Social Worker for Street Medicine

The Department of Family Medicine of the Keck School of Medicine of USC provides care for every member of the family, across generations and over lifetimes. We aim to enhance the quality of life for underserved and vulnerable patients while educating future generations of highly skilled, compassionate primary care specialists. Our goal is to combine education, patient advocacy, and evidence-based research to advance family medicine and geriatrics.

USC Street Medicine is seeking a Clinical Social Worker to work on a multi-disciplinary Primary Care team to provide complex Case Management and Mental Health services for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles.  The ideal candidate must have a commitment to providing high-quality care for complex patients, be dedicated to working and developing a collaborative team model of care, and have experience working with both Case Management and Mental Health.

This is a full-time, in-person position in Alhambra, CA and in the field. There is no hybrid or remote schedule.

The schedule is M-F, 8a-4p.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Providing Complex Case Management and Mental Health Services to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles City Council District 1.
• Attend planning and coordination meetings with CD1 team.
• Mental Health Assessments, Diagnosis and Treatment (Therapy) – minimum of 20 patients per month.
  • Consult with USC Street Medicine Psychiatrist as needed
  • Consult with LCSW as appropriate
• Case Management minimum of 20 patients per month.
• Participate in monthly Mental Health case conference review with Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine
• Housing navigation and referrals – 10 per month
• If Clinical Social Worker is at least 1 year post-graduation from MSW, may support  supervision of MSW Intern when working in CD1.
• Performs Crisis Intervention for patients on assigned team, or by phone in support of other teams as needed.

• Conducts follow-ups with patients via phone calls, encampment visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be found. 
• Recognizes changes in the patient’s physical and mental condition, takes appropriate action by notifying physician and/or nursing supervisor.
• Maintains files and records, oversees equipment and office supply inventory. Photocopies, collates, faxes, distributes, mails, performs errands. Reads and prioritizes incoiming mail. Handles or routes as appropriate.
• Provides comprehensive medical record documentation that reflects all aspects of care provided during each encounter, including patient history, and treatments. Accurately and completely documents data for billing purposes.
• Promotes security by alerting appropriate personnel for safety, fire and other unsafe situations. Reports any unusual occurrences to supervisor.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of crisis intervention, interviewing techniques, psychosocial problems as well as principals and practices of counseling and case management documentation process.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill necessary to provide individualized interventions and services to promote restoration of health and achievement of patient health goals.
• Demonstrate an understanding of age-related and cultural needs of individuals served.
• Provides client care coordination in a manner that is non-discriminatory and non-judgmental
• Works cooperatively with other clinical personnel and exhibits excellent working relations with patients, visitors, and staff, effectively communicating Street Medicine's mission
• Act as a patient advocate and liaison between the patient and community agencies (i.e., Housing for Health, Department of Human Services, hospitals, etc.) and ensures that patient needs are met with rights maintained; consults and collaborates with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Works closely with Street Medicine Social Work Manager, Non-Clinical Social Worker, Registered Nurses, Physician/Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner, and several team members of the multi-disciplinary team

Additional duties as needed.

Oversight:

• Clinical Social Worker would report to LCSW
• Clinical Supervision hours will be provided by faculty Psychiatrist, fulfilling the supervision requirements for ACSW candidates working towards LCSW licensure.

Minimum Education:

• Master’s of Social Work

Required License/Certification:

• Must have ACSW or LCSW

• BLS for Healthcare Provider

Preferred Experience/Knowledge:

• 1 Year Clinical Social Work which may include; Healthcare settings, homeless services, direct mental health therapy, Substance use support programs, and/or direct practice in Child Welfare. Experience should demonstrate the ability to assess patient needs, develop and implement care plans, intrapersonal skills and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure best outcomes. Must have keen observational, decision-making, and communication skills. Ability to follow orders and work independently within scope of practice. Knowledge of trauma informed care, case managment, and relevant community resources is strongly preferred.

The annual base salary range for this position is $82,072.20 - $88,194.31. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

Minimum Education: Master's degree Social Work Minimum Licenses: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or LCSW eligible. Minimum Experience: 2 years Addtional Experience Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum work experience Minimum Skills: Experience in social work. Preferred Licenses: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Preferred Experience: 5 years Preferred Skills: Experience in clinical social work in university or industrial environment.