BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Clinically oriented social worker who establishes, manages & administers the Children’s Hospital Maltreatment Program. Uses diagnostic skills to assist patients and their families with personal and environmental stressors which interfere with obtaining maximum benefit from medical care. Is a consultant & educational resource to Children’s Hospital providers, social work colleagues and community based Child Protection Teams and agencies. Advocates for maltreatment prevention programs on local and state levels. Participates is orientation of new Children’s Hospital social work staff. May participate in supervision of students completing Field Placement. Acts in accordance with the Social Work Code of Ethics.

REPORTS TO

• Director—Care Coordination

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Supervisory Responsibilities: NO

Minimum Education: Masters Degree Required

Degree: Degree Required in Social Work

License/Certification Required: Tennessee licensure as a Master Social Worker within twelve months of hire. Tennessee L.C.S.W. preferred.

Minimum Work Experience: 1 year post-masters clinical experience required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Extensive SW theory base.
• Trained in the dynamics of child abuse & neglect.
• Uses multiple therapeutic modalities. Demonstrates professional judgment.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Capable of multitasking.
• Attentive to detail.
• Highly organized.
• Flexible.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinates Maltreatment Team Operations:
• Establishes operational systems to insure the effective & efficient management of Children’s Hospital maltreatment response program. Daily review of Emergency Department patient records to identify undetected maltreatment indicators. Coordinates Children’s Hospital Patient Advocacy Committee (PAC) meetings. Actively participates in community-based Child Protection meetings. Develops & revises Social Work Orientation packet on Maltreatment and annual Children’s Hospital NetLearning Abuse module. Identifies gaps within the community maltreatment response system & informs Child Abuse Pediatricians. Suggests opportunities for improved system response within hospital & with community-based teams.
• Case Management across Continuum of Care:
• Has training in the dynamics of child abuse & neglect and in assessment & management of maltreatment victims within hospital setting. Thoroughly understands mandatory child abuse reporting laws. Supports medical follow up & secondary interventions for complex, high-risk children. Assists patients/families in navigating complicated bureaucracies, processes & treatments. Is knowledgeable of child maltreatment community resources & can be designated as a resource specialist in this area.Collaborates with community-based multidisciplinary team (including CPS & law enforcement) & proactively develops relationships with community agencies. Attends internal and/or cross-institutional peer review meetings.
• Clinical Leadership & Program Development:
• Working in concert with Children’s Hospital Child Abuse Pediatricians & SW Director, develops policies & procedures for managing suspected child maltreatment cases. This includes hospital policy on identification of suspected victims, evaluation, internal & external referral procedures and process by which medical information can be appropriately shared with members of the community-based team. Assumes leadership role with social work staff by educating on Best Practice approach for in hospital maltreatment intervention. Educates Children’s Hospital staff to increase awareness in identifying undetected maltreatment indicators. Interfaces with community maltreatment investigations. Integrates the community maltreatment response program into the hospital’s response program as appropriate. Educates others on the unique role & needs of each agency represented on the team, including differing roles of hospital social work versus community child protection social work agencies. Actively participates on Knox County Child Fatality Review Team. Collaborates with community partners on inventory & analysis of available community resources for suspected abuse victims. Serves as regional resource. Contributes SW expertise to policy & procedure development on local, state and/or federal levels. Participates in research.
• Assesses patient’s/family’s biopsychosocial functioning, emotional support network and socioeconomic status and needs. Develops individualized and attainable goals in conjunction with patients and families.
• Demonstrates knowledge of individual and family psychopathology, family systems and child development theories. Clinical assessments provide clear diagnostic basis for initiation of therapeutic planning. Demonstrates understanding of the implication of medical diagnoses and resultant psychosocial effects. Makes rounds on assigned units and cases daily. Assesses availability and appropriateness of support by extended family and friends, and interpersonal relationships of patient and significant others. Assessments reflect an awareness of, and sensitivity to, pertinent cultural and ethnic factors as well as family values and preferences. Goals are appropriately matched to patient/family learning style, educational level, culture and background. Reassesses effectiveness of the treatment plan and redefines the goals or treatment modalities as needed.
• Therapeutic Intervention and Counseling – uses modalities which optimize treatment goals and interventions. Provides counseling for adaptation to medical circumstance and secondary psychosocial effects.
• Demonstrates dual focus of child/family centered care and service excellence in working with patients, families and community resources. Demonstrates ability to engage patient/family in an ongoing therapeutic alliance, builds on family strengths to enhance competence and recognizes possible barriers to this process. Identifies resistance and/or noncompliance and intervenes to minimize or prevent. Maintains professional boundaries. Uses a variety of modalities to achieve treatment goals. These may include psychoeducation, cognitive intervention, family therapy, supportive counseling, grief or bereavement counseling, etc., to enable the patient/family to function at their highest possible level. Identifies risk management issues and de-escalates problems. Identifies bioethical issues/dilemmas, and initiates hospital process.
• Documentation – complies with hospital and departmental Quality Improvement standards and statistical requirements.
• Completes accurate, timely documentation in patients’ medical records and in other S.W. department record keeping systems per S.W. policy and acuity levels. Documentation is concise, clear, and addresses all information required by the S.W. Quality Improvement plan. Content is in correct categories. Documentation is on patients’ medical records within 48 hours of referral. Updated documentation is completed at least every 7 calendar days. (NICU may be exception per SW policy.) Actively participates in S.W. Peer Review to monitor the appropriateness and quality of services and associated documentation. Makes recommendations for improvement. Completes required statistical information in timely fashion.
• Advocacy - maintains confidentiality, adheres to HIPAA Regulations and protects patient/family rights.
• Adheres to NASW Code of Ethics and confidentiality parameters established by S.W. licensure laws in the state of Tennessee. Maintains professional boundaries and assists hospital staff re: same. Serves as patient/family advocate and liaison with the medical staff, health care team, and resource agencies. Advocates for patient/family values, strengths and expressed needs. Strictly maintains patient/family confidences in all forms of communication. Actively supports realistic therapeutic decision-making by patient/family. Advocates for appropriate health care utilization by patient/families. Promotes hospital wide awareness of professional ethics regarding confidentiality in all circumstances. Advocates for proper use of Continuum of Care for suspected maltreatment victims. Advocates for development of Trauma Informed mental health services.
• Demonstrates current knowledge of guidelines, procedures and laws pertinent to provision of S.W. services:
• Demonstrates current knowledge regarding all competencies listed in S.W. policy. Completes annual state licensure and Children’s Hospital education requirements. Demonstrates commitment to continued professional education and skill development. Shares updated information with S.W. staff and students. Adheres to professional Best Practice Standards. Acts as an ambassador for Children’s Hospital while at work and/or at Children’s Hospital sponsored events.
• Collaboration and Discharge Planning - communicates effectively with medical staff, health care team, social work colleagues and patient/family. Integrates medical and psychosocial plans of care. Knowledgeable regarding current community resources: Actively collaborates with medical staff, health care team and patient/family in developing an integrated discharge plan to effectively meet post-discharge needs. Initiates and coordinates patient care conferences. Ensures that all components of plan are in place prior to patient’s discharge. Identifies patient/family understanding of plans. Discusses social work recommendations and completes documentation within 24 hours. Actively communicates case information to involved SW colleagues. Collaborates effectively on shared cases. Links patient/family with community resources. Develops non-traditional or case specific resources if none available. Coordinates involvement of agency representatives prior to patient’s discharge as appropriate. Anticipates, effectively responds and/or prevents developing interpersonal stressors between patient/family members, family members and staff, etc., which may impede patient's treatment or discharge. Anticipates and notifies physician/health care team of patient/family challenges which negatively impact medical treatment and/or discharge planning. Formulates case plan which prevents or assists patient/family with resolution of same. Discusses and documents within 24 hours from time of problem identification.
• Participates in providing training and education for East Tennessee Children's Hospital staff.
• Willingly accepts any other assignment that may be requested.
• Demonstrates accountability and responsible use of hospital’s and department’s time and resources.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
• Light lifting, pushing and pulling is required for 10-20 lbs occasionally and frequent moving of objects of less than 10 lbs is required. Frequent sitting with some walking, standing, squatting, bending and reaching is required. Keyboard/computer use and/or repetitive motions may be required.

Come work where you can make a difference everyday.