Salary Range: $38.57 - $49.36

Pay rates are determined based on experience and internal equity.

Position Summary:

• Reports to the Director of Case Management
• Provides biopsychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, counseling, and linkage with resources for inpatients, outpatients, their families and significant others.
• Assists patients and their families in coping with psychosocial problems related to acute and chronic illness, treatment regimes, and adjusting to an altered lifestyle in order to promote effective and timely discharges.

District Responsibility:

• Supports the District Mission, Vision and Values.
• Demonstrates Respect, Professionalism and Courtesy to all patients, visitors, other providers and coworkers, as delineated in the LVMC “Commitment to Care”.
• Constantly uses C-I-CARE principles when communicating with others.
• Maintains all principles of confidentiality according to District Policy and as required by State and Federal agencies.
• Follows guidelines and practices identified in the Employee Handbook.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement activities within the department, Lompoc Valley Medical Center and Comprehensive Care Center.
• Completes hospital-wide skills criteria annually.
• Complies with annual PPD testing.
• Maintains responsibility for own professional development.

Position Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assesses patient’s biopsychosocial needs and options. Interviews patient and family members to determine medical-social and emotional needs and identifies personal, family, and community resources that are available.
• Facilitates referrals to other services ( e.g. substance abuse treatment, specialty care and community resources) as needed.
• Applies knowledge of developmental issues of all ages, from early childhood to the elderly, in order to relate to patients of all ages.
• Provides crisis, short-term and extended social work treatment to patients and families to maximize appropriate use of medical treatment.
• Develops discharge/treatment plans with patients and families specific to spiritual and cultural values, including professional assessment of psycho-social strengths and weaknesses in the context of the illness and treatment program.
• Communicates the discharge/treatment plan to attending medical and nursing staff.
• Maintains documentation of all services in the medical record.
• Participates in and/or facilitates team meetings.
• Sensitive to issues of cultural diversity.
• Maintains knowledge of LVMC Policies and Procedures.
• Manages clinical resources for patients and regulatory compliance.
• Performs related duties as requested.

Essential Functions:

• Maintains appropriate Social Worker certification, as required.
• Demonstrates familiarity and comfort working with issues related to homelessness, substance abuse, mental health diagnoses, and history of trauma.
• Demonstrates experience in psychosocial assessment, individual/group therapy, short-term, evidence-based counseling, and crisis intervention
• Demonstrates the ability to function as a team member.
• Demonstrates the ability to have positive personal interactions with staff, patients, visitors, and physicians.
• Accepts appropriate supervision.
• Communicates concerns appropriately using the established chain of command.

Position Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s level social worker (MSW).
• Experience: At least 1 year of appropriate experience preferred.
• Skills/Ability: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Computer skills required.
• Exhibits the ability to organize work assignments and follow through with accuracy.
• Exercises good judgment, demonstrates initiative, emotional stability, tact, and poise.
• Bilingual preferred.
• LVMC reserves the right to modify the minimum requirements depending on the needs of the organization.