Persons at High Risk Social Worker - Madison Clinic

The Harborview Medical Center – Social Work Department has an outstanding opportunity for a Persons at High Risk (PAHR) Social Worker to join the Madison Clinic.

WORK SCHEDULE

• Full-Time / 40 hours per week

• Day Shift

• Many of the PAHR patients served at Madison Clinic are Spanish-speaking therefore English and Spanish fluency is required for this position.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

Madison Clinic is an interdisciplinary, outpatient primary care clinic located at Harborview Medical Center (HMC) that serves individuals living with HIV as well as those who are at high-risk of acquiring HIV. The Madison Clinic case management program receives grant funding to provide HIV prevention services to the patients receiving medical care at Madison Clinic and many other outpatient clinics at HMC. Many of the patients served at Madison Clinic have complex psychosocial needs that make navigating the health care system challenging. The primary goal of the PAHR program is to reduce barriers to medical care and to increase access to PrEP medication for Persons Who Are at High Risk (PAHR). Some of examples of the barriers often experienced by PAHR patients are lack of adequate insurance, difficulty accessing and navigating healthcare system, substance use, stigma, complicated immigration statuses, mental health issues, and homelessness. The social worker hired for this position would be part of a multidisciplinary team; collaboration with providers of all backgrounds is an essential component of this work.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Conduct assessments of psychosocial, financial, medical support and environmental needs

• Conduct a Risk Reduction/Sexual Health assessment and provide safe sex education

• Assist in completing various applications that allow for increased healthcare access and PrEP medications, for both uninsured and underinsured patients.

• Provide assistance with PrEP medication adherence counseling and regular STI testing access

• Have knowledge of HIV and AIDS related illnesses, basic medical terminology and procedures

• Provide social work coverage for the other PAHR social worker at Madison Clinic

• Coordinate social work services with medical, psychiatric, nursing and front desk staff

• Work with patients at risk of acquiring HIV to link to medical care and other services

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide direct social work services to HMC patients at high risk for acquiring HIV served in Madison Clinic and other clinics at Harborview Medical Center.

• Maintain a strong social work role in assigned service area and collaboratively provide patient care with other disciplines in this area

• Have knowledge of HMC/Social Work Department policies relevant to delivery of services to patients in Madison Clinic as well as knowledge of legal requirements for vulnerable populations, involuntary treatment for psychiatric patients and patients with chemical dependencies

• Have knowledge of community resources relevant to the target population

• Establish solid working relationships with representatives from public and private agencies to facilitate patient entry into these systems and to coordinate service delivery

REQUIRED POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

A Master of Social Work Degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education

AND

One year of full-time social work experience in a health care setting or equivalent. Experience can include a practicum placement as part of a social work training program and/or employment experience.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

LEGAL REQUIREMENT

Within 90 days of hire must hold one of the following credentials issued by the state of Washington:

• Agency Affiliated Counselor, or

• Licensed Social Work Associate – Advanced, or

• Licensed Social Work Associate – Independent Clinical, or

• Licensed Advance Social Worker, or

• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

DESIRED:

• Two years of full-time professional social work experience in a health-care related setting or equivalent.

• Eligible to be a social work practicum instructor for the University of Washington School of Social Work  

• Must be eligible for credentialing through the Harborview Medical Center Administrative Credentialing Committee for Allied Health Practitioners.

• English and Spanish fluency is required for this position

ABOUT HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER

As the region's only Level I Trauma and verified burn center, Harborview Medical Center is a comprehensive healthcare facility owned by King County and operated by UW Medicine.  It is dedicated to providing specialized care for a broad spectrum of patients from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the most vulnerable residents of King County.  It provides exemplary patient care in leading-edge centers of emphasis, including emergency medicine, trauma and burn care, neurosciences, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, HIV/AIDS, rehabilitation, mental health and substance abuse care.

Harborview employees are committed to the vital role the institution plays in the immediate community, as well as the entire Northwest region.  

Challenge. Collaboration. Compassion.

ABOUT UW MEDICINE – WHERE YOUR IMPACT GOES FURTHER

UW Medicine is Washington’s only health system that includes a top-rated medical school and an internationally recognized research center. UW Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care to the people of the region, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists and other health professionals.

All across UW Medicine, our employees collaborate to perform the highest quality work with integrity and compassion and to create a respectful, welcoming environment where every patient, family, student and colleague is valued and honored. Nearly 29,000 healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators work in the UW Medicine family of organizations that includes: Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center - Montlake, UW Medical Center - Northwest, Valley Medical Center, UW Medicine Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, and Airlift Northwest.

Become part of our team. Join our mission to make life healthier for everyone in our community.