Join Memorial Health and make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families. As a PRN Counselor (LSW) with an MSW degree, you'll play a critical role in addressing complex psychosocial factors that affect health outcomes, contributing to holistic, patient-centered care.nnShift: PRN on call, Could be called in any day Mon – Fri 7:30am – 4pmn Education: • Master’s degree of Social Work from a School of Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Licensure/Certification/Registry: • Illinois Licensed Social Worker required within six months of hire date Experience: • Experience working with adults across the life span presenting with chronic or serious illness. • Experience identifying and coordinating the needs of chronically ill patients and families as well as supporting the care team. • Understanding of psychosocial implications of illness, hospice and/or home care death and dying issues. • Knowledge of local community resources. • Knowledge and understanding of individual development and human behavior as it relates to the effects of illness and of the influence of culture on healthcare Responsibilities: Biopsychosocial Assessment • Utilize specialized knowledge and experience to assess patients’ psychosocial needs, home situations, and economic constraints. • Psychiatry assessments must be completed within 3 working days of patient admission and include all regulatory-mandated information. Community Resources • Serve as a liaison between patients/families and community agencies. • Coordinate information and referrals for financial and community resources to connect patients/families with appropriate resources. • Serve as a resource to the clinical team, patients, and families regarding entitlement programs and support services. • Develop strong working relationships with internal and external healthcare organizations and community resources. • Work with patients to formulate individualized plans to obtain medications, particularly in light of Medicare coverage limitations, including facilitating enrollment in pharmaceutical patient assistance programs when warranted. Care Delivery • Work closely and collaboratively with the clinical care team across sites of care. • Assist the team with care delivery by scheduling appointments, arranging interpreters, assisting with completion of forms, ensuring patients can access services, and arranging transportation to and from medical appointments as needed. • Participate in clinic office visits, team rounds, and family conferences as needed based on the site of care. Care Transitions • Coordinate patient care with other disciplines involved in the plan of care and maintain appropriate documentation. • Confer with patients, families, and the clinical team to obtain information and coordinate efficient, quality patient care. • Build relationships with primary care providers, skilled nursing facilities, and community organizations to promote continuity of care. Performance Excellence • Embody the Memorial Health Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision, and values. Support • Provide crisis intervention and supportive counseling for patients and their families as needed. • Serve as a patient advocate by assisting patients with navigation of eligible resources and programs. • Provide patients and families with support and information to overcome personal and environmental difficulties that may contribute to illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical care. • Assist patients in effectively utilizing available resources to meet their personal health needs and develop their own capabilities. • Evaluate patients’ ability to independently manage their needs and identify alternative resources when limitations are identified. Advance Care Planning • Maintain a working knowledge of relevant medical and legal issues that impact patient care, including advance directives, powers of attorney, and guardianships. Counseling • When requested, provide group, individual, and family counseling to patients and their families. Discharge Planning • Initiate discharge planning upon patient admission. • Ensure discharge plans are secured when the patient is medically ready for discharge. • Ensure all necessary information is transmitted to the next provider of care. Documentation • Document all social work activities in the electronic medical record in a timely and thorough manner. • Psychiatry colleagues must document in the medical record after each session and provide information needed to support Utilization Review criteria and the patient treatment plan. Additional Responsibilities • Adhere to department productivity standards. • Participate in monitoring quality and utilization metrics and improvement efforts to refine the delivery of care and maximize clinical, quality, and fiscal outcomes. • Assist, as needed, with staff training, new employee orientation, student education, community education, in-house activities, and general public relations activities. • Refer patients to ancillary teams when warranted. • Maintain awareness of and comply with department and hospital policies and procedures. • Demonstrate knowledge of care for older adults through accurate assessments, treatment, and effective implementation of interventions. • Adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics. • Comply with the Illinois Mental Health Code and Confidentiality Act. • Participate in continuing education and in-service training to support professional growth and expertise. • Perform other related duties as assigned.