Responsible for social work practice under the supervision of a licensed independent clinical social worker, providing psychiatric and/or psychosocial assessments to children and adolescents who present in the Emergency Room and/or Inpatient Psychiatry Unit. Provides, under supervision, evaluation and assessment using DSM V criteria to determine risk and need for hospitalization and/or case disposition. Provides collaborative consultation to meet diagnostic and treatment needs. Obtains medical consultation from the psychiatrist on call to determine case disposition.

Psychiatric social worker with either a LGSW or LICSW will provide safety assessment in the ED of children and adolescents with mental health problems. In concert with the Attending Psychiatrist, will determine if the child/adolescent is safe to go home or needs hospitalization.

PRN- 5 Shifts a Month Required

• Able to evaluate patient status including assessing for suicidality/homicidality in conjunction with attending physician

• Completes social histories and psychosocial assessments for the medical record, on an ongoing basis.

• Able to appropriately triage patient to correct services

• Able to display competency when interviewing family members for the purpose of assessment and developing an intervention plan.

• Educates staff about psychosocial issues impacting patient.

• Participates in daily rounds for the purposes of treatment planning and discharge.

• Is a liaison with CFSA social worker to determine additional needs of the children and families and plan for discharge.

• Plans with the treatment team and utilization management staff the most appropriate discharge plan.

• Utilizes a theoretical framework for the focus of the family intervention.

• Able to encourage positive communication among family members

• Recognizes progress and obstacles towards treatment goals and appropriately intervenes.

• Completes required documents of the assessment in a clear, concise, and timely manner .

• Knowledgeable about community resources/ placements for children and families to assist in the attainment of treatment goals.

• Communicate with outside agencies on the behalf of the patient to ensure continuity of care and treatment progress.

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance