Social Worker-Therapist I - Inpatient - Children and Adolescents

Job Summary

Under general supervision, responsible for providing clinical/case management services to patients and their families in order to promote the optimal individual, interpersonal and social functioning of the patient and assure reintegration in to the community or the environment most suited to the patient’s continued well being.

Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from an accredited graduate school of Social Work or Master’s degree in counseling or other behavioral health discipline.

2. One to two years of inpatient social work experience preferred.

3. Social Worker I must be registered on the Roster of Psychotherapists who are Nonlicensed and Noncertified with the State of Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation) prior to employment.

4. Must accept a flexible 40-hour workweek scheduled to meet the needs of patients and families within the guidelines of the bargaining agreement.

5. Some working knowledge of computer skills including MS Word.

Essential duties and responsibilities

Core Competencies

Demonstrates the ability to provide direct clinical care to patients in order to promote change according to the patient’s treatment plan.

Individual Psychotherapy

Meets with patient in a therapeutic relationship when indicated on treatment plan to address clinical and psychosocial issues relevant to the patient’s illness and promotes change according to treatment goals.

Supportive therapy

Meets with patient as necessary to provide support and resolve specific task oriented problems that may have an impact on treatment. Maintains frequency designated in the treatment plan.

Demonstrates the ability to form a therapeutic relationship with the patient and families.

Group therapy

Meets with patients in didactic or psychotherapeutic group sessions to promote, through the group process, individual growth according to treatment goals. The Administrative Team and supervisor determine assignment to groups and frequency of meetings.

Meets with the patient and reviews all assessments within one business day of admission to obtain an initial social service assessment.

Provides patient/family assessments and participates in the multidisciplinary treatment team for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment planning, following Retreat policy and/or Social Work standard.

Contacts the patient’s family or significant other within 72 hours of admission to obtain a social history and assess family functioning. The assessment is documented within 72 hours of admission.

Contacts the patient’s outpatient providers and referral sources within 72 hours of admission to obtain additional information, collaborate on treatment planning, and begin the formulation of continuing care needs and plans. The assessment is documented within 72 hours of admission.

Attends and participates in treatment planning sessions of assigned patients on a regular basis. Reports consistently to the treatment team with regard to assessments and the content and focus of therapy.

Documents all interactions with patient(s) in social work progress notes in the electronic medical record. Documentation will follow Brattleboro Retreat and Social Work Service policies.

Demonstrates the ability to integrate theoretical knowledge of clinical practice, group dynamics and psychopathology effectively and ethically in treatment. Utilizes evidence based treatments such as ACT and DBT or other models supported by the Brattleboro Retreat.

Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.

Synthesizes and conveys relevant information orally and in writing.

Familiar with community support systems, health care and human service resources, courts and police, etc.

Demonstrates understanding of chemical dependency and recovery.

Participates in the program’s therapeutic milieu in order to promote integrity of the milieu and the quality of care.

 Maintains effective working relationships with program staff as indicated by direct observation of supervisor.

 Supports program policy relating to patient care

 Attends and participates in scheduled program meetings