PSS Social Worker

APLA Health provides quality healthcare, life-saving services, camaraderie, compassion, and comfort to all who come through our doors. Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals is committed to providing personalized and compassionate free and low-cost medical services, tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of each individual we serve. APLA Health serves as a medical home providing an array of integrated healthcare services through 71,000+ billable patient visits and nearly 10,000 enabling services visits each year. Services provided include: medical, dental, behavioral health and HIV care; pharmacy; PrEP counseling and management; health education and HIV prevention; and STD screening and treatment. For people living with HIV, APLA Health offers housing support; benefits counseling; home healthcare; and the Vance North Necessities of Life Program food pantries; among several other critical support services.

 We offer great benefits, competitive pay, and great working environment!  

We offer:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance 
• Vision Insurance 
• Long Term Disability
• Group Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 4 Personal Days
• 10 Vacation Days
• 12 Sick Days
• Metro reimbursement or free parking
• Employer Matched (6%) 403b Retirement Plan
   

This is a great opportunity to make a difference!

Requisition #: 51989

Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8AM – 5PM

Onsite or Hybrid: Hybrid – Will need to go in the field to conduct visits 

Bilingual (English/Spanish): No

This position will pay $36.04 - $45.62  hourly. Salary is commensurate with experience.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Program Manager, PSS/MCC, the Patient Support Services (PSS) Social Worker will provide the appropriate level of coordinated health care services for patients of APLA Health & Wellness. This position will focus on especially on APLA Health patients that have difficulty staying engaged in primary and HIV medical care due to psychosocial stressors including homelessness, post-traumatic response and other mental health challenges, and/or complicated medical co-morbidities.  The PSS Social Worker will connect and engage patients primarily in clinical settings or, as needed, in their homes or elsewhere in the community.   Using a Trauma-Informed lens, the PSS Social Worker will outreach and engage patients, complete screenings, link to APLA Health resources that patients may be eligible for and, as necessary, provide on-going assessment, case planning, and direct case management.  The PSS Social Worker will provide services through the Division of HIV and STD prevention. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Help impacted patients navigate and link to APLA Health resources that they may be eligible for including, Benefits, Housing, and other HIV+ support services.
• Provide referrals, advocacy, and service information to patients, as needed.
• Use the Transtheoretical model of behavior change to support improved health outcomes for patients including treatment engagement and retention, medication adherence, risk reduction, and health provider communication.
• Maintain ongoing contact with patients and monitor progress related to goals set in the intervention plan. 
• Coordinate and communicate among members of the patient’s care team including medical providers, mental health/addiction providers, allied health, community resources, and other team members.  Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences for assigned case management patients.
• Document services in eClinicalWorks, e2LA, and/or other charting and data collection systems as appropriate.  Documentation will be performed in a timely and accurate fashion in accordance with program policies and professional standards of care.
• Adhere to all applicable professional, legal, and ethical standards of behavioral health practice in the provision of services, including but not limited to:  mandated reporting, provision of effective services, case documentation, patient confidentiality/HIPAA regulations, ensuring patient safety, and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Attend trainings and case conference meetings as required.
• Prepare monthly reports and statistics as requested.

OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED TO MEET BUSINESS NEEDS.

REQUIREMENTS:

Training and Experience:

• A Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field from an accredited social work program.
• At least one year of experience providing care coordination or case management in either a clinical or a community-based setting. 
• Specific training/experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS preferred. 
• Ability to provide service to individuals with diverse economic, social, racial, and cultural backgrounds
• Experience in working with culturally diverse communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to individuals who may not share basic commonalities, including value systems and behavior norms. 

Knowledge of:

• Interviewing and crisis management techniques 
• Psychosocial and mental health factors affecting quality of life 
• Data management; 
• HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, and substance use disorders
• Health education principles and program evaluation. 

Ability to:

• Identify and implement outreach and engagement strategies
• Respond effectively to client crisis situations
• Interview and assess needs of clients
• Develop individual service plans aimed toward resolving client needs
• Communicate effectively, both written and verbally
• Work well under tight deadlines
• Coordinate multiple tasks
• Learn specific systems quickly and thoroughly
• Communicate effectively with a diverse population;
• Identify and update community resources;
• Proofread, edit and format written materials;
• Conduct group presentations, operate standard office equipment including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); and meet assigned deadlines.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

This is both a clinic-based and field-based position that requires only occasional bending, reaching, stooping, lifting and moving of office materials weighing 25 pounds or less. The position requires daily use of a personal computer and requires entering, viewing, and revising text and graphics on the computer terminal and on paper. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess a valid California driver’s license; proof of auto liability insurance; and have the use of a personal vehicle for work related purposes. COVID vaccination and booster or medical/religious exemption.

Equal Opportunity Employer.