Social Services Specialist

Full-Time, Days

Pay range: $36.99 - $55.49

Social Services Specialist

Manager or Director of Care Coordination for Social Services

Social Services

August 2024

Creating America’s healthiest community, together

In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value

Accountability, Caring and Teamwork

St. Charles Health System’s Social Services Specialist may support any one, or a combination of the following social services departments:
Emergency Room, Family Birthing, NICU, Pediatrics, Inpatient Medical Units, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Hospice, Home Health, or Behavioral Health. These departments provide system-wide support including, but not limited to working with a multi-disciplinary team to assess needs of patients and families, provide supportive assessments, therapeutic interventions, counseling resource referrals, care coordination for hospice, and long-term care placement funding and services. These departments may also provide the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of patient and family from admission through bereavement utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to care that includes physicians, registered nurses, chaplains, social workers, volunteers, and counselors.

These departments may additionally provide identified services as needed to support those affected by chronic or acute illness.

The Social Services Specialist assists in meeting the psychosocial needs of patients and their families by helping patients utilize services to achieve optimum level of function throughout the continuum of care. In addition, the Social Services Specialist provides supportive counseling, end-of-life support, care planning, and brief interventions including assessment and treatment for patients experiencing coexisting medical concerns and social/behavioral/mental health issues.

The Social Services Specialist provides a therapeutic presence in services to others by purposefully responding to the needs of patients in a caring way.

This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.

• Functions as a member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team to assure care is accomplished effectively and efficiently in a cost-effective manner and establishes, reviews and revises the plan of care for each patient.
• Coordinates care plans as a consultative service with collaboration of interdisciplinary teams to address psychosocial needs related to injuries, accidents, and critical incidents.
• Advocates for patient’s needs, ensuring they receive appropriate services and resources to assist in continuum of care and discharge planning.
• Participates with team members in facilitating patient’s and family’s learning throughout the continuum of care. Reinforces patient’s continued health care through teaching and referrals, advocates for patient rights, and addresses barriers to care.
• Provides bio-psychosocial and trauma-informed interventions, support, and referrals to patients and families. Collaborates to identify coping strategies and support mechanisms. Identifies and communicates community resources, acting as a resource for patients and families throughout the continuum of care.
• Provides brief, evidence-based interventions for emotional distress. Assesses threats of self-harm or harm to others.
• Provides education, support, community resources, and care planning for palliative care, hospice and bereavement needs.
• Conducts comprehensive assessments of economic, mental health, family dynamics, and social support systems. Evaluates Social Determinants of Health and connects patients with appropriate resources.
• Provides substance abuse assessments and brief interventions (SBIRT, DAST) and refers to outpatient behavioral health for follow-up for patients scoring positively on the Columbia Suicide Risk Assessment.
• Identifies victims of child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse. Makes appropriate referrals and notifies the Department of Human Services (DHS) and/or law enforcement when applicable.
• Provides…