Medical University of South Carolina – MUSC
Job Description SummaryThe Licensed Social Worker Leadership position will lead a team of social workers and other dementia care navigators that is part of the newly formed South Carolina Alzheimer’s Network (SCAN). SCAN is a multi-site clinical program at MUSC Health designed to provide patients with cognitive disorders an early and accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, longitudinal co-management with primary care, access to the new Alzheimer’s disease medications, and access to the latest research.
This full-time, on-site position requires the incumbent to actively participate in and lead the psychosocial and safety assessment process of SCAN patients. The position will play a crucial role in developing and implementing protocols for the creation of patients’ care plans and serve as the liaison between the SCAN care team and Primary Care Providers. They will also lead the development of training materials for other dementia care social workers and navigators, and oversee their training.
The ideal candidate will have significant experience in dementia care and a proven track record of effective leadership in a healthcare setting. This person will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges faced by patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders and their families, and will be committed to providing comprehensive, person-centered care.
This role constitutes a full-time, remote/virtual position requiring the incumbent to engage actively in the initial assessment process of SCAN patients. The position will be vital in fulfilling the patient’s psychosocial needs and serve as the liaison between the patient, the SCAN care team, and the Primary Care Physician. The chosen candidate will receive formal training on various topics related to caring for patients with cognitive disorders.
The person filling this position will be part of an interdisciplinary team working to achieve these goals. This candidate will have ample opportunity to collaborate with other team members and primary care providers to enhance the care of dementia patients and their families. The ideal candidate is an individual looking to optimize their practice while thriving within a team-based environment.
EntityUniversity Medical Associates (UMA) Only Employees and Financials
Worker TypeEmployee
Worker Sub-TypeRegular
Cost CenterCC000985 COM Neurology CC
Pay Rate TypeSalary
Pay GradeHealth-31
Scheduled Weekly Hours40
Work Shift
Job Description
The ideal candidate will have significant experience in dementia care and a proven track record of effective leadership in a healthcare setting. This person will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges faced by patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders and their families, and will be committed to providing comprehensive, person-centered care.
Licensed Social Worker Job Duties:
- Clinical Evaluation 35%:
- Assess the psychosocial needs of patients and their caregivers through history taking, identify normal and abnormal findings.
- Coordinate person-centered care planning for SCAN clients through consultation and coordination of the interdisciplinary team to improve identified patient outcomes.
- Employ strategies for managing behavioral and psychosocial symptoms of dementia.
- Assist beneficiaries in advance care planning.
- Establish communication strategies for persons with dementia and their caregivers.
- Creates a patient and caregiver specific care plan that is adjusted as patient care needs change.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Care Coordination 30%:
- Support the coordination of medical care and community services, including communication with clinical providers, supporting beneficiaries in transitions between settings, accessing community-based services and supports such as respite services, and working with case managers and other coordinators to address gaps and duplication in a beneficiary’s community-based services and support.
- Work closely with the SCAN ACC and MTC to ensure optimal longitudinal care.
- Facilitate referrals to community-based services, including respite care and support groups.
- Immediately grasp deviations from the expected range of patient/family responses and accurately provide interventions to improve outcomes.
- Ensure all testing/referrals are complete and that the necessary items are addressed with the provider.
- Monitor patient progress and adjust care plans as necessary.
- Leadership and Management 35%:
- Lead and manage the SCAN dementia care social worker/navigator team, which includes social workers and nurses.
- Work to SCAN leadership on team development, training, and evaluation of clinical team positions, including training in team dynamics, assessment of the positions, and assistance in team effectiveness.
- Work with SCAN leadership in developing and implementing patient and family-facing support programs and community-facing programs, such as guiding how we interact with organizations focused on dementia care.
- Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of caregiver support programs.
- Interact with the SCAN Director to develop weekly agenda items for Core Leadership discussion, action, and evaluation.
- Participate in the Core program’s policy statements and promulgation, including interaction with MUSC legislative lobbying resources.
- Participate in the development and evaluation of protocols and guidelines for dementia care.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant Medicare program requirements, including the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) initiative
This is a fulltime position that will be performed during normal business hours Monday-Friday on location. Flexibility in hours and location (e.g., work from home) to accommodate the candidates schedule may be possible if they do not interfere with SCAN operations.
Core Requirements:
- Licensed Social Worker in Clinical Practice(LCSW or equivalent) with a current and valid license.
- Significant experience working with Alzheimer’s disease patients and their families.
- Fluent in English