Social Worker - Acute Rehab unit, 40 hrs/wk, Monday - Friday

Job Title:   Social Worker I
Job Location:  Lincoln
Immediate Supervisor: Senior Director Case MGMT-Hospital Programs     
Status:  Hourly            

UNIT SUMMARY:
Acute Rehabilitation unit is a comprehensive physical and medical rehabilitation program serving patients with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, cancer, cardiac and other neurological issues.                       
 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manages cases to ensure that patient rights are upheld and that patients are involved in their treatment plans
• Initiate and implement clinically appropriate discharge plans
• Advocate for patients in availing themselves of community, social, medical and financial resources.
• Compile and analyze facility, program, departmental and community agency data to assure organized, quality, individualized patient care and continuity of aftercare services and clinically appropriate discharge plans
• Coordinate and analyze patient medical and psychosocial data to develop social histories and facilitate a plan of care and discharge plan that meets individual patient/family needs, as well as licensure and certification standards.
• Mentor, negotiate and instruct patients/families regarding facility services and patient rights.
• Mentor, negotiate, instruct and speak with patients and families to ensure patient/family involvement in treatment planning and aftercare services.
• Speak with patients/families in order to obtain information regarding previous functioning to facilitate plan of care.
• Under the direction of the Case Manager, instruct and negotiate with patient/families regarding rehab team recommendations to provide for timely discharge from the rehabilitation program.
• Instruct clinical team members in necessary psycho-social patient information to enhance care plan development and revisions.
• Instruct, negotiate with clinical team regarding availability of services, patient preferences and patient rights in order to develop a plan of care and a discharge plan.
• Negotiate with community agencies regarding patient needs and agency ability to meet needs, making appropriate referrals and arrangements to provide for continuity of care.
• Speak and negotiate with patients/families and potential funding sources to facilitate patient eligibility for benefits (i.e., Medicaid applications, disability benefits).
• Mentor, instruct and negotiate with patients and family members regarding eligibility for and application for specific programs to meet financial, social and/or health care needs.
• Instruct and negotiate with patients and family members regarding advanced directives and legal protection in order to enhance patient self-determination and protection.
• Speak and negotiate with patients/families regarding concerns/grievances and facilitate resolution to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Negotiate and speak with Case Manager regarding all case assignments to ensure a team approach to patient care plans and discharge plans.
• Negotiate with the Case Manager to perform primary Case Managerâ??s functions and ensure continuity of care in the Case Manager's absence.
  
  
  QUALIFICATIONS
•  Bachelors Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work
• One year of social work experience preferred
• Experience with the elderly and/or disabled preferred
• Must possess current CSW (Certified Social Worker) certification or obtain certification within the first three months of employment.