Medical Social Worker - Social Services

Position Description:
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8a-5p

Location: Tinsley Harrison Tower

To assist patients and their families in making full use of available national, state, institutional, community and pharmaceutical resources. To provide social evaluation which includes placement of evaluation in medical record. To provide counseling to patients/families and/or groups. To participate in staffing, clinics and rounds in order to enhance team understanding of patient’s psychosocial situation. To facilitate discharge planning; arranges for services such as home health, hospice, durable medical equipment and/or skilled nursing facility placement. To respond to the unique needs of the patient population as needed. May provide anticipatory, permanency and/or bereavement/loss counseling to patients and families and/or makes appropriate community referrals. May supervise both bachelors and masters level students. To act as a liaison to the community through public speaking.

Position Requirements:
Key Duties & Responsibilities
1. Maintains a working knowledge of national, state, institutional, community and pharmaceutical
resources needed to provide patients with continuity of care.
2. Provides direct social work service, evaluation and counseling to patients and families and/or
groups. Provides assistance with social and practical environmental problems (e.g. handling
financial matters, assisting with discharge planning, etc.).
3. Participates in staffing, clinics and rounds as needed to enhance team understanding of patient.
4. Participates in in-service and staff development activities. May serve on committees and/or offer
topics for educational programs. Acts as a liaison to the community through public speaking.
5. Discharge planning: arranges for home health, hospice, durable medical equipment and/or skilled
nursing facility placement.
6. May provide bereavement/loss counseling to patients and families; makes appropriate community
referrals as needed.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements
Master's degree in Social Work required. Work experience may NOT substitute for education
requirement. If job is in The Kirklin Clinic (TKC), previous experience in a healthcare environment
preferred.

Licenses / Certifications / Registrations
Currently licensed or eligible to be licensed as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) by the Alabama
State Board of Social Work Examiners required. If job is in The Kirklin Clinic (TKC), license must be
obtained within six months of employment.

TRAITS & SKILLS:

Must be self-directed / self-motivated; must have excellent communication and possess outstanding customer service and interpersonal skills. Must be able to: (1) perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; (2) accept responsibility for one’s own work; (3) work independently; (4) recognize the rights and responsibilities of patient confidentiality; (5) convey empathy and compassion to those experiencing pain, physical or emotional distress and/or grief; (6) relate to others in a manner which creates a sense of teamwork and cooperation; (7) communicate effectively with people from every socioeconomic, cultural and educational background; (8) exhibit flexibility and cope effectively in an ever-changing, fast-paced healthcare environment; (9) perform effectively when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual or dangerous situations; (10) demonstrate the quality work ethic of doing the right thing the right way; and (11) maintain a customer focus and strive to satisfy the customer's perceived needs.

UA Health Services Foundation (UAHSF) is proud to be an AA/EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled employer.