HIV Social Worker I

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) brings a synergy between the best medical education, research and patient care. Tomorrow’s discoveries happen right here alongside the very people who bring those lessons to our students. Every bit of knowledge, and every advancement, provides our students with an unprecedented, collaborative learning environment, and helps improve the vitality and care of our communities.

In the role of HIV Social Worker I you will provide community based medical case management social work services to people living with HIV receiving care in the Froedtert Infectious Disease Clinic. Medical social work services may include care coordination, benefits access, treatment adherence, basic health literacy education, prevention, and counseling. To participate as a member of a multidisciplinary team serving a specialized population of HIV patients.

Primary Functions

• Provide medical case management of high acuity people living with HIV, who receive their medical care at Froedtert Milwaukee HIV clinics.
• Navigate social service support systems for people with complex medical and psychosocial needsProvide as needed medical social work services (non-case management needs) to individuals with a diverse range of socially and medically complex needs
• Triage of emergent situations, phone conversations, and the ability to negotiate healthcare and social service systems
• Complete intake assessments and develop appropriate service plans. Utilize referrals as needed
• Interface with multidisciplinary care team including medical providers across health care system
• Provide basic HIV education including disease progression, treatment and prevention to patient’s and their support systems.
• Engage in outreach and linkage to care activities to ensure that patients transitioning between health care systems, remain linked to care.
• Complete documentation requirements for all services provided and participate in clinical supervision/consultation in compliance with all county, state and federal rules.
• Serves as a team member on multidisciplinary medical care team, communicating with team members to ensure comprehensive and quality wrap-around support.

Knowledge – Skills – Abilities

• Knowledge of HIV disease progression and treatment practices, including HIV medications. Understanding of benefits available to HIV-positive patients, pregnant women, children and families and a broad range social service system. Ability to provide mental health screening and appropriate referral, as well as crisis triage and management. Ability to practice as an active participate in an interdisciplinary team member. Sociocultural sensitivity. Ability to respond to clinical and administrative emergencies. Education and/or experience in outpatient interventions in community social service and mental health settings.
• Knowledge of biology, clinical judgment, medicine, cultural awareness, and consulting.
• Medical documentation, interpersonal, practice-based learning and improvement, empathy, and decision making skills.

Position Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Three years’ social work experience is required.
• Certified social worker (State of Wisconsin) required; Certification in Screening and Brief Intervention and Referral (SBIRT), required within one year of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Spanish speaker strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or other Mental Health related field.
• Experience with coordination and care navigation health care systems.
• Experience working with people living with HIV and/or experience in an outpatient clinic setting strongly preferred.
• Certification in Motivational Interviewing.