Social Work Case Manager - OP Neurology

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This position is Benefit eligible; click here for an overview of available benefits.
This position is covered by the UHP Bargaining Unit; click here to review the current UHP Contract.
This position is in salary group UHP-11; click here to review the current UHP Pay Plan.

UConn Health is a vibrant, integrated academic medical center that is entering an era of unprecedented growth in all three areas of its mission: academics, research, and clinical care. A commitment to human health and well-being has been of utmost importance to UConn Health since the founding of the University of Connecticut schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine in 1961. Based on a strong foundation of groundbreaking research, first-rate education, and quality clinical care, we have expanded our medical missions over the decades. In just over 50 years, UConn Health has evolved to encompass more research endeavors, to provide more ways to access our superior care, and to innovate both practical medicine and our methods of educating the practitioners of tomorrow.

At UConn Health, this class is accountable for providing advanced social work services to patients and families, including comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and coordination of post-acute services as part of interdisciplinary care team.

This position is going to work in Outpatient Neurology in our Farmington location.

Works under the limited supervision of an employee of higher grade.

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments for patients in the emergency department and admitted to inpatient units, including evaluation of mental health, substance use, family systems, and social supports.

• Serve as the primary clinical case manager by coordinating patient care throughout hospitalization and discharge planning.

• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, therapists, and other interdisciplinary team members to develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment and discharge plans.

• Attends interdisciplinary rounds, staff meetings, and case conferences to provide social work consultation and facilitate timely discharge.

• Provides direct clinical social work services to patients, including crisis intervention, brief counseling, and family meetings.

• Provides psychoeducation and emotional support to patients and families related to illness, hospitalization, and care transitions.

• Coordinate discharge planning and referrals to post-acute services, including home care, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation programs, behavioral health services, and community-based resources. Facilitate interfacility transfers by coordinating bed placement, required documentation, and necessary approvals. Obtains insurance authorization and participates in utilization review processes related to admission, continued stay, discharge or transfer.

• Assess and address social determinants of health including housing, transportation, financial barriers, food insecurity, and caregiver support.

• Prepares clinical summaries, reports, and documentation for internal teams, external providers, courts, and state agencies.

• Complete mandated reporting and collaborate with protective services, probate court, and other legal entities as required. Document psychosocial assessments, interventions, and care coordination in the electronic medical record in accordance with institutional and regulatory standard.

• May participate in training residents and students and supervise social work/public health students.

• Performs other duties as required.

M INIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Considerable knowledge of medical and psychiatric social work principles, practices, and methods.

• Considerable knowledge of crisis intervention techniques, safety assessment, and behavioral de-escalation.

• Knowledge of discharge planning processes, level-of-care criteria, and post-acute care systems.

• Knowledge of social determinants of health and community resource systems.

• Knowledge of state and federal regulations related to mandated reporting, involuntary commitment, and conservatorships.

• Considerable interpersonal skills, including the ability to work with diverse populations in high-stress situations.

• Considerable oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced inpatient environment.

E XPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

A master's degree from an accredited school of social work and two (2) years of relevant experience, preferably in a medical/health science setting for the medical services and in a psychiatric mental health setting for the psychiatric services.

• Must possess and maintain licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Connecticut.

• May be required to travel.

• May be required to be bilingual.

Experience assisting with any community resources, services, or equipment as needed.

• Incumbents may be required to work in fast-paced patient care areas involving exposure to traumatic situations, psychiatric crises, distressed families, and behavioral emergencies.
• May be required to respond to hospital-wide behavioral codes, rapid assessments, or urgent consults.
• May experience occasional exposure to individuals exhibiting unpredictable or aggressive behavior.

• Requires walking between units, prolonged standing or sitting, and interviewing patients in a variety of settings.