ASSOCIATE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER in Los Angeles, California at LOS ANGELES CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER

SUMMARY

The Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) aims to reduce the distress and improve the mental health of the homeless and underserved populations presenting with complex medical and psycho-social problems. Works alongside other professionals in multidisciplinary teams in helping to resolve complex patient issues. Demonstrate Christ-like behavior and attitude in all job duties and responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include:

• Assess, diagnose, and treat patient’s symptoms and dysfunctional behaviors per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual via in-person visits and telehealth (i.e., video & phone sessions).
• Provide individual and group psychotherapies to clients with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, hypertension, medication non-adherence, addiction, social and interpersonal problems, personality disorders and challenging behaviors.
• Develop social assessments and formulate individualized treatment plans based on evaluation of the patient’s past, present, and future medical and socioeconomic functioning.
• Apply behavioral interventions such as motivational interviewing that increase positive outcomes and optimize patient well-being.
• Provide wellness checks (i.e., SBIRTs – Screening, Brief Intervention, & Referral to Treatment) to patients to assess their well-being and to connect them to mental health services (during “down” times and at other times).
• Triage patients on the mental health waitlist by calling them for SBIRTs to assess mental health conditions and needs.
• Work as a part of a multidisciplinary team alongside medical providers, nurses, psychologists, front office staff, and case managers.
• Provide consultation services to multidisciplinary team members by evaluating the biopsychosocial implications of the patient’s illness when the team is assessing and planning medical treatment.
• Refer patients to institutions, support services, psychiatry, and other specialists as needed.
• Provide functional assessments in reports to the Department of Public Social Services, Department of Child and Family Services, Social Security Administration, and the Judiciary as needed.
• Provide some case management or referral to assist homeless patients with accessing vital resources such as housing, substance abuse treatment, specialty mental health care, and public benefits as needed.
• Contact MAT (medically assisted treatment) patients following initial induction (i.e., initial prescription to treat opioid addiction) for treatment retention as needed.
• Document all assessments, diagnoses, care plans, interventions, referrals, telephone encounters, SBIRTs, and therapy visits in our electronic medical records system.
• Participate, assist, & lead groups/activities in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation program as needed.
• Network with community organizations for referral, partnership, and collaboration.
• Attend community meetings and events (such as street fairs and outreach events) as needed.
• Participate in weekly individual and group supervision per BBS guidelines. LACHC will provide a clinical supervisor.
• Develop and utilize resources of public and private agencies and community organizations in the service areas of LACHC.
• Other duties may be assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• CPR Certification required.
• Bi-lingual Spanish preferred.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Master degree in social work. Registered in the State of California as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW). Minimum one years of providing mental health and social services (i.e., assessment, diagnosis, case management, and individual and group therapies) to homeless, mentally ill, substance addicted adult populations. Prior experience working within a community mental health or primary care, medical setting preferred. CPR certification required. Proficiency in computer use required. Proficiency in written and spoken Spanish preferred.

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE

Experience with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Familiarity with medical terms and operations of clinics useful.

Proficiency in English required, Bi-lingual/ Bi-literal Spanish preferred.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as totals, proportions and percentages.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to carriers of contagious diseases. The employee may have to deal with irate and irrational clients who may or may not be under the influence of mind-altering substances such as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, etc.

The employee will have access to patient charts which contain confidential information about medical conditions and other personal matters. The employee must display a commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality at all times.