Hospital Community Social Worker Liaison

1. Provides a linkage between acute care hospitals and community services, by performing duties such as participating in discharge planning rounds and case conferences to review cases that may require follow-up, following up with patients discharged from the hospital, and meeting with Mental Health case managers to discuss patients currently on caseload, as well as new referrals. Ensures clients being released on Extended Leave are linked with community physician and mental health case manager.
2. Conducts psychosocial assessments, and provides short-term crisis counselling and follow-up treatment, including suicide prevention and intervention, to clients and their families, to reduce demand and bed utilization in hospitals, and to provide care until patients are linked to appropriate community mental health resources. Uses a variety of interviewing, counselling, and assessment methods, in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices. Clients include those who require intensive, transitional care, including those at risk of hospitalization, those not suitable for admission, and patients treated for suicide threats and attempts.
3. Provides referrals, in accordance with established protocols, for mental health clients not requiring hospitalization, to appropriate community treatment alternatives and services. Acts as a resource for patients, families, and other team members.
4. Maintains client records and statistics, prepares reports, and completes forms as required, in accordance with regional policies and standards, including clinical record standards of Mental Health Services. Obtains consent forms for release of client information.
5. Provides mental health community case work information and expertise by attending meetings and participating on committees as required.
6. Participates in research and quality improvement activities by identifying patient care issues, collecting data, and identifying needs and recommendations for corrective action and changes to practices, procedures or protocols.
7. Participates in and attends in-services and other educational programs. Identifies own learning goals and maintains and updates current clinical competence and knowledge within area of practice.
8. Maintains current knowledge in the mental health field, by methods such as reviewing literature in the assigned clinical specialty area, consulting with clinical and community experts within the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities to improve care through new practices.
9. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education, Training & Experience

Graduation from an accredited Social Work program.

Full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.

Two (2) years’ recent, related experience in a community or hospital psychiatric setting, or in a rapid response crisis stabilization function, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and access to personal vehicle with appropriate insurance coverage.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to complete initial and ongoing mental health and substance use client assessment through appropriate/prescribed technical, therapeutic, safety type interventions including crisis intervention.
• Knowledge of mental illness and substance use treatment.
• Counselling and group facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to mental health and substance use practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with clients, families/care givers, the public, medical staff and members of the interprofessional care team.
• Ability to promote person-centered care that demonstrates empathy for clients/families/care givers, sensitivity to diverse cultures and preferences, including advocacy for special populations.
• Ability to educate clients and families/care givers about topics essential to their health care and well-being.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work.
• Ability to collaborate with and promote cooperation among members of the interprofessional care team.
• Ability to use factual information and basic principles and procedures to support clinical decisions and actions with relevant research-based evidence/evidence-informed practice.
• Ability to operate related equipment including relevant computer applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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