of care, ongoing services, and disenrollment processes that occur once the PACE participants begin the intake process and continue with ongoing services. The LMSW provides basic casework and consultation for the PACE participants, as well as facilitates communication between participants, their family and the PACE Interdisciplinary Team (IDT). The LMSW ensures efficient and appropriate coordination of care in order to optimize the health status and quality of life of PACE participants. The LMSW’s interventions may include participant and family education, assessment, mobilizing resources, addressing mental health needs, ongoing case management, and advocacy to ensure participants’ needs are addressed and disenrollment procedures are followed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Uses all information sources available, assesses participants’ psychosocial health status and social work needs.
• Completes assessments at admission and for required care planning according to regulatory requirements and as condition change indicates.
• Determines participant and family needs related to social support, financial support, counseling and housing.
• Confers with participant and family to identify participant goals and expectations
• Coordinates with the Interdisciplinary Team to develop a comprehensive care plan for each participant.
• In cooperation with the Interdisciplinary Team, plans and performs psychosocial interventions designed to keep the participant in the community and enhance quality of life to the greatest extent possible.
• Assists in the completion of participants’ healthcare wishes and advance directives in cooperation with their primary care physician and/or nurse practitioner, the participant and family.
• Provides discharge planning in the event of disenrollment.
• Acts as participant advocate and liaison between participant and various governmental and private agencies in order to maximize the participant’s support network and obtain needed services:
• Facilitates communication between participant and various government programs such as Medicaid, SSI, Medicare and Social Security
• Reviews Medicaid eligibility, monitors time frame for recertification
• Facilitates Medicaid applications for certification and recertification in conjunction with Medicaid Eligibility Specialist
• Participates in interagency meetings as needed and assists participants in obtaining housing and eligibility for low-income housing options.
• Evaluates need for and assists with the set-up of money management systems for participants who require assistance.
• Keeps up-to-date on changing rules and regulations regarding Medicaid and Medicare eligibility and other entitlement programs and services.
• Acts as participants’ advocate and liaison between participant, family and Care Team:
• Facilitates communication between participant, family and Care Team to maximize or maintain participant support systems.
• Facilitates or participates in family meetings as required
• Facilitates the Participant Council to create and maintain a vehicle for dialogue between participants and the Care Team, and to empower participant responsibility.
• Conducts family support groups, education or training sessions, and routine family caregiver meetings for education, support and dialogue.
• Works with Executive Director to provide orientation and in-service programs for Care Team to enhance staff understanding of psychosocial issues and to meet regulatory requirements and support performance improvement.
• Coordinates with mental health-related providers, including drug and alcohol treatment, to arrange appointments and share pertinent information.
• Participates in surveys and inspections made by authorized government agencies.

Specified Duties:

• Serves on, participates in, and attends meetings of various teams and/or committees, as required and appointed by the Executive Director.
• Provides written and/or oral reports of the social services programs and activities, as required or may be directed by such committees.
• Evaluates and implements recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services.
• Performs administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submits such to Executive Director as required.
• Makes written and oral reports/recommendations to the Executive Director concerning the operation of the Social Services Department.
• Reviews departmental complaints and grievances from participants and makes written reports to the Program Manager of action(s) taken.
• Assists the Quality Improvement Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
• Assures that all progress notes charted are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the participant’s response to the service.
• Maintains a reference library of written material, laws, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations that will provide assistance in maintaining quality social service.
• Meets with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and activities.
• Maintains an excellent working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinates social services to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in Social Work required
• Current Social Work license in Arkansas
• Three-years experience in long-term care or home care/geriatric setting
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, Outlook, and electronic health records strongly preferred.
• Adult and geriatric patients

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Must be willing to travel occasionally

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Master's (Required)

Experience:

• working in long-term care or home care/geriatric: 3 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Arkansas Social Worker's License (Required)

Work Location: In person