151.1

The T.H. Social Service Department is an integral part of the hospital health care team. Collectively the department provides the most comprehensive service possible to be able to assess and identify psychosocial needs and develop criteria to assure that patients and families in need of social work assistance obtain needed services. The social service climate, supervision, and training resources are utilized optimally to deliver the full range of social service.

T.H. Director of Social Services: (SL-6)

Directs the total operation of the department in the delivery of social services to University Hospital patients and their families within the context of the Institution. Develops, plans, initiates and maintains a sound social service program compatible with the defined philosophy and goals of the department; develops policies and procedures governing all aspects of the department’s work, identifying social work staffing needs, assigning staff according to experience level, service and program needs. Insures continual professional growth and the development of practice skills through a program of inservice training and attendance at outside conferences; assumes full responsibility for the supervision and continued professional growth of the department in keeping with current trends in the health field, for the staff in carrying out discharge planning activities in accordance with New York State and University Hospital regulations and for providing leadership in initiating new programs and avenues of service to patients. Oversees the development and maintenance of systems and department accountability through statistical reporting, staff supervision, chart recording, etc., and the administration of the department budget; oversees the integration of the department program into the overall operation of the Institution; functions as chief liaison between the Institution/Department and the Community which may include serving on committees, and participating in meetings, conferences, and workshops, teaching related subjects on health care and the psychosocial factors of illness to students and medical staff and maintaining liaison with a graduate school of social work in the interest of the teaching program at University Hospital.

MSW and CSW Certification or eligible. At least six (6) years of related experience in a hospital or health care setting, to include at least two (2) years in a supervisory/administrative capacity (Appendix A).

State Title Code: 3744312

SUNY Title Code: 3825

Revised: 10/1/87

151.2

T.H. Associate Director of Social Service: (SL-5)

Supports the Director in the delivery of comprehensive and viable social services program. Assists in providing leadership to the department in the delivery of social work service to patients and their families within the context of the Institution, assuming full responsibility in the absence of the Director; develops, plans initiates and maintains a sound social work program compatible with the defined philosophy and goals of the department; develops policies and procedures governing all aspects of the department’s work; identifies social work staffing needs and assigns staff accordingly; assumes responsibility for own continued professional and the growth of the department by keeping up with current needs and social work practice in the health field. Responsible for the staff carrying out its activities in accordance with Federal and New York State regulations; assumes leadership in initiating new programs and avenues for service to patients; develops and maintains a system of staff and department accountability through statistical reporting, supervision of all staff, chart recording, etc., for the integration of the department program into the overall operation of the Institution at large, including coordinating and participating in interdisciplinary training and orientation. Responsible for the department’s inservice training program and provides regular groups and/or individual supervisory conferences, for teaching individual, family, and group treatment and interdisciplinary collaboration. Serves in an advisory capacity to the Director regarding staff learning needs, problems, and programs; may carry patient case load or see selected patients on an as-needed basis; represents the department on patient care, professional, and administrative committees at University Hospital and serves as liaison between the Institution/Department and the Community (i.e., serves on committee, participates in meeting, conference, workshop, etc.) on matters of health care. Independently plans own work and establishes own goals. Supervision is chiefly consultative. The position supervises Social Worker III positions.

MSW, CSW Certification or eligible. At least five (5) years related experience in a hospital or health care setting, to include one (1) year in specialty and one (1) year in a supervisory/administrative capacity.

State Title Code: 3744311

SUNY Title Code: 3826

Revised: 10/1/87

151.3

T.H. Social Worker I: (SL-4)

Provides social services to patients/families, who are in need of help with psychosocial problems triggered or exacerbated by illness; engages patients/families in a professional treatment relationship to access the need for and extent of social work intervention. Determines need for long and short-term treatment and/or crisis intervention according to individual needs for long and short-term treatment and/or crisis intervention according to individual needs in specialty cases (i.e., burn patients, peds ICU, ESRD, transplant); develops and fully integrates social work service through initiation of social work team rounds, case conference and any other professionally appropriate channel, to strengthen the role of social work and provide improved patient care. Participates in the rotation instruction and interdisciplinary orientation on specific areas of social service practice and the impact of working with terminally ill patients. May provide supervision to subordinate staff and social work students in order to teach the skills of the profession, and provide knowledge of hospital policies and procedures. Provides leadership to the department when the Director and Associate Director are unavailable, and to make administrative decisions in a clear and concise manner; coordinates and participates in the department inservice education program and continually works toward the further enhancement of own skills and knowledge to develop subordinates. Receives general supervision from the Associate Director and Director and directly supervises Social Work II, I and social work assistant.

MSW and CSW Certification or eligible. At least five (5) years of experience in a hospital or health care setting to include one (1) year in a specialty.

State Title Code: 3744510

SUNY Title Code: 1016

Revised: 10/1/87

151.4

T.H. Social Worker II: (SL-3)

Engages patients/families in a professional treatment relationship in order to assess the need for social work intervention; uses method consistent with sound social work practice in order to help the patient/family cope with the psychosocial problems connected with illness and discharge planning.

Coordinates and directs:

1. individual interviews with patients or relatives;
2. family interviews;
3. group meetings for patients and/or families.
4. Establishes and implements long term treatment, planned short-term treatment or crisis intervention according to individual needs; Interprets to other hospital staff the psychosocial problem of patients/families which affect behavior and/or discharge planning; initiates and/or participates in interdisciplinary conferences; develops on going relationships with community agencies for purposes of discharge planning of significance to the patient’s health and social well-being; prepares letters, reports, forms and transfer summaries as required.

Participates in the departments inservice training program and the orientation of new house staff regarding the role of the social service worker and their duties. This position generally handles the more complex cases as compared to the Social Service Worker I. Supervision of this position is geared to discussion of job content, functioning and learning needs.

MSW and CSW Certification or eligible. Three (3) to five (5) years related experience in a hospital or health care setting.

State Title Code: 3744520

SUNY Title Code: 1017

Revised: 10/1/87

151.5

T.H. Social Worker III: (SL-2

Engages patients/families in a professional treatment relationship in order to assess the need for social work intervention. To deliver the service, uses methods consistent with sound social work practice in order to help the patient/family cope with the psychosocial problems connected with illness and discharge planning; coordinates and conducts the following:

1. individual interviews with patients or relatives;
2. family interviews;
3. groups of patients and/or families;
4. long term treatment, planned short-term treatment or crisis intervention according to individual needs.

Interprets to other hospital staff the psychosocial problems of patients/families which affect behavior and/or discharge planning; initiates and participates in interdisciplinary conferences; develops ongoing relationships with community agencies for purposes of discharge planning significant to the patient’s health and social well-being; and prepares letters, reports, forms and transfer summaries as required.

Participates in the department’s in-service training program and the orientation of new house staff regarding the role of the social service worker and their duties. This position generally is assigned the less complex cases as compared to the Social Service Worker II. Supervision of the position is regular and geared to discussion of job content, functioning and learning needs.

MSW, CSW eligible. Zero (0) to three (3) years post master’s related experience required.

State Title Code: 3744314

SUNY Title Code: 3827

Revised: 10/1/87

152

T.H. Social Work Assistant: (SL-1)

Provides support service to social service workers in the department. Conducts screening interviews of patient and families to identify appropriate social services. Under immediate supervision or using established guidelines, coordinates discharge planning. May participate with other social workers to provide specific services to patients and families; provide detailed information about the plethora of existing community services available for use in supporting the efforts of social workers on behalf of their patients. Reports to the T.H. Social Worker II.

BSW

*Recommended as a "Stand Alone: position.

State Title Code: 3744313

SUNY Title Code: 3828

Revised: 10/1/87