Clinical Social Worker

Clinical Social Worker

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES : To apply social casework techniques, in collaboration with medical

and para-medical professions, in the diagnosis and treatment of patients or persons in a clinical setting

in a long term acute care hospital with both medical and psychiatric units with the objective to remove

or alleviate social, emotional, or environmental problems of patients and promote their return to a

normal and effective pattern of living; and to do related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED : Works under the general supervision of the Chief Casework Supervisor.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED : To apply social casework techniques, in collaboration

with medical and para-medical professions, in the diagnosis and treatment of patients or persons in a

clinical setting in a hospital. To apply such techniques with the objective to remove or alleviate,

through individual casework or group therapy, those social, emotional or environmental problems so as

to promote the recovery of such patients or persons and facilitate their return to a normal and effective

pattern of living. As a member of a clinical team, to participate in diagnostic and technical conferences

with other team members including medical physician, psychiatrist, physician or program chief, or other

professional personnel, for cooperative planning and treatment to meet the needs of patients or

persons which involve or include social, emotional, or environmental as well as the medical aspects of

medical care; to provide casework treatment directed towards helping the patient or person to accept

the diagnosis of his illness or problem and participate in and respond to medical treatment measures. As

required, to consult with a psychiatrist or psychologist when serving as a member of a clinical team on :

the assignment of new patients and their later diagnosis and treatment, and on predischarge and after-

care planning when discharged from the hospital. To provide follow-up services in assisting patients or

persons, or their relatives, with personal or environmental difficulties which are centered around the

illness, or which interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical, surgical, or psychiatric care.

To establish effective working relationships with staff members and supervisors and with

representatives of pertinent community agencies; to have available knowledge of community resources

for use in the treatment and follow-up services for patients or their relatives. To provide social work

consultation to staff members, including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and as required to

nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists and other personnel, working towards the objective of the

recovery and return of patients or persons to a normal and effective pattern of living. To prepare

anamneses of cases with findings and evaluation of the relationship and interaction between the

patient's social situation and his psychiatric-medical problem and to formulate initial and ongoing

psycho-social diagnosis of such patient. To do related work as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT : KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES : A thorough

knowledge of clinical social casework techniques and skill in their application in collaboration with

medical and para-medical professions, in the diagnosis and treatment of patients or persons to remove

or alleviate social, emotional, attitude or environmental problems in order to promote their return to a

normal and effective pattern of living; a working knowledge of the normal emotional reactions to illness

and medical care, such as regression, anxiety, dependency, etc.; a working knowledge of those reactions

which effect the patient's acceptance and use of medical care as related to his own personality such as

his own reactions to authority, his way of meeting frustration, acceptance of limitations, and

adaptability to change; a working knowledge of community resources available for the use of patients or

• er treatment; the ability to apply such knowledge effectively as a member of a clinical team;

and related capacities and abilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE : EDUCATION : Such as may have been gained through : possession of a

Master's Degree and licensure in Social Work or other related field including Licensed Mental Health