Social Work - Social Worker
VNS Health
Brooklyn, NY

• Assists with the development of social work and or psychosocial assessments of patients/families, placing special emphasis on substance use issues.
• Assists in the development of treatment plans and goals based on a diagnostic assessment of the presenting problems and historical information, the establishment of long-term goals and the administration of follow-up procedures.
• Provides ongoing substance use services and/or collaborates with and refers to appropriate agencies.
• Conducts individual and group counseling sessions using evidence-based practices.
• Provides advocacy and assistance in obtaining entitlements and community services to patients/families and other caregivers.
• Completes accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record system.
• Provides continuous evaluation of persons involved in treatment.
• Assists staff, patients, families and other caregivers to understand substance use issues, entitlements and community resources.
• Initiates and maintains written and verbal communications according to department policy and treatment goals.
• Identifies and provides referrals for social determinants of health concerns.
• Maintains productivity sufficient to meet department goals.
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to improve service delivery processes to management.
• Performs established workflow procedures.
• Acts as a liaison with other community agencies.
• Participates in related department activities, e.g., utilization review, staff meetings, education programs, etc.
• For Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) only:
• Provides home visits to all clients as specified by the Program's level of service commitment and the client's needs.
• For Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) only:
• Conducts intake interviews, biopsychosocial assessments, mental health, substance use, and other screenings.
• Collects specimens for toxicology tests.
• Prepares monthly updates for court or other referring agencies.
• Develops discharge/transfer plans.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

What We Provide

• Referral bonus opportunities     
• Generous paid time off (PTO), starting at 30 days of paid time off and 9 company holidays   
• Health insurance plan for you and your loved ones, Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Disability    
• Employer-matched retirement saving funds   
• Personal and financial wellness programs    
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthcare and dependent care     
• Generous tuition reimbursement for qualifying degrees   
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement    
• Internal mobility, generous tuition reimbursement, CEU credits, and advancement opportunities     

What You Will Do

• Provides clinical supervision and direction to social work/ behavioral health team members and assumes responsibility for overall program functions in the Program Managers absence.
• Organizes various program components for the appropriate utilization and management of staff including triage and case management procedures, staff scheduling, referrals, outreach efforts, evaluations and liaison activities.
• Participates in quality assurance activities and ensures compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Screens referrals.
• Performs psychosocial evaluation and assessment of mental health service needs and emergency social service needs of identified patients and their families through professional knowledge, skills of observation and interviewing.
• Develops and implements short-term service plans for patients, in conjunction with other members of the team.
• Provides crisis intervention services to mentally ill individuals whose circumstances and condition require rapid intervention.
• Provides supportive counseling, case management and appropriate referrals for ongoing treatment
• Prepares case histories and prepares and maintains case records, in accordance with the program’s record keeping protocols.
• Encourages service resistant clients to accept mental health services through intervention with clients and/or family members and friends concerned with the client's welfare.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds and/or case conferences of the program.
• Provides linkage, referral and provision of information to appropriate mental health services and social services and social services providers,.
• Coordinates and follows up on linkages made between clients and other service agencies and mental health providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Liaison with, and consultation to, community agencies.
• Provides outreach services to mentally ill individuals referred to the program who are experiencing, or are a t risk of, an acute psychosocial crisis and require mental health intervention in their home or community.
• Serves as resource person to the program and other components of the Agency, when requested, pertaining to social services available to patients and establishes a file of community referral sources.
• Participates with the program and other appropriate Agency staff in the development and implementation of in-service training and education.
• Assists and collaborates with the Program Coordinator/ Program Manager in the overall functioning of the team.
• Assumes Program Coordinator’s/ Program Manager’s responsibilities in his/her absence, as requested.
• Participates in community programs, education and advocacy, as requested.
• Contributes to the formulation of clinical and administrative policies and procedures and the preparation on of policy and procedure manuals, as required.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Licenses and Certifications:
Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) required
Valid driver's license required

Education:
High School Diploma or equivalent required
Bachelor's Degree preferred

Work Experience:
Minimum of one year of training and/or experience in integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment required
Demonstrated skill or knowledge in substance use assessment and diagnosis, principles and practices of harm reduction, and application of stage-wise treatment and motivational interviewing strategies required
Computer literacy (electronic health records, word processing, email, internet research, data entry) required
Excellent clinical writing skills required
Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred