Social Worker

Summary of Position

Under the supervision of the Behavioral Health Director, the Licensed Social Worker (LSW), will be responsible for assessing the overall needs (physical, social, emotional, etc.) of patients and help navigate CHCGD services and access to other community services as needed. LSW may provide information on available resources, provide social and emotional support and/or interventions, and potentially advocate for patients with the goal of improved patient or family health. LSW might also compile data to help identify CHCGD and community patient health needs.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts assessments regarding patients’ social determinants of health, and other primary resource needs.

• Support CHCGD services by outreaching patients by mail, telephone and/or in person to inform them of available CHCGD services and facilitate care coordination.

• Assesses patient’s eligibility for CHCGD and other community services such as financial assistance, insurances, and other programs in place to assist individual patients or families.

• Assists eligible patients to apply for publicly sponsored health care insurance plans, providing necessary follow-up to ensure enrollment, continuation or re-enrollment.

• Attend community meetings and health fairs to understand patient needs and assist in working to remove barriers to care.

• Advocate for individual patients’ physical and social emotional health needs; Act as a liaison between communities, patients and other service providers.

• Help patients understand their health conditions, develop strategies to improve their health conditions and provide informal support, and follow-up procedures. Encourage patients to participate in agency sponsored functions appropriate for their situation or condition.

• Timely documents all contacts in electronic medical record chart; accepts and responds to patient referrals and requests as tasked from the provider or other health professional.

• Provides education and facilitates completion of Advanced Directives and/or other legally notable forms (obtain and maintain notary credentialing as required).

• Maintains Patient Resource List and notify staff when updates have been posted.

• Enters data and produces various reports as needed or requested.

• Function as an overall care coordination liaison both internally and potentially externally to support the overall care and well-being of current and potential patients.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills or Abilities

1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate complex information

2. Ability to work with diverse population of patients and staff members

3. Excellent computer skills, including EMR

4. Excellent documentation skills

5. Excellent customer service skills, especially dealing with difficult or irate patients or family members.

6. Must maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and other regulations.

Required Knowledge, Experience or Licensure/Registration

1. Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or counseling or equivalent experience and current Ohio Social Worker license required

2. Experience with MS Office products required; previous EMR experience preferred.

3. Reliable transportation is required for travel between the Health Centers.

4. At least 2 years’ experience in a health care setting or social service agency.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit, stand, walk and access community service agencies, bending over and lifting/holding/carrying objects found in an office environment.

• Ability to communicate and respond to co-workers and patient inquiries both in person and over the phone. Ability to operate a PC/laptop and to enter & retrieve information from a computer.