Social Worker (BSW)

Reporting to the Manager, Health Services and the Professional Practice chief for Social Work, provides psychosocial / emotional assessment and therapeutic clinical counselling services to clients (patients, residents, families, community clients) in the assigned clinical areas by using a variety of modalities and in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices. Participates on the interdisciplinary team in care planning, discharge planning and resource linkage, from a Social Work perspective. Participates as a member of local committees and planning bodies as assigned. Provides education and consultation to clients / interdisciplinary team regarding psychosocial / emotional aspects of illness / injury / disease / health and Social Work practice.

Responsibilities

1. Conducts psychosocial / emotional assessments of clients by methods such as focused interviews, collection of relevant data, interpretation of data within the context of the client system, using a variety of modalities and in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices.
2. Provides basic therapeutic clinical counselling services to clients, based on a psychosocial assessment by methods such as identifying areas of client / system strength and challenge in addressing the psychosocial / emotional components of illness, injury and disease and by providing interventions which promote improved psychosocial / emotional wellbeing.
3. Provides a plan of care that will include the goals of treatment, timelines and indicators of successful treatment.
4. Educates and provides consultation to clients and healthcare professionals on issues related to Social Work practice and area of clinical specialty.
5. Maintains client records by methods such as documenting client assessments, charting client information, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established professional / organizational standards, policies and procedures.
6. Provides input to the interdisciplinary team in client care planning and discharge planning.
7. Communicates with community health and social agencies including government Ministries, Homehealth personnel and family physicians.
8. Acts as a resource to clients by providing information regarding community resources and access to these resources.
9. Participates in ongoing quality improvement by engaging in program / practice evaluation, identifying opportunities for change, and analyzing outcomes.
10. Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics.
11. Maintains broad development in the Social Work profession by reviewing literature, consulting with experts, and participating in professional development activities.
12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's Degree of Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work.
2. One year's recent, related experience.
3. Current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.

Skills and Abilities

1. Knowledge and understanding of psychosocial / emotional issues related to illness / injury / disease.
2. Knowledge of counselling skills, including brief solution focused therapeutic (individual / group); crisis intervention and resource counselling.
3. Ability to demonstrate a high level of knowledge, skill, effectiveness, self-awareness and self-correction in verbal communications.
4. Knowledge of the key issues and current Social Work practice in the areas of geriatrics and chronic disease management.
5. Knowledge of legislation / acts applicable to social work in Health Care.
6. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with clients, the health care team and community agency personnel.
7. Ability to work effectively with others, including in a multicultural environment.
8. Ability to educate and provide consultation to clients and healthcare professionals.
9. Ability to participate with the interdisciplinary team in care planning.
10. Ability to make effective referrals, reflecting in-depth knowledge of community resources.
11. Ability to organize and prioritize workload in a complex environment.
12. Ability to operate related equipment.
13. Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.