Social Worker III - Department of Psychiatry
University of Iowa

Job Info

---

The Department of Psychiatry is seeking a Social Worker III to serve as a Behavioral Health Care Manager providing care management and coordination for behavioral health populations that are served within UI Community Clinics (UICC) and Outreach Clinics. The Social Worker III will coordinate care for patients who have a substance use disorder or mental health need and in doing so, will serve as the lead liaison for the team that provides care, services, resources, and support to these patients. This position will be responsible for the dissemination of information and education to the clinical care team.

The Social Worker III is a core member of the collaborative care team, including the patient's medical provider and psychiatric consultant, as well as the larger primary care team or medical team. This position is responsible for supporting and coordinating the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload with the patient's medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers.

The University of Iowa, Department of Psychiatry offers competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a collegial professional environment. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has been recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States and is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and regional referral center. We are committed to providing patient-focused care-available to every person, around the clock-in an environment devoted to innovative care, excellent service, and exceptional outcomes.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
• Support the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload. Closely
coordinate care with the patient's medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health
providers.
• Screen and assess patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders using validated rating scales. Facilitate patient engagement and follow-up care.
• Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or by telephone) for
changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.
• Support psychotropic medication management as prescribed by medical providers, focusing on
treatment adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.
• Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral
activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.
• Provide or facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments (e.g.
problem-solving treatment or behavioral activation) as clinically indicated.
• Participate in regularly scheduled (usually weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatric
consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient's medical
provider. Consultations will focus on patients new to the caseload and those who are not improving as expected under the current treatment plan. Case reviews may be conducted by telephone, video, or in person.
• Track patient follow up and clinical outcomes using a registry. Document in-person and telephone
encounters in the registry and use the system to identify and re-engage patients.
• Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in EHR and other required systems so as to be shared with medical providers, psychiatric consultant, and other treating providers.
• Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the medical provider and the psychiatric consultant and who may need more intensive or more specialized mental health care.
• Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment).
• Develop and complete relapse prevention self-management plan with patients who have achieved their treatment goals and are soon to be discharged from the caseload.
• Collaborate with nursing, medical staff, psychiatric consultant, and other health professionals in planning, delivering, and evaluating care for primary and specialty patient populations, maintaining integrated relationship with other members of the care team.
• Act a liaison to support behavioral health initiatives including new service lines, expanding clinics, adding new providers, etc.
• Participate in ongoing collaboration with the billing practitioner.
• Lead or participate in evidence-based projects within specialty area.
• Provide specialized health education to patients and health profession students.
• Provide the above services at various locations based on identified patient needs, to include availability for face-to-face, video, and/or telephone evaluations as clinically warranted/required.
• Adhere to internal and regulatory policies and guidelines.
• Apply expertise in communicating real time feedback and direction to clinical staff.
• Apply expertise to improve patient outcomes, leading and participating in evidence-based projects and implementing team-based care.
• Participate in Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives.
• Staff members are also expected to comply with policies governing employee responsibilities and conduct, including those contained in the University Policy Manual.

Required Qualifications
• Master's degree in social work
• Minimum 6-12 months of Clinical Social Work experience in behavioral health
• License to practice social work in the state of Iowa
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Internet
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Current, valid driver's license and the ability to meet the University driving policy standards

Desirable Qualifications
• Training and/or experience in the Collaborative Care Model for integration of behavioral health in primary care
• A minimum of one year of experience in patient care, particularly those with behavioral health concerns partnering with ambulatory specialty, family medicine, or pediatrics
• Experience providing planned and emergent assessments of patients presenting with a
wide range of behavioral health complaints and concerns in adult and child inpatient and outpatient clinic settings
• Demonstrated education on formulating diagnostic opinions utilizing the DSM-5
• Demonstrated familiarity and/or experience with evidence-based practices; including but not limited to principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Problem-Solving Therapy, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Demonstrated leadership and training skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with patients, families, and health care workers
• Familiarity with UIHC

Application Process
In order to be considered, applicants must upload a Cover Letter and Resume (under submission relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.
Professional references will be required at a later time in the recruitment process.
For more information, contact lori-posey@uiowa.edu .

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Social Worker III
• Appointment Type: SEIU
• Schedule: Full-time

Compensation

• Pay Level: 63

Contact Information

• Organization: Healthcare
• Contact Name: Lori Posey
• Contact Email: lori-posey@uiowa.edu

---