Job Description

The Clinical Social Worker provides a range of clinical social work services to patients/clients and families in inpatient, ambulatory and community settings utilizing individual, family or group modalities and practicing within the guidelines of professional social work ethics and standards.

Job Overview: Clinical Social Worker at the Center for Children with Special Needs at Tufts Medicine, Boston. CCSN is an outpatient clinic serving children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.

ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts intake assessments with new patients :

  • Provides psychosocial assessment of the individual and family, including limitations, deficits and strengths in their current situation and environment, as well as functional level.

  • Utilizes knowledge of child development, developmental disabilities, human behavior, and the social environment, as well as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in the formulation of assessments and treatment plans.

  • Consults with intake coordinator regarding potential new patients and serves as a member of the CCSN intake committee.

• Participates in transdisciplinary evaluation clinics:

  • Conducts assessments and provides counseling and case management services as needed on multidisciplinary teams in the context of clinics in the CCSN. Transdisciplinary clinics focus on school age youth and youth transitioning to adult services. 

  • Collaborates with and provides psychosocial consultation to physicians, educational specialists, speech-language pathologists,  neuropsychologists,  and administrative staff in the provision of services to patients and families.  Assists the team in understanding and integrating the significance of psychosocial factors in relation to patient and family assessment and treatment.

  • Maintains good communication and working relationships with other clinicians and staff, and is collaborative in helping to promote a smooth, coordinated plan of care for patients and their families.

• Provides clinical support and services to address the psychosocial needs of existing patients:

  • Provides crisis assessment and intervention services that involve issues of suicide, homicide, family violence, trauma, abuse and/or neglect of children.

  • Provides counseling to children and adolescents with various developmental disabilities who are dealing with behavior problems, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, and loss or life transition issues.

  • Counsels parents in the development of appropriate parenting strategies given the developmental and behavioral health needs of their children.

  • Participates in Guardianship assessments and Clinical Team Reports for patients transitioning to adulthood.

• Provides case management services:

  • Provides follow up case management services to assist families in following the recommendations made by CCSN clinicians when needed.  Assists families to build organizational and self-advocacy skills.

  • Assists families through assessment and follow-up visits  to access needed community services and resources in the areas of: basic needs, government agency supports,  educational systems, behavioral health services, developmental disability services.

  • Provides liaison with DCF caseworker for involved families.

• Participates in the teaching, training, and supervising of trainees from several disciplines, including undergraduate and graduate social work students and developmental-behavioral pediatric fellows.

• Documents assessments and interventions according to hospital policies and regulations in a timely fashion, including following appropriate coding and billing procedures for social work services.

• Practices in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.

Qualifications

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

• Knowledge of casework process and community resources in relation to health (including mental health), illness, and disability.

• Knowledge of current social work theory and practice, the ability to apply treatment and case management methods, and familiarity with community issues and resources.

• Understanding of organizational theory and practice in large systems and the knowledge of social and health care policies and systems.

• High degree of diagnostic, treatment, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

• Analytical skills required assessing patient needs, to develop associated treatment modalities and to provide effective counseling.

• Computer skills and knowledge of general office programs, spreadsheet programs, database programs, and presentation programs (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).

• Spanish language skills are a plus.

EDUCATION:

• Masters Degree in Social Work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

EXPERIENCE:

• 2-3 years of direct social work experience post MSW.

• Experience working with children who have developmental disabilities (i.e. ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Autism, and Intellectual Disabilities) and their families is a plus.

LICENSES, ETC.:

• Licensure at the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process. This includes:

• Knowledge of growth and development

• Ability to interpret age specific data and response to care

• Provide age specific communication

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Normal office setting.
• Inpatient and/or outpatient clinic patient care area.
• 40 hours/week Monday-Friday; hybrid schedule (remote/clinic) will be considered.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT:

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed, as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Tufts Medical Center reserves the right to modify position duties at any time, to reflect process improvements and business necessity.

COVID-19 POLICY:

Please note that effective October 1, 2021, as a condition of employment at Tufts Medical Center, all employees and new hires must have received their complete dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless they have been granted an exemption.