Clinical Social Worker-Adult Day Care

Position Purpose

Under the direction of the Program Director or designee, the Clinical Social Worker provides comprehensive social work services to frail elderly participants enrolled in the Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) program.

This role conducts psychosocial assessments, develops and implements individualized care plans, provides clinical support, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary care team to ensure quality, participant-centered care.

The Clinical Social Worker works closely with participants, families, caregivers, community agencies, referral sources, and healthcare providers to coordinate services, promote well-being, and connect participants with appropriate resources.

Additional responsibilities include volunteer and intern coordination, program outreach, regulatory compliance, quality improvement activities, and support of departmental operations.

*For Clinical Social Workers working toward licensure as an Associate Social Worker (ASW), the position requires supervision by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and includes BBS-approved individual supervision. An ASW is not a licensed or certified position; it refers to an MSW graduate registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences to track supervised experience hours toward future licensure and fulfill applicable requirements.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Provide or supervise all social services and participate in the multi-disciplinary team.

2. Assists in recruiting volunteers for the program.

3. Assists in supervision of social work staff and volunteers involved in the center.

4. The Social Worker assists the Director in planning, supervising, and implementing the social services in accordance with the goals and policies of the Center, California Department of Aging and Department of Health Services.

5. Develops and implements Caregiver Support Groups and other Support Groups to meet special needs of participants and families.

6. Conducts initial psychosocial assessments and home assessments with potential participants and families, determining appropriateness of participant for ADHC and verifying financial eligibility.

7. Assesses the psychosocial needs of each ADHC participant prior to enrollment, dated and signed by the social worker.

8. Explains to and assists participant families in completion of all forms necessary for admission to ADHC.

9. Develop a care plan, if appropriate, with the participation of each participant’s family and other appropriate individuals. The plan will include both long and short-term goals.

10. Conducts participant’s reassessment every six months, which is signed and dated by the Social Worker.

11. Develops psychosocial portion of participant individual care plans at assessment and reassessment, attends multidisciplinary case conferences, oversees completion of individual care plans, conferences with participants and families about care plans, and oversees placement of signed care plan in participant charts.

12. Documents the ADHC services performed the day the service is provided, by either a narrative or a flow sheet, specifying the method of treatment and reaction of the participant, dated and signed by the Social Worker.

13. Maintains quarterly notes for ADHC participants that include the information specified in Title 22 regulations regarding social work quarterly notes.

14. Interfaces with participants, families and caregivers and provides one-to-one counseling. All interaction will be charted in progress notes in participant charts.

15. Maintains effective communication with caregivers and family members. Interfaces with other professionals about participants and advocates on behalf of participants and families when necessary.

16. Assists Director in acknowledging and following through the receipt of all licensing correspondence and assists in correction of all cited deficiencies.

17. Responsible for marketing, outreach and public relations as directed by the Program Director.

18. Assists Director with policy and program development, and any other program needs.

19. Upon request assumes Program Director responsibilities in their absence.

20. Assists in development of and participates in ongoing training and supervision of staff/volunteers in area of aging, aging issues, disease process and management of frail elderly.

21. Reports to Director any complaint or concern having to do with staff, volunteers or participants.

22. Maintains close coordination with staff of referral agencies such as local hospitals, home health agencies, etc. Gives routine presentations to referral sources, in-services to community organizations, drafts and sends thank-you to all referral sources.

23. Implements emergency procedures in case of emergency and oversees ongoing training of staff in emergency procedures.

24. Assists Director in developing and implementing marketing plan for program, including outreach to universities, community agencies, corporations and funders to promote the program.

25. Interview and screen all referrals to determine appropriateness of the perspective participant for full assessment process and ADHC participation.

26. Provide referral and follow-up for persons not appropriate for ADHC.

27. Provides counseling and referrals to available community resources.

28. Promote peer group relationships through problem-centered discussion group and task oriented committees.

29. Serve as liaison with the participant’s family and home.

30. Serve as liaison with community agencies that may be providing services to a participant. Interface with those agencies to coordinate all services delivered to those participants in order to meet participant’s need but not duplicate those services. Liaison includes but is not limited to, the following agencies:

• In-Home Supportive Services in the County Welfare Departments
• Home Health Agency Providers
• Private or other community-based care managers
• Local Senior Centers
• Board and Care facilities
• Adult Protective Services
• Transportation providers
• Others as identified and needed.

31. Provide discharge planning for all ADHC participants and implement and coordinate the discharge plan.

32. Have read and understand Department P&P’s

33. Familiar with all Safety, Fire, Infection Control and Mandatory Reporting requirements.

34. Participate in JWCH’s customer service training called AIDET on an annual basis.

a. Demonstrate an understanding of AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, and Thank You) to apply in patient encounters or team discussions.

b. Utilize the AIDET communication framework to communicate with patients and team members in a manner that reduces patient anxiety, increases patient compliance, and improves clinical outcomes.

35. Adhere to all organizational safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

36. Participate in required safety and compliance trainings and apply learned practices in daily work activities.

37. Identify, report, and help mitigate unsafe conditions, incidents, or hazards in the workplace.

38. Use equipment, tools, and supplies safely and responsibly in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.

39. Maintain awareness of infection control, occupational health, and emergency preparedness procedures appropriate to the role.

40.

If an ASW, they will allocate time (at least 5-6 scheduled appointments/week) for more formal (individual and group psychotherapy) following the BBS guidelines (below) by providing psychotherapy, counseling, and psycho-education utilizing individual, family, and group modalities using evidence-based interventions for patients and their significant others that include social, emotional, and practical life skills to facilitate safe coping, distress tolerance, stress reduction, mindfulness, and relaxation as well as access to necessary resources with the goal of improved functioning and positive health outcomes.

Patient in ADHC may be seen for these activities as long as the interventions are not considered case manager or general supportive interventions and must include one of the above modalities.

Category Minimum or Maximum

Clinical psychosocial diagnosis, assessment, and treatment, including psychotherapy or counseling

Minimum 2,000 hours

(no maximum)

Face-to-face individual or group psychotherapy

Minimum 750 hours (of the above 2,000 - no max)

Client-centered advocacy, consultation, evaluation, research, workshops, seminars training sessions or conferences, and direct supervisor contact

Maximum 1,000 hours

Supervision by an LCSW

Minimum 1,700 hours (no maximum)

Supervision by a Licensed Educational Psychologist

Maximum 1,200 hours (see BBS guidelines for other restrictions)

Supervision by any other type of qualified licensed mental health professional

Maximum 1,300 hours

Requirements

1. Master’s Degree in Social Work, from an accredited School of Social Work.

2. Minimum of 2 years’ experience in the field of gerontology/psychology.

3. If ASW, has applied for and received BBS registration and is maintaining registration in good standing including all requirements.

4. Strong marketing and outreach skills. Enjoys talking about benefits of the program to community groups and families.

5. Excellent communication and customer service skills.

6. Knowledge and understanding of problems affecting frail elderly and caregiving families.

7. Electronic Medical Records, Charting and record- keeping experience.

8. Hospital or community-based experience working with frail elderly, disabled adults. Knowledge and experience working with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease a plus.

9. Proficient in utilizing Microsoft Word, and Excel.

10. Strong desire to work as part of multi-disciplinary team or care coordinators, RN, OT, PT, ST, Dietician