Recuperative Care Social Worker, ASW-MLK

Under the direct supervision of an LCSW, the Associate Social Worker for the Martin Luther King- Recuperative Care Center (MLK) provides mental health and related services to improve the health status and wellbeing of under-served segments of the population of Los Angeles County through the direct provision or coordination of health care, health education, services, and research. This includes interviewing, treating, coordinating, planning, and linkage to a full-range of resources that meet practical, social, and emotional needs, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team and community-based programs.

Program Population:

The MLK-RCC Program- is an Interim Housing program that aids homeless individuals in their recovery journey, helping them improve their health conditions and enhance their social and activities of daily living (ADL) skills, all with the ultimate aim of securing stable housing opportunities. Some of these individuals may also grapple with mental health and substance abuse issues, which can occasionally manifest in behaviors such as yelling, using strong language, and displaying anger outbursts. The Recuperative Care programs provides bed space for 236 patients. Patients must be homeless, have an acute medical condition, and medically and physically stable. This respite program provides medical care, case management, personal care, 3 meals per day, access to long-term housing resources and placement, and reunification services for clients who have fallen out of touch with their family or support network. Wesley also provides these patients with transportation to and from medical visits and to specialists and other social services agencies in the County.

Principal Responsibilities:

1. All services provided by the ASW will be under the direct supervision of a JWCH-LCSW.
2. Conduct functional and strength-based assessment along with comprehensive diagnosis for mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and psychosocial needs
3. Develop patient care plans that are coordinated and integrated with a comprehensive range of medical and psychosocial services to address social, emotional, and practical needs
4. Provide psychotherapy, counseling, and psycho-education utilizing individual, family, and group modalities using evidence-based interventions for patients and their significant others that include social, emotional, and practical life skills to facilitate safe coping, distress tolerance, stress reduction, mindfulness, and relaxation as well as access to necessary resources with the goal of improved functioning and positive health outcomes
5. Utilize both short-term and intensive longer-term interventions, as approved by funding source, that target trauma, mental health symptoms, and reduction of substance use
6. Intensive case management as indicated
7. Consult with primary care providers to enhance understanding of the patient, provide support for treatment approaches that incorporate behavioral health needs, and assist with implementation of bio-psychosocial treatment and care plans
8. Provide consultation to and coordinate care for patients needing specialty mental health and/or substance use disorder services
9. Advocate for patient within organization and community to ensure access to appropriate care
10. Be available to primary medical care staff during working hours for crisis intervention in the event of a psychiatric emergency and assist staff in the event of any other kind of emergency
11. Provide phone consultation as needed
12. Complete all charting in a timely manner and as required by regulations and JWCH policies, including assessments, progress notes, care plans, and billing documentation
13. All Clinical records will be reviewed, signed off by supervising LCSW and billed as appropriate under the LCSW’s license.
14. Participate in structured and “as-needed” case conferences
15. Assist with provider education for integrated behavioral and primary care services
16. Participate in behavioral health quality assurance/improvement activities to maintain and strengthen standards of care.
17. Participate in professional development activities
18. Participate in individual and group supervision as required by Board of Behavioral Science (BBS).
19. Maintain all licensing documentation including Supervision agreement and log of hours in accordance with BBS regulations.
20. Support client involvement in planning, implementing, and evaluating services.
21. Complete data collection forms and prepare reports as required by the program.
22. Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

1. Clinical Social Work Registration with BBS as an Associate Clinical Social Worker.
2. Master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university.
3. Experience working with low income and/or homeless individuals
4. Demonstrated understanding of the impact of trauma on behavioral and medical conditions
5. Experience with evidence-based short-term behavioral health interventions
6. Bilingual (English/Spanish) ability preferred.