Medical Social Worker /Associate Social Worker

Asian Health Services, founded in 1974, provides health, social, and advocacy services for all regardless of income, insurance status, immigration status, language, or culture. Our approach to wellbeing focuses on “whole patient health,” which is why we provide more than primary care services, including mental health, case management, nutrition, and dental care to more than 50,000 patients in English and 15 languages: Korean, Lao, Burmese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mien, Karen, Mongolian, Karenni, Tagalog, Khmer, and Vietnamese. We offer medical, dental, and mental health services for all ages.

LOCATION: ADMIN- HQ

JOB SUMMARY:

Provide mental health and psychosocial services to AHS patients, and coordinate special projects or programs, such as the Alameda County HealthPac and Asian Impact on Mental Health (AIMH)/IMPACT depression screening efforts and community education/outreach presentations, as required.  This position’s responsibilities include, but not limited to: educating patients about depression, administer depression screening over the phone, as needed, support the behavioral health LCSW, primary care team and patient in their efforts toward treatment compliance, conduct community education outreach workshops that engage API older adults to learn about healthy aging, behavioral and physical health issues among older adults, and how to access behavioral health and primary care services if needed. Provision of services at multiple sites.

• Provide comprehensive mental health services including diagnostic evaluation, crisis intervention, ongoing psychotherapy to the individual, group, and family of AHS pts directly or through an interpreter as appropriate and in consultation with the supervisor.
• Provide psychosocial services including counseling, referral, and follow-up for AHS patients.
• Consult and collaborate closely with behavioral health LCSWs, medical providers (physicians, physician assistants, and nurses) at AHS or external agencies regarding patient cases.
• Conduct depression screening using the PHQ 2 or PHQ9 questionnaire.
• Support the patient in scheduling and attending behavioral health appointments, as needed.
• Support the patient in accomplishing identified goals in collaboration with the Behavioral Health LCSW and primary care team as well as support efforts related to IMPACT model of care.
• Consult with medical providers (physicians, physician assistants, and nurses) at AHS or external agencies regarding patient cases.
• Provide counseling, information referral, and follow-up services for AHS patients in family violence/elder abuse situations.
• Maintain patient records and document services provided via encounter forms and logs. 
• Maintain/Update mental health database; database management, including but not limited to data entry, reporting, data analysis.
• Participate in behavioral health services meetings and other committees as requested by the Supervisor.
• Provide education and support to patients navigating the aging services and behavioral health systems. 
• Advocate for and provide referrals and follow-up for patients regarding other community services when needed.
• Provide follow-up with patients who cancel or do not show up for their appointments with behavioral health staff.
• Conduct phone call follow-up for patients prescribed medication for their mental illness.
• Conduct screening/assessments as appropriate, such as on patient’s activities of daily living and for conditions such as dementia. 
• Available as needed to facilitate warm handoff from medical providers for patients in need of behavioral health services/referrals.
• Track patients who are lost to care and have mental health issues.
• Research and identify appropriate venues in the target area to conduct educational workshops regarding healthy aging, behavioral, and physical health issues among older adults, and how to access behavioral health and primary care services if needed.
• Schedule and conduct educational workshops and attend training as appropriate to implement the SAMHSA Older Adult Toolkit to address mental health issues for patients.
• Track and document outreach efforts for reporting purposes as requested by Supervisor.
• Serve as liaison with Asian Community Mental Health Services, Community Health for Asian Americans, or other psychiatric/counseling institutions to coordinate patient care for AHS patients.
• Update and maintain referral resources and strengthen linkages with other agencies and community organizations to provide a full spectrum of referral services to AHS patients.
• Maintain a list of community resources that meet the needs of older adults, particularly of those living in Central Alameda County.
• Serve as a liaison with external agencies as appropriate.
• Advocate for AHS patients and their families to assure the availability and utilization of appropriate community services.
• Serve as a liaison with external agencies as appropriate.

• Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among clients and staff.
• Enforces clinic policies and procedures, including maintenance of client confidentiality under HIPAA privacy rules, to ensure that the principles of AHS are implemented.
• Plays an active role in planning organization-wide activities such as AHS general membership meetings, fundraisers, special clinic days, and other events.
• Participates in general membership meetings, fundraisers, and other public events, as required.
• Participates in outreach activities, agency advocacy, and serves on ad hoc committees, as requested.
• Attends AHS staff retreats and Board of Directors meetings, as required.
• Participates in agency-wide quality improvement program processes and performance improvement teams to ensure excellence in the quality of services provided across the agency.

• BSW/BA in social work, psychology, counseling or related field or minimum Master’s degree in the same field
• At least two years’ experience in social work, counseling and/or case management
• Familiarity with and commitment to serving the Asian community
• Bilingual, and bicultural in any Asian language.

• MSW and 2 years of relevant work experience or 3 years of case management experience.
• Healthcare-related work experience.
• Plan to work towards licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
• Self-starter takes initiative with projects.

• Demonstrate organizational, coordination, and communication skills both verbal and written.
• Strong knowledge of local health and social services resources.
• Excellent human relation skills.
• Attention to detail.

• Proof of academic achievement

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Pace of work very demanding; Constant concentration; 10% or less standing time required; 100% time speaking and Listening; Environmental and Health Hazards:  Minimal, contact with the patient makes possible exposure to those with contagious diseases.

BENEFITS:

Medical, Dental, Vision premiums 100% paid by AHS

12 Vacation Days

12 Sick Days

12 Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays

3% 403B Employer Contributions and up to 2% Employee Match Contribution

Transportation Benefit Paid by AHS

FSA/Dependent Care Assistance

Long Term Disability