SOCIAL SERVICE CASE MANAGER II - Tri City Healthcare District

Tri-City Medical Center has served San Diego County’s coastal communities of Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista, as well as the surrounding region for more than 60 years and is one of the largest employers in North San Diego County. Tri-City is administered by the Tri-City Healthcare District, a California Hospital District. As a full-service acute care public hospital with over 500 physicians practicing in over 60 specialties, Tri-City is vital to the well-being of our community and serves as a healthcare safety net for many of our citizens. The hospital has received a Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission showcasing a commitment to safe and effective patient care for the residents of the community. 

Tri-City Medical Center prides itself on being the home to leading orthopedic, spine and cardiovascular health services while also specializing in world-class robotic surgery, cancer and emergency care. Tri-City’s Emergency Department is there for your loved ones in their time of need and is highly regarded for our heart attack and stroke treatment programs. When minutes matter Tri-City is your source for quality compassionate care close to home. Tri-City partners with over 90 local non-profit and community organizations as part of our COASTAL Commitment initiative. Together we are helping tackle some of our communities’ pressing health and social needs.

Position Summary:

The Social Service Case Manager II is a practitioner who is expected to operate as a team member, as well as independently and is an integral part of the Discharge Planning/Case Management team.  They should have the ability to function as an expert practitioner, educator and consultant to achieve/facilitate maximum benefit from health care services to high-risk populations.  This would include but is not limited to assessments and discharge planning of high risk/dependent populations; mandated reporting; crisis intervention; therapeutic intervention; and information and referral to improve patient outcomes.

Major Position Responsibilities:

The position characteristics reflect the most important duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job in a fully competent manner. They should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. The characteristics of the position and standards of performance may be changed by TCMC with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

• Maintains a safe, clean working environment, including unit based safety and infection control requirements.
• Required to cover 24-hour call coverage on an as determined schedule.
• Provides and implements discharge planning services to a varied population including high-risk patients.
  • Proactively initiates and case finds to identify and meet all psychosocial, behavioral, and health determinates.
• Performs therapeutic interventions in assisting patients and families in accepting and adjusting to their illness and course of treatment.
• Responsible for mandated reporting laws which include but may not be limited to APS, CPS, Domestic Violence, Violent Injury, and Tarasoff reporting.
• Responsible for CCS identification, assessments, and applications.
• Provides crisis intervention and supportive counseling during hospitalization.
• Works closely with Case Managers and outside agencies with discharge planning.
• Assesses and utilizes appropriate community resources to transition patient to the community.
• Provides education to the patient/family regarding:
  • Impact of psychosocial stressors on health and recovery and how to decrease negative impact and increase positive outcomes.
  • Utilization of support systems and community resources to maximize and/or support positive therapeutic outcomes.
• Provides education to staff, both formally and informally regarding psychosocial issues as they relate to patient outcome as well as community resources to assist with post discharge care.
• Communicates clinical assessment information appropriately via progress notes, verbal exchanges with nursing, physicians and other healthcare professionals.
• Works on individual clinical projects as assigned.
• Demonstrates awareness of hospital and department policies assures compliance with and uses these as a basis for decision making for clinical issues.
• The Social Service Case Manager II may also provide supervision to MSW student interns and training of new hires.
• Participates in hospital wide performance improvement.
• Demonstrates flexibility regarding staffing patterns and resolution of conflicts related to staffing decisions.
• Demonstrates awareness of self-learning needs and seeks ways to meet these in order to maintain current competency and respond to new clinical demands.
• Develops and maintains effective communication mechanisms with staff, physicians, patients/families and other departments.
• Demonstrates independent and effective clinical decision-making ability via problem identification/solving skills.
• Performs efficiently in emergency situations following established policies and procedures, informing appropriate persons and documenting events.
• Non LCSW licensed staff must attend weekly supervision (group or individual).
• Attends monthly staff meetings.
• Attends Patient rounding/family conferences.
• Attends any community meetings as appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Acute hospital experience preferred for Social Services Case Manager II.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of the principles and practice of social work required.
• Ability to utilize a variety of casework and discharge planning skills with individuals, families, groups and systems.
• Must be knowledgeable of Erikson’s developmental stages and age specific behaviors required.
• Must have a good understanding of community health, mental health and social agencies required.
• Must adhere to the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics required.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form required.
• Intermediate skills in MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel) required.
• Hospital wide and unit specific competencies.

Education:

• Master’s Degree from an Accredited School of Social Work, required.

Licenses:

• LCSW, preferred.

Certification:

• CCS (California Children Services) paneling, preferred. 

Each new hire candidate who is offered employment must pass a physical evaluation, urine drug screen and pre-employment background checks before starting work. 

*Salary/Hourly wage range for this position is posted.  Actual pay will be determined based on verified experience as well as internal equity.

TCHD is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression), age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.