Social Worker Mental Health Counselor/Inpatient -Per Diem

Position Summary: The Social Worker provides individual, group, family and marital counseling to patients with a substance use disorder and their family members. Performs intakes, develops treatment plans and makes referrals as part of a multidisciplinary team and acting within the SBELIH and Quannacut mission, philosophy and goals.

Job Duties & Essential Functions:

• Conducts thorough intakes to identify problem areas and formulate initial diagnosis and treatment recommendation.
• Develops initial treatment plan and monitors patient progress through ongoing reviews.
• Assists and directs clients to complete necessary paperwork for entitlements.
• Makes referrals for clients and family members to available community resources.
• Monitors care of clients through follow-up with agencies and available community resources.
• Provides individual, group, family, and marital counseling with primary focus on substance use and impact on life areas.
• Displays knowledge of alcohol and other addictive drugs and their effects on human behavior.
• Displays knowledge of the disease concept, harm reduction, and factors that impact recovery.
• Informs the patient of their rights and responsibilities, including confidentiality and their treatment recommendation.
• Works through adverse reactions and/or resistance of patients during the treatment process.
• Fosters an empathetic and therapeutic relationship and can engage the patient.
• Shows ability to educate, elicit feelings, facilitate self-understanding and motivate patients.
• Recognizes and deals with denial and other defense mechanisms.
• Effectively utilizes crisis intervention techniques and their specific application to alcoholic/chemically addicted patients.
• Effectively assists patients in reframing and interpreting life experiences to address their sense of shame and guilt, and to deal with defense mechanisms and low self-esteem.
• Demonstrate use of common psycho-therapeutic techniques used to augment recovery.
• Identifies underlying psychological and/or emotional issues that warrant treatment focus.
• Effectively explores deep-seated underlying issues.
• Effectively identifies and copes with transference and countertransference.
• Displays capable skills specifically inherent to family and marital therapy.
• Identifies the impact and role of the family and makes appropriate outreach when necessary.
• Efficiently facilitates referrals as determined by the treatment team.
• Locates and utilizes information resources including literature, research findings, and consultation services.
• Participates in multidisciplinary staff meetings and collaborates regarding treatment recommendations and plans.
• Understands the history, philosophy and process of recognized self-help and 12 step programs.
• Effectively communicates in verbal and written forms to health care professionals, community systems, patients and lay persons alike.
• Maintains accurate and clear records in accordance with SBELIH, QOPS and OASAS policies.
• Adheres to hospital and departmental rules and regulations.
• Participate in in-service programs.
• Participate in annual recertification training, compliance training, HIPPA training.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned by management.

Required Experience & Qualifications:

• NYS LMSW, NYS LCSW, or LMSW eligible to obtain certification within six (6) months.
• Current Basic Life Support ("BLS") certification from the American Heart Association.

• Understanding of alcoholism/addiction and 12-step programs as demonstrated by a minimum of one (1) year continuous personal, professional or educational experience.