(Hybid) Clinical Social Worker - Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine at West Virginia University Research Corporation is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Clinical
Social Worker.

About the Opportunity

The Clinical Social Worker-MSW builds strong relationships with HIV-positive clients in order to help clients stay engaged in medical care and adhere to their treatment regimen. The Clinical Social Worker-MSW is committed to removing the client's barriers to care by identifying critical resources for clients, helping them navigate through health care services and systems, and promoting client health. They work closely with the Multi-disciplinary Care Team, which may include doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff to support positive client health outcomes. The Clinical Social Worker-MSW will function as a Medical Case Manager for clients in the WVU Positive Health Clinic. Medical Case Management is the provision of a range of client-centered activities focused on improving health outcomes in support of the HIV care continuum. Medical Case Management includes all types of case management encounters (e.g., face-to-face, phone contact, and any other forms of communication). The Clinical Social Worker-MSW will deliver brief, evidence-informed counseling interventions such as, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, or harm reduction techniques.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• Paid Time off (PTO)
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC
• A range of health insurance and other benefit
• Dependent Education Scholarships
• WVU Perks

What You'll Do

• Participates as an integral professional member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, led by a physician, to represent the Clinical Social Work perspective and act as a liaison with the patient and family.
• Engages in the initial client intake to complete an assessment of service needs including benefits counseling by assisting eligible clients in obtaining access to other public and private programs for which they may be eligible (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Part D, State AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs, other state or local health care and supportive services, and insurance plans through the health insurance Marketplaces/Exchanges). Determines Ryan White Eligibility for HIV/AIDS service needs as payer of last resort.
• Performs psychosocial assessments of patients and families to identify emotional, social, and community strengths and/or barriers to care related to their diagnosis, illness, treatment and/or life situation. Independently develops and implements of a comprehensive, individualized care plan.
• Researches and seeks resources to provide timely and coordinated access to medically appropriate levels of health and support services to provide continuity of care.
• Continuous client monitoring to assess the efficacy of the care plan
• Re-evaluation of the care plan at least every 6 months with adaptations, as necessary.
• Ongoing assessment of the client's and other key family members' needs and personal support systems.
• Acts as a liaison with community agencies and resources to assist patients and families.
• Mediates with other service providers when necessary to address barriers or resolve conflicts.
• Documents assessment, plan, interactions, and interventions according to departmental, hospital, and/or health system guidelines and standards.
• Provides education to patients and families around issues related to adaptation to the patient's diagnosis, illness, treatment and/or life situation.
• Provides treatment adherence counseling to ensure readiness for and adherence to complex HIV treatment.
• Client-specific advocacy and/or review of utilization of services.
• Make home visits as necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Communicate with Care Team members (Care Coordinators, HIV Physicians, Primary Care Physicians, Ryan White Part B Medical Case Managers, other health care providers) to provide recommendations for resources and facilitation of client care.
• Identify, create contacts, and develop a network of community resources.
• Identify resources for clients to overcome barriers to care, such as transportation, housing and childcare arrangements and establish program procedures to implement client resources
• Maintain documentation of all client encounters in agency's EMR, EPIC, documenting patient information, activities, referrals and consultations in a timely and accurate manner, and complete reporting requirements according to organization standards entering data into HRSA reporting software.
• Track client attendance at medical appointments and patient navigation sessions and initiate outreach, as necessary to improve retention in care.
• Provide immediate crisis intervention during episodes of acute distress, suicidal ideation, domestic violence, or sever mental health episodes, provide recommendations to the healthcare team and/or initiate the appropriate referrals for the patient.
• Operates and maintains the Positive Health Clinic's food pantry, Ryan's Place North. This includes ordering supplies, inventory control, payment of invoices, patient access and distribution of food and other supplies per procedure.

• Master's degree in social work or related field required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in the field of social work.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Strong time and workload management skills.
• Strong project coordination skills.
• Proficient competency in Microsoft Office software applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), particularly using Excel to import, present data in various graphic formats, and program cells for mathematical computations.
• Working knowledge of the Ryan White CARE Act.
• Understanding of WVUH and UHA Charity Care Assistance Programs and application of Ryan White Care Funds as the "payer of last resort."
• Ability to read, comprehend and carry out complicated instructions, correspondence, detailed records/reports, and memos.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs for preparation and maintenance of project budgets and routine financial reporting maintained in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and generates graphs of project financial status.
  
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
  
• Ability to deal with complex patient problems involving several variables in situations relative to WVU Positive Health Clinic programs and operations.
  
• Ability to occasionally transport products or people, as needed.

• Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) through West Virginia Board of Social Work.
• Valid driver's license

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University. We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible for helping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.