Social Services Associate

About the Role

The Social Services Associate assists in gathering information for the Psychosocial Assessment, patient resources and support systems, treatment planning needs, and discharge planning. This role also involves providing Psychoeducational Groups under the supervision/guidance of the Director of Social Services to further patient/family/group progress in treatment, adhering to Joint Commission, Federal and State Regulations, Oceans' Mission, policies and procedures, and PI standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides social service support, education, and resources for patients and families, under the supervision/guidance of the Director of Social Services.
• Plans and conducts individual or group psychoeducational sessions, as assigned by the Director of Social Services.
• Gathers information for the completion of Comprehensive Integrated Assessment (Biopsychosocial Assessment) within 72 hours (or 3 sessions) of admission for review and interpretation by a Licensed Therapist, who will co-sign all Psychosocial Assessments.
• Reviews all Multidisciplinary assessments and provides information for the Multidisciplinary Treatment Integration under the supervision of the Director of Social Services and attending physician within 72 hours of admission.
• Performs case management and discharge planning as assigned by the Director of Social Services.
• Attends treatment team meetings when indicated and reports on assigned patients and their progress toward treatment goals.
• Surveys and identifies age/disability/cultural needs; identifies safety, psychosocial, special mobility, and special equipment needs.
• Communicates in an age/disability/culturally sensitive manner to patients and their families.
• Conducts care of patients and discharge planning in accordance with age/disability/cultural needs and involves members of the patient's support system in decision making as appropriate.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field.
• Preferably one year of experience working with the mentally ill population: Adolescent, Adults, and Geriatrics.
• An internship within the chemical dependency field is also acceptable.
• Ability to cope mentally and physically with a high-paced and stressful environment.
• Must successfully complete BLS certification.
• Must successfully complete an Oceans approved behavioral de-escalation program.

Qualifications / Skills

• Must demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to age-related disability-related needs of the patients served.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development appropriate to the patient population served.
• Must be able to assess and interpret data about the patient’s status to identify patient needs and provide appropriate care, including age-related care/disability/cultural sensitivity related care to adolescent, chronically mentally ill, adult, geriatric, chemically dependent, and dually diagnosed patient populations.
• Must demonstrate basic knowledge of mental illness and chemical dependency and accompanying family dynamics.
• Must have basic knowledge of chronic mental illness.
• Excellent communication skills related to age-specific patient needs.
• Ability to demonstrate assessment, supportive communication, and d/c planning skills.
• Must be able to pass the general age/disability post-test.
• Versatile, flexible, and able to perform in stressful situations.
• Good time and organizational skills.
• Capable of coordinating multi-faceted workload.
• Ability to work with an array of mental/physical disabled persons.
• Ability to deliver patient services in an ethical manner that promotes respect for the patient and enhances the patient's dignity and satisfaction.
• Demonstrates the ability to assess and interpret a patient's response to treatment in an age/disability/culturally sensitive specific manner.