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The Family Room program is a groundbreaking mental health crisis diversion program, the first of its kind in the New York State. Located within the Ellis Mental Health Outpatient Services building, the Family Room is a quiet and comfortable atmosphere for youth and their family, called “guests”, to receive support in their time of need. The purpose of the Family Room program is to provide guests with free and person-centered crisis counseling, referrals, and other community resources needed to prevent unnecessary Emergency Room visits. The Family Room Psychiatric Social Worker will have the opportunity to provide direct care and advocacy for a diverse and vulnerable population. This employee will complete psychosocial assessments for Family Room guests to determine the appropriate intervention for the visit, whether it be: supportive psychotherapy, a referral to community providers, a warm hand-off to the Family Room Care Manager or Peer, or in the rare instances, a visit to the Emergency Room. The Family Room staff specializes in a wide range of treatment interventions, including trauma-informed care and integrated mental health and substance use treatment.

SECTION II

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT(S):

MSW from an accredited school of social work required. LMSW required.

Experience performing mental health and substance abuse evaluations is required.

SECTION III

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

+ Should be able to push/pull, lift/move a minimum of 35 lb., at times while wearing a lead vest weighing 20 pounds. Be able to perform moderately difficult manual manipulations such as using a keyboard, writing, and filing for extended periods of time, must be able to perform tasks which require hand-eye coordination such as data entry, typing and using photo copiers. Mobility requirements may include the ability to be stationary at a workstation for a prolonged period time in addition to being able to squat, bend, twist, lift or be mobile for a reasonable length of time and distance. Communication requirements include the ability to comprehend the spoken English language in addition to being able to communicate and read the English language.

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PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION:

+ Reports to Supervisor, Psychiatry and carries out duties as assigned by Supervisor

+ Provides direct care to a diverse population of people, some diagnosed with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI).

+ Provides risk assessment to guests to determine appropriateness for Family Room services by utilizing the CASE (Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events) approach to assess suicide/homicide risk and safety. In such cases safety risk is present, Social Worker will provide accurate interventions to mitigate harm to guests and community such as (on an infrequent basis) arrange referral to Ellis Emergency Department if guests pose imminent risk of harm to self or others.

+ Performs initial mental health assessment for new guests (mostly in-person but sometimes on the phone), including assessing for determinants of health.

+ Working in conjunction with Family Room Care Manager and Supervisor, advocates for an underserved population through coordination with and referrals to primary care, care management, and other community partnerships.

+ Quickly develop therapeutic alliance with guests who may be in crisis.

+ Provide supportive psychotherapy and psychoeducation, drawing from Social Worker’s own preferred therapeutic modalities and in adjunct with suggested interventions from as-needed consultation with Supervisor.

+ Provides warm hand-off to other team members for assistance in their area of expertise.

+ Responds to referrals from Ellis and other referring entities, as delegated by supervisor, and provides initial outreach and screening for prospective clients via phone call.

+ Completes all documentation within required time frames.

+ Adheres to all hospital policies and procedures including but not limited to annual mandatory education requirements and employee health requirements.

+ As guest volume varies by day, Social Worker must be able to both handle/delegate multiple tasks, while at other times self-direct to other tasks (i.e. checking for referrals on phone line, etc.)

+ Willing to cover during supervisor absence or vacation (will be given as much advance notice as possible and have support from other supervisors in the building)

+ Attends individual supervision (frequency determined by supervisor) and maintains professional licensure status.

SECTION VI

Ellis Medicine is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex/gender, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, prior arrest, or conviction record, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, reproductive health decisions, or domestic violence victim status.