Clinical Social Worker III

The Clinical Social Worker intervenes with patients who have complex psychosocial needs, require assistance with eligibility determination for social programs and funding sources, and quality for community assistance from a variety of special funds and agencies.

In addition, offers crisis intervention to patients and families with psychosocial needs, and coordinates and facilitates the development of a discharge plan of care.

The Clinical Social Worker coordinates resources and services in response to a patient’s psychosocial needs while collaborating with Case Managers, Nursing Staff, Medical Staff, and ancillary departments with the goal of supporting a timely and safe discharge and/or meeting the continuing care needs within the fiscal realities of the case.

The CSW will practice within the scope of UCSF’s mission statement: Caring, Healing, Teaching, Discovering; and the values statement of UCSF’s Everyday PRIDE: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, Excellence.

The CSW will participate in department education and practice improvement activities. The CSW works in a collaborative practice model, facilitating care coordination with the multidisciplinary treatment team for care progression to optimize patient outcomes and timely discharge when patient is deemed medically ready.

The CSW will provide social work services to any patient regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social, cultural, educational or religious background, language, age, ancestry, citizenship, color, national origin, race, presence of mental or physical disability, source of payment for care, medical condition, marital status or status as a veteran.

The CSW III (LCSW) has advanced clinical knowledge and skills and participates in leadership activities including advanced program planning, provision of educational programs, clinical supervision, consultation to the clinical team, other departments, and the community.

Department Description

At UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, we understand that hospitalization, illness or injury can be extremely stressful.

Clinical Social Workers are available in every area of the hospital to help patients and their families cope with a broad range of psychological stressors related to illness and being in the medical environment. Our Social Workers are part of the health care team to support patients through the continuum of care.

At UCSF Health sensitive social workers in our Social Work department are available to assist patients and their families cope with the many psychological and social problems that may arise when facing illness, hospitalization and medical treatment.

Our social workers act as patient advocates by serving as counselors, helping to find resources and solving problems. Any concerns related to the psychological, practical and social well-being of each patient or their loved ones may be discussed openly with our social workers.

Responsibilities

Duties & Essential Job Functions

%

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

30

YES

• Provide psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, therapeutic interventions, education, referral, and linkage to community resources for patients and their families.

• On the basis of preliminary risk screening, assess psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction and adjustment to illness or medical crisis, ability to cope, and other biopsychosocial needs.

• Intervene regarding the emotional, social, behavioral, and financial consequences of illness and/or disability, including complex family dynamics affecting patient care, treatment, transition planning, or discharge.

• For patients with significant or intensive psychosocial needs, work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to manage clinical resources and care/transition planning.

• For inpatient services, assess, identify, address, and escalate barriers to care progression and discharge and work to reduce or eliminate barriers to timely discharge once medically ready.

• For outpatient services, facilitate continued care planning and linkage with appropriate resources and providers. As applicable to the clinical setting, meet with providers, the care team, patients, and families to establish goals and care/transition plans; participate in and/or lead multidisciplinary rounds; monitor care and discharge milestones; reassess psychosocial needs and plans as circumstances change; and complete required documentation in APeX and the medical record.

20

YES

• Serve as an active member of the interdisciplinary team, particularly for complex psychosocial cases, contributing to team goal setting and the plan of care through attendance, participation in, and, as appropriate, facilitation of multidisciplinary rounds and patient/family meetings.

• Participate in discharge and continued-care planning for complex patients and facilitate coordination with post-discharge providers and community resources.

• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary treatment team to support care progression, optimize patient outcomes, and promote timely and appropriate transitions of care.

• Coordinate and facilitate patient/family meetings and, as appropriate, support groups.

15

YES

• Intervene with patients and families regarding the emotional, social, behavioral, and financial consequences of illness and/or disability, including complex family dynamics that directly affect patient care, treatment, or discharge.

• Educate patients, families, and providers regarding post-acute and community-based care options and address issues of patient/family choice.

• Provide intervention and support related to adjustment to medical crisis and ongoing medical care.

10

YES

• Assess children, adults, and families for suspected maltreatment, abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and other reportable situations and intervene and report in accordance with applicable legal mandates and UCSF policies and procedures.

• Screen and assess for suicidal and homicidal ideation and follow applicable legal requirements and UCSF policies and procedures to promote patient safety.

• Collaborate with UCSF Psychiatry, the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT), and other appropriate teams regarding psychiatric holds, complex behavioral health concerns, substance use concerns, and patients expressing suicidal or homicidal ideation.

• Demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and clinical skills related to mental health, substance use and dependence, developmental considerations, end-of-life/bereavement needs, benefits and entitlements, and adjustment to illness, crisis, and ongoing care.

10

YES

• Serve as a resource and provide counseling and intervention related to complex treatment decisions, custody issues, decision-making capacity, and end-of-life concerns.

• Clarify and identify the appropriate surrogate decision maker; facilitate completion of an Advance Health Care Directive and POLST, as appropriate; and coordinate legal processes when required, including court-order consent for procedures/surgeries and, when appropriate, application for probate conservatorship.

5

YES

• Comply with Department standards for timely submission, accuracy, and completeness of documentation in the medical record/APeX and collection of required statistical or workload data.

• Meet applicable Department and organizational documentation and performance expectations.

5

YES

• Attend Department, hospital, and community in-services related to the field of practice and, as appropriate, facilitate Department, hospital, and community education/in-services related to areas of expertise.

• Participate in quality improvement activities and program planning for the Department, Hospital, and Service Lines.

• Actively participate in hospital-wide and/or Department committees, including attending meetings, collaborating with team members, contributing to discussions and decision-making, and supporting implementation of initiatives that enhance hospital operations and patient care.

5

YES

• As applicable to the assigned role, provide oversight and direction for activities delegated to and performed by the Resource Coordinator and/or Patient Care Navigator.

• For CSW III: as available and under the direction of the Social Work Supervisor, provide clinical supervision to CSW II staff for purposes of LCSW licensure in compliance with California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) requirements.

• Participate in coverage as needed and assigned.

• Comply with all UCSF policies relevant to the scope of work.

100%

(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e. g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e. g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)

Living Pride Standards

Service Excellence

1. Demonstrates service excellence by following the Everyday PRIDE Guide with the UCSF Medical Center standards and expectations for communication and behavior.

These standards and expectations convey specific behavior associated with the Medical Center’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence, and provide guidance on how we communicate with patients, visitors, faculty, staff, and students, virtually everyone, every day and with every encounter.

These standards include, but are not limited to: personal appearance, acknowledging and greeting all patients and families, introductions using AIDET, managing up, service recovery, managing delays and expectations, phone standards, electronic communication, team work, cultural sensitivity and competency.

2. Uses effective communication skills with patients and staff; demonstrates proper tele