Lead Social Services Consultant

Lead Social Services Consultant

SUPERVISOR:  Social Services Supervisor

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REVISED: 7/2025

SUMMARY: The Lead Social Services Consultant performs all of the same functions as a Social Services Consultant (SSC), and also fulfills an important leadership role within the team. As valued members of our care team, SSCs meet directly with patients in person or over the phone, to address patient needs. SSCs assist patients in signing up for medical insurance, and help to link them to many needed services in the community (including transportation assistance, food assistance, and referrals for help with utility bills, legal issues, etc.). SSCs work closely with the medical, behavioral and community health departments to serve our patients in a collaborative and holistic way. This innovative model of care is designed to reduce barriers and maximize access to services for those in our community. The Lead Social Services Consultant additionally provides overall leadership to the Social Services team, working closely with the supervisor to provide mentorship and training to other SSCs, and to identify and implement opportunities to improve service delivery.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Patient Contact

   1. Responsible for a caseload of patients assigned by supervisor

   2. Facilitate patient access to resources to address ancillary issues within medical context

   3. Respond quickly to urgent/emergent needs

   4. Plan and execute appropriate patient follow-up, including special emphasis for patients involved with HIV or other care management at EHC.

   5. Demonstrate appropriate professional boundaries with patients

• End patient appointments on time with both kindness and firmness

• Assume tasks that are within scope of SSM role only

1. Confidentiality

   1. Maintain patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and EHC standards outlined in the EHC Employee Handbook

2. Health Insurance

   1. Proactively pursue health insurance options for uninsured patients, completing, recording and submitting all education, assistance, and enrollment efforts.

   2. Follow up to assist patients who have applied for insurance but are experiencing barriers to obtaining insurance.

3. HIV Counseling and Testing

   1. Meet HIV testing and counseling guidelines as established by EHC instructor

   2. Be available for testing as assigned

4. Teamwork with Own Team and Across Teams to Provide Patient Care

   1. Demonstrate effective teamwork skills

   2. Actively participate in Care Team Conference, being prepared to discuss patients

5. Documentation

1. Document patient records within 24 hours of contact with or on behalf of patients, including face-to-face, phone, or collateral contact; HIV testing and counseling, referrals

2. Complete all required HIV or other specialized documents according to timelines provided

3. Monitor outstanding referrals in a timely manner, documenting same

1. Collaboration

1. Be available to represent EHC at community and EHC events

2. Initiate or participate in internal efforts which focus on a specific area of patient need, potentially collaborating with EHC clinicians, Behavioral Health Consultants, other staff

3.     Function as a liaison with agencies to increase occasions for integration of services

4. Meet with community organizations to network and learn new resources

5. Travel to local medical facilities, such as hospitals, to deliver checks or other documents needed to facilitate patient care.

1. Spiritual and Holistic Care

   1. Provide spiritual intervention: share scriptures and hope and salvation in Jesus Christ, pray with patients, refer patients to churches and EHC Chaplains

   2. Serve all patients in a Christ-like manner, even spiritually disinterested patients, with respect, humility, love, and self-control.

2. Development and Dissemination of Resources

   1. Participate in the development and identification of resources for patients and others

   2. Disseminate resource information to staff and patients which may benefit patients

3. Professional Development

   1. Obtain/maintain any required federal and state certification as an Affordable Care Act Certified Application Counselor within timeline and deadlines

   2. Obtain HIV counseling certification through AACO as scheduled by supervisor or designee

   3. Obtain/maintain fingerprinting and clearances as required under PA Act 7 within timeline

   4. Participate actively and productively in individual and group supervision as scheduled

   5. Commensurate with experience and skills, identify and resolve problems without unusual need for supervisory input

   6. Attend training as assigned to expand expertise regarding patient needs and resources 

   7. Learn about social service trends and effectively prepare to meet anticipated changes

4. Additional Responsibilities

1. Participate in devotions, prayer meeting, all staff meeting and trainings, and retreats regularly

2. Adhere to the standards and rules of conduct as set forth in the EHC Employee Handbook 

3. Suggest improvements to EHC and work to help implement improvement

4. Complete other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Must possess High School diploma; Bachelor’s degree, preferred (degree in social work or related human services field). 

• Must be able to communicate in fluent English and fluent Spanish

• Must have at least two years social services or related experience.

• Must be able to obtain/maintain any required federal and state certifications as an Affordable care Act Certified Application Counselor and certification through AACO

• Demonstrated knowledge of health care and related systems, churches and community organizations, especially those with focus on the Latino community

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and cultural competence, including interacting respectfully and politely, even with those who are impolite

• Demonstrated ability to remain calm in a chaotic situation

• Demonstrated ability to work on teams, handle multiple details and priorities, and organize/process details

• Possess a solid record re confidentiality and demonstrate trustworthiness, honesty in all transactions

• Possess positive character and professional references

• Ability to travel to and work at all EHC sites as assigned

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Ability to work at multi-story sites with stairs but no elevators.

• Ability to sit for long periods at a desk and work on a computer.

• Ability to lift office materials and equipment weighing 10-25 lbs.