Job Description: COUNSELOR SOCIAL WKR at UNM Hospital

Department: Staffing Office-UPC
FTE: 0.05
Casual Pool (as needed)
Shift: Rotating

This is a PRN position at both University Psychiatric Center (Adults) and Children's Psychiatric Center - inpatient units. This position provides direct individual and group therapies, crisis intervention, case management, discharge planning, utilization review, and participates on a multidisciplinary team. 

Position Summary:
Provide a range of psychological assessment, diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or case management services individuals, couples, and/or families, as appropriate to the specific expectations of the position. Typically works under the direct guidance of a clinical professional within the environment of a clinical agency or a medical/hospital facility. May provide practical training and guidance to students and/or paraprofessional staff. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups.

Detailed responsibilities:
* PATIENT CARE - Provide counseling, therapy, and/or psychotherapy to clients and families as appropriate to the position
* PATIENT CARE - Prepare treatment plans, discharge plans, and follow up care programs
* CONSULTATION - Consult with other therapists and related professional and paraprofessional staff, as appropriate, in the performance of therapeutic and/or casework; refers clients to appropriate service agencies as required
* INTERVENTION - Provide and/or arrange for therapeutic interventions to include but not limited to emergency services and crisis intervention for individuals with serious emotional or behavioral disturbances
* REFERRAL - Refers clients to appropriate social service agencies for financial assistance and other required services; may visit patients and families in their homes to provide counseling and outreach services
* DOCUMENTATION - Follow up to determine reliability of treatment used; change method and degree of therapy when appropriate
* DATA - Collect data about patients through interview, case history, psychological tests, and/or observational techniques; evaluates data to identify causes of problems and to determine proper therapeutic approach or referral to other specialists
* CONSULTATION - Consult with other legal and treatment agencies and individuals in relation to patient/client records, rights, and responsibilities
* ADMINISTRATION - Perform various administrative functions such as monitoring expenditures and preparing reports and correspondence; may participate in a variety of research projects to develop service plans; may propose changes to program policies and procedures
* TRAINING - May provide formal teaching, consultation, and in-service training to relevant professionals in immediate proper handling of and/or referral of a variety of matters
* CASE MANAGEMENT - Provide casework management of a specialized caseload, as appropriate to the requirements of the individual position; performs research and case assessments; prepares individualized studies for admission, placement, and/or discharge
* QUALITY - Promote and use best practices in treatment; may include specialized training
* QUALITY - Meet published departmental expectations for client access and productivity
* PATIENT CARE - Follow up to determine reliability and validity of treatment used; make recommendations regarding modification to services and service delivery
* DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops
* PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
* PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
* PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
* PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
* PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"

Qualifications

Education:
Essential:
* Master's Degree
Education specialization:
Essential:
* Related Discipline

Experience:
Essential:
Documented experience in age appropriate environment

Nonessential:
Bilingual English, Spanish, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, or Navajo 1 year directly related experience

Credentials:
Essential:
* LMSW or LPC or LMHC

Physical Conditions:
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. May require walking or standing to a significant degree or requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or may require working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of materials is negligible.

Working conditions:
Essential:
* Minor Hazard - physical risks, dirt, dust, fumes, noise