CSS Social Worker

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Community Support Services Program Manager, the Social Worker will provide a full range of social work services in collaboration with other APLA Health medical, behavioral health, and administrative staff to meet the biopsychosocial needs of our general patient population at APLA Health Center, Long Beach and APLA Health Center, CDU/MLK Medical Campus.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Provide clinical social work services to patients as needed and ensure that patients receive tailored community resource referrals.

- Support non-licensed staff in the Community Support Services program and serve as a clinical resource to assist with complex cases.

- Collaborate with providers and nurses for patients with complex biopsychosocial needs to better understand cases and advance care planning.

- Provide effective and culturally competent care and use various tools and approaches to support patient needs

- Complete biopsychosocial assessments; develop a treatment plan to address psychosocial needs and coordinate appropriate referrals that address the collaborative clinical goals of clinician and patient and document in treatment care plans.

- Identify high–risk patients and conduct intake, enrollment, and assessment to develop a patient centered risk reduction treatment plan with patients.

- Maintain a caseload of 40-60 patients. Caseload will be a combined mix of acuity and may be adjusted based on capacity of Social Worker.

- Conduct crisis intervention and individual counseling for patients experiencing crisis.

- Assists the Social Worker with complex cases that involve a higher degree of support.

- Maintains detailed records of patient interactions, assessments, referrals, interventions, and progress notes within the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and other CSS monitoring tools.

OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED TO MEET BUSINESS NEEDS.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

Training and Experience:

- Masters degree in Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field from an accredited college.

- Minimum of 2 years of experience working with diverse and medically underserved populations including low-income adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), and individuals impacted by trauma, stigma, housing instability, and systemic inequities.

- Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders (medical and behavioral health staff, community-based organizations, etc.).

- Effective problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.

- Strong verbal and written communication skills.

- Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Knowledge of:

- Use knowledge of lifespan development, family systems, behavioral health, and social determinants of health to skillfully apply interventions that meet the unique needs of each patient.

- Working with diverse and medically underserved populations including low-income adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), and individuals impacted by trauma, stigma, housing instability, and systemic inequities.

- Motivational interviewing techniques.

- Outreach strategies and community engagement.

- Data collection, reporting, and basic data management.

- Microsoft 365 Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, etc.)

- Knowledge of local, county, state, and federal programs and resources for at-risk populations.

Ability to:

- Work independently with minimal direction.

- Work effectively with staff, volunteers and professionals.

- Be at ease and work with diverse groups (ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation).

- Engage in community/coalition building alongside CSS Case Worker.

- Multitask and prioritize workload to maintain caseload requirements.

- Meet multiple deadlines in a rapidly changing environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This is primarily an office position that requires only occasional bending, reaching, stooping, lifting and moving office materials weighing 25 pounds or less. The position requires daily use of a personal computer and requires entering, viewing, and revising text and graphics on the computer terminal and on paper.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Must possess a valid California drivers license; proof of auto liability insurance; and have the use of a personal vehicle for work related purposes.

- COVID vaccination and booster required or medical/religious exemption.

- Weekend/ evening work is required on occasion.