Behavioral Health Discharge and Activities Assistant

Position Objective:

The team member works under the direction of the department director and provides coordination of care for patients in inpatient psychiatry to support the social work team with discharge planning needs of the adult inpatient population. Utilizing a collaborative process, will assess, plan, implement and evaluate the options and services required to meet an individual’s health and health related needs, including social- determinants that affect ones’ overall wellbeing. Promotes the right resources, at the right time and at the right level of care and is responsible for engaging and supporting patients that are in need of discharge planning support. In addition, this position provides psychoeducational and/or activity groups based on the needs identified by unit leadership.

Essential Job Duties:

 Reasonable accommodations are made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 1. Provides discharge-planning services, using a holistic approach inclusive of biopsychosocial, functional, cultural, spiritual, and financial factors.

2. Identifies and implements strategies such as motivational interviewing to promote patient engagement, self-care, treatment adherence, and optimal levels of health and well-being.

3.  Utilizes evidenced based discharge protocols to promote quality care, decrease variation and mitigate waste.

4. Facilitates and coordinates transition plans for patients transitioning from the inpatient mental health unit.

5. Maintains clear and concise documentation in each patient record to discharge planning status for assignments from unit leadership.

7. Participates in shared governance as needed in projects to improve the quality of care provided.

8. Identifies potential or current patient situations, which require referral to other members of the health care team such as infection control, risk management, or quality management.  Assures plan of care is adjusted as appropriate and that follow-up occurs.  Keep leadership abreast of potential issues.

9. Provides psychoeducational and activity groups at least 4 times weekly.   

10. Maintains compliance with all regulatory standards (CMS, commercial insurers etc)

Educational/Experience Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in social work or psychology.

Three years of experience in a clinical setting, ambulatory or post-acute preferred.

Care coordination experience preferred.    

Licensure/Certification: LBSW preferred. CPI and CPR Required.

Working Conditions, Equipment, Physical Demands:

There is reasonable expectation that employees in this position will be exposed to blood-borne pathogens.

Physical Demands - Medium work

The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The above job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position.  This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; your supervisor may assign other duties as deemed necessary.