Job Summary

The KIC Medical Social Worker (MSW) will, in accordance with the plan of care, assist the medical provider and other team members in understanding the significant social and emotional factors related to the health problems, participates in the development of the plan of care, prepares clinical and progress notes, works with the family, utilizes appropriate community resources, participates in discharge planning and in-service programs and acts as a consultant to other agency personnel. This may often involve screening of medical records, conducting interviews and assessments, set treatment goals, and arrange for expediting and coordinating services. Occasionally assist in clinical patient care as needed.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Communicate with member, providers, and community organizations to ensure coordination of mental health services for members
• Build and maintain effective relationships with members and designated families or caregivers
• Communicate effectively and efficiently internally and externally; be an active and engaged member of the team
• Develop and support relationships with appropriate community resources to help support members
• Provide direction to staff members and teams tasked with coordination activities for health plan members
• Comply with all the KIC’s regulatory and contractual requirements, organizational policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Requires incumbent to provide a range of casework, crisis intervention, discharge planning, consultative services, and to utilize independent judgment in patient related matters
• Screens and assesses referrals for medical social services intervention and develop treatment plans accordingly with other members of the health care team.
• Assists patients and families in navigating the medical and health care system.
• Communicates patient’s needs to medical staff or other healthcare professionals.
• Assists in implementing solutions to challenges related to health and wellness.
• Other duties as assigned.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding and sensitivity to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal culture and lifestyle, working effectively with AI/AN populations.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with sensitivity to the lifestyles of targeted participants.
• Skills in operating personal computers using a variety of computer software.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, coworkers, and outside contacts.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all applicable federal and tribal privacy laws and KIC policy (HIPAA, HITECH, etc.).
• Ability to learn and apply program/agency operating policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks concurrently and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently as well as with teams.
• Experience with Medicaid and Medicare populations and regulatory requirements
• Experience in utilization review, skilled nursing services, home health, discharge planning, behavioral health, community resources, and/or other home and community-based agencies
• Working knowledge of case/care management principles
• Working knowledge of health care contracts and benefit eligibility requirements

KIC Competencies

Cultural Competency: To be respectful and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of KIC Tribal Members. Developing cultural competence is an evolving, dynamic process that takes time and occurs along a continuum.

Commitment: To serve Tribal Members and set a high standard for yourself in your performance; strive for results and success; convey a sense of urgency and bring issues to closure; and stay persistent despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meet/exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identify, understand, and monitor the needs of both internal and external customers; always talk and act with customers in mind; and recognize working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensure important information is passed to those who need to know; convey necessary information with respect, clearly and effectively orally or in writing

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrate a high level of conscientiousness; hold oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and do the required fair share of work.

Working Conditions

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

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and/or sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, climb, or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The noise level in the work environment is usually average.

Conditions of Hire

• May be required to possess and maintain a valid driver's license or capable of obtaining one, as well as be insurable by KIC’s company insurance.
• Must maintain current certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers (HCPs) or obtain within six months of hire.
• KIC complies with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, which states that employees shall not manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, use, or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and must pass a pre-employment and subsequent random drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.
• KIC has several positions that must comply with the P.L. 101-630 Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act (ICPA); all employment offers in the "covered" classification are conditional until KIC has received a Federal criminal background check verifying eligibility to work in these programs.

This Job Description describes the essential duties and qualifications. It is not an exhaustive statement of all the job duties, responsibilities, or qualifications; management has the exclusive right to alter or add to this job description at any time without notice. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional duties as assigned with in the standard of social work practice.

Minimum Education & Experience Required

• Education: Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work approved by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Licensure: Current Alaska State license as a social worker.
• Experience: One (1) year of social work experience in a health care setting. Other social work history may be considered if not directly involved in the health care setting.
• A combination of relevant experience, education, and training may substitute for experience requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Experience: 2+ years of clinical work experience in medical/public health preferred.
• Experience: Case management and/or experience with underserved populations preferred.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with programmatic and clinical research strategies in managed care settings preferred.