**Summary**

The Social Worker is an integral member of the Evernorth Care Group’s Care Management (CM) Department. The CM team, is integrated into the primary care team at Evernorth Care Group (ENCG) Healthcare Centers and support clinicians to improve the health of the patients we serve, with a focus on the management of high- and rising-risk, disease-burdened patients.

This position provides professional, courteous, and friendly assistance to ENCG patients as they engage in the care delivery system. The Social Worker provides the patient with supports and services to address need, acts as a strong patient advocate, and helps to break down barriers to care. The Social Worker forms strong relationships with patients by guiding them through challenging situations and addressing social needs.

The Social Worker is an integral part the patient care team which includes the Primary Care Provider, Nurses, Care Managers, Care Navigators, Integrated Behavioral Health Clinicians and Clinical Pharmacy. They use various tools and guidelines to ensure patients are engaged in self-advocacy, informed decision-making, and have access to community resources.

**Duties**

+ Acts as a community resource expert for all patients, regardless of lines of business.

+ Coordinate with patient’s medical and behavioral providers to ensure a holistic care plan.

+ Assist with coordination of care of the high-risk, most complex cases, providing brief behavioral health interventions using evidenced-based techniques.

+ Coordinate care for identified patients with comorbidities in collaboration with the provider.

+ Connects patients/family with financial resources such as AHCCCS/ALTCs when long term placement needs are identified.

+ Screen and assess patients for common mental health and substance use disorders, leveraging evidence- based tools, as well as consider social determinants of health and comorbid medical conditions.

+ Refer patients with mental health issues to appropriate plan resources or state funded mental health services.

+ Communicates effectively during complex or emotional patient interactions, utilizing negotiation skills to facilitate patient outcomes.

+ Evaluate the effectiveness of alternative care services to ensure that cost effective, quality care is maintained.

+ Partner with plan and community resources to initiate referrals that address social determinants of health needs and follow-up to evaluate efficacy of the referral.

+ Document patient progress in the electronic medical record.

+ Participate in clinical team meetings as assigned.

+ Work independently, receiving direction from manager or team leader for new or unprecedented situations.

+ Provide in-services to care management team (and others) on community resources and federally funded programs that can assist chronically ill patients.

**Minimum Qualifications**

+ Current, unrestricted license(s) issued by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (LMSW or LCSW ) required

+ Three years clinical practice experience

+ Knowledge of medical terminology

+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills

+ Excellent customer service skills

+ Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills

**Preferred Qualifications**

+ EPIC EMR experience

+ Bilingual - Spanish speaking

+ Experience working in a medical setting

+ Experience with population health management

Reports to: Care Management Manager

Direct Reports: None

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

**About The Cigna Group**

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

_Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws._

_If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the online application process, please email:_ [email protected]_ _for support. Do not email_ [email protected]_ _for an update on your application or to provide your resume as you will not receive a response._

_The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State._

_Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner_ _consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances._