Job Description

Job Description

Responsibilities

The Discharge Planner assumes responsibility for the overall discharge planning needs and placement of the patient. This includes aftercare needs, advocacy needs, housing referrals, and entitlement needs.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work or related mental health field.

Experience:

* A minimum of two (2) years direct clinical experience in a psychiatric or mental health setting.
* Direct experience in patient/family assessment.
* Experience in working with programs and outside referrals preferred.

Additional Requirements: Employee must have a good understanding of resources in the community. Employee must be able to work with difficult populations diagnosed with mental illness. Employee is willing to work flexible hours. Employee will obtain CPR, first aid, Handle with Care, and Verbal De-Escalation certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

* Ability to supervise other discharge planners and discharge planning function.
* Train Case Managers individually and in group trainings on discharge planning.
* Manage transportation costs for the hospital.
* Develop and utilize a discharge resource book identifying community resources i.e. social service resources available in the community for patients.
* Review all new admissions and meet with patients admitted from the previous day and complete discharge planning assessment to determine all discharge planning needs as indicated by treatment team.
* Review cases with the Case Manager involved and manage the needs of the patient throughout treatment experience and determine placement outcomes.
* Attend treatment plan meetings and maintain documentation and intervention for treatment planning.
* Communicate all discharge planning issues with all members of the treatment team.
* Communicate all discharge planning with the client, family, inpatient and outpatient community team, and UR.
* Communicate regularly with outpatient providers.
* Ensure ROI is complete.
* Communicate effectively with referral sources, health care team members, and community providers regarding client status and progress.
* Document all patient contacts and discharge plans in the medical records.
* Assist patient with phone calls, appointments, and aftercare needs.
* Educate patients on the need for aftercare placement.
* Maintain the discharge calendar to assure proper discharge plans are arranged prior to the patient leaving the facility.
* Coordinate pending discharge plans.
* Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent and adult).
* Performs other duties assigned by the Manager of Social Services.
* Ability to use good judgment and to maintain confidentiality of information:
* Maintain confidentiality in compliance with professional ethics according to professional and facility standards.
* Ability to accept direction and adhere to organization policies and procedures.
* Participate in performance improvement projects and activities at the hospital.
* Ability to orient new colleagues and students
* Proficiency in the following areas:
* planning and organizing
* time management - organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines
* computer skills - operate office equipment
* Effective oral and written communication skills
* Ability to communicate effectively with clients and co-workers
* Ability to work as a team player
* Skills in telephone etiquette and paging procedures
* Ability to maintain records, and prepare reports and correspondence related to the work.
* Possess good interpersonal skills, be customer-service oriented, show reliability and initiative, demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience and dedication