Social Worker

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

9/11/2024

Entity:

Wisconsin

Job Code:

540035

Job Title:

Social Worker

FLSA Exemption Status:

Exempt

Management Level:

Individual Contributor

JOB SUMMARY

The UW Health Social Worker assesses psychosocial need and applies brief interventions in order to support the medical treatment plan. The social worker will utilize interventions to enhance patient and family functioning and emotional well-being, and access appropriate and agreed upon services.  They are responsible for collaborating and coordinating care to enhance the patient experience and the achievement of collaborative goals.  They collaboratively develop patient goals, monitor progress, address barriers to goal achievement, and evaluate outcomes of individualized care plans. This role provides training, guidance, and mentors staff and physicians on management of complex psychosocial patient issues, in line with organizational academic mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Evaluate complex patient and family situations which have legal, ethical and psychosocial components.

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Collaboratively develops patient goals, monitors progress, addresses barriers to goal achievement and evaluates outcomes of individualized care plans.

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Consider barriers including coping with chronic illness, mental health history/symptoms, cognitive development, adverse developmental events, resistance to treatment, health system impediments, lack of social support and vulnerability.

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Assessment will reflect interdisciplinary collaboration, which are comprehensive in relation to the patient’s age, diagnosis, support systems, and extent of intervention anticipated.

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Network proactively with and demonstrate a working knowledge of community resources

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Demonstrates and applies knowledge of State rules and Federal regulations that ensure safety, quality of life, and protection of patient rights.

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Participates in discharge planning for patients requiring post-discharge services which may include transitions to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, outpatient dialysis, Acute Rehab, hospice and transportation needs.

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Recommend consultation requests as appropriate.

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May engage patient/family in the treatment and decision-making process with respect to patient rights, principles of confidentiality, respect for patient privacy, and right to self-determination.

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May utilize crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and mediation to address patient/family concerns.

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May provide age specific education and information to patient/family, particularly related to coping, community resources and advocacy.

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Provide interventions which demonstrate knowledge of, and sensitivity toward cultural diversity and the spiritual, developmental, and educational backgrounds of the population served.

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Take creative problem-solving approaches to address complex situations.

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Utilize critical thinking and conflict resolution skills to effectively balance competing needs and responsibilities.

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Documents in Healthlink and verbally communicates all assessments, interventions, and clinical services provided to reflect case activity.

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Demonstrates professionalism and good interpersonal skills in communicating with all customers. Utilize negotiation skills, which effectively promote constructive solutions.

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Utilizes appropriate communication style and techniques in regards to the age, developmental stage and educational needs of the patient and family or audience.

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Enhances professional and departmental growth through active participation in professional organizations, department activities and community groups.

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May monitor and improve quality of services provided to patients/families through participation in quality improvement activities.

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May apply principles of interdisciplinary teamwork and maintain a working knowledge of the roles of other healthcare professionals.

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Respect other professions and seek opportunities for collaboration.

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Solicits and applies feedback.

As needed, additional responsibilities reasonably within the scope of duties and physical requirements may be assigned.  ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE COMMITTMENTS.

X

Clinical

Will provide all patients age and culturally appropriate assessment/screening and interpretation of clinical and laboratory data. Develops and implements age appropriate interventional plans of care including education within the parameters of their position responsibilities and licensure

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Master's Degree

in Social Work

Required

2 years

prior hospital based social work experience

Preferred

or

2 years

prior hospital or community-based social work experience if supporting the HIV Clinic

Preferred

or

2 years

prior hospital or clinic based pediatric experience if supporting American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH)

Preferred

Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (CAPSW) in the state of Wisconsin

within 90 Days

Required

or

Certified Independent Social Worker (CISW) in the state of Wisconsin

within 90 Days

Required

or

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Wisconsin

within 90 Days

Required

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED PER UW HEALTH POLICY. 

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Assessment and evaluation skills

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Ability to work independently, while collaborating effectively as a team member with other health professional team members

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Proven skills in identification of stressors affecting patients and their families

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Knowledge of and ability to work within a complex health care system

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Skill in verbal and written communication

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Expertise in conflict mediation, abuse and neglect, advance directives, crisis intervention, government programs

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Bilingual in Spanish preferred if supporting the HIV Clinic

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

☒

Sedentary: Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Up to 10#

Negligible

Negligible

☐

Light: Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that they can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

up to 20#

Up to 10# or requires significant walking or standing or requires pushing/pulling of arm/leg controls.

Negligible or constant push/pull of items of negligible weight

☐

Medium: Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that they can also do sedentary and light work.

20-50#

10-25#

Negligible-10#

☐

Heavy: Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. If someone can do heavy work, we determine that they can also do medium, light, and sedentary work.

50-100#

25-50#

10-20#

☐

Very Heavy: Very heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more. If someone can do very heavy work, we determine that they can also do heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work.

Over 100#

Over 50#

Over 20#

Other - list any other physical requirements or bona fide occupational qualifications not indicated above:

Over 50 lbs.

UW Health does not require, nor does it expect that its employees lift more than 50 lbs unassisted. Objects in excess of 50 lbs should be lifted or moved with mechanical means or through a team lift. Employees in patient care areas are expected to utilize mechanical lifts and adhere to the "Use of Mechanical Lifts (Liko)" policy in the Patient Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.

THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT AN APPROVED ACCOMODATION. Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.