Clinical Social Worker - Hospice of Washington

Hospice of Washington County

Location:

Serving Hagerstown, MD and Pennsylvania.

Under general supervision, provides supportive services to the patient/family unit of care. Provides assistance in adjustment to illness and grief, addressing personal, financial and environmental difficulties, which occur with end of life.

Master’s degree in Social Work from a university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Licensed in the State of Maryland as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (LCSW-C). Advanced licensure for LMSWs is required within 3 years of the start date, supervision provided.

One year of social work experience in a health care setting.

• Interpersonal skills necessary to effectively engage patients and families in a constructive therapeutic relationship and to effectively collaborate with colleagues.
• Analytical skills necessary to assess client needs, to establish a plan of care and to effect appropriate interventions.
• Time management skills and discipline required to efficiently and effectively provide social work case management services.
• Ability to read and write the English language in order to complete required professional documentation and correspondence.

• Employee has knowledge and understanding of patient and workforce safety as it relates to job duties.

• Demonstrates competency in the delivery of care and applies the knowledge to meet age‑specific needs if applicable.
• Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
• Interviews hospice patients and their family members to obtain a psychosocial assessment relevant to the terminal illness, assesses family members regarding risk for complicated grief and intervenes as appropriate.
• Develops a plan of care appropriate to identified problems and coordinates with the interdisciplinary team members to implement the plan of care. Attends interdisciplinary group meetings.
• Provides complex social work services including individual, family and group modalities and other recognized psychosocial therapies in assisting hospice patients and family members in adjustment to illness.
• Provides interpretation of the patient’s and family member’s behavior, related to illness and psychosocial factors, for patient, family members and staff in order to help understand behavioral changes. Offers suggestions for modifying behavior as needed.
• Assesses patient and family’s initial plan for location of care, facilitates alternative planning and links with appropriate community and financial resources to support care giving plan.
• Provides an advocacy role for patients and their family members to help communicate their concerns through the medical model.
• Maintains records on social work and bereavement risk assessments, problems, plans, progress and termination in the hospice records according to the program policy.
• Provides educational in‑services on the psychosocial needs of the hospice patient/family to the hospice staff and other agencies as needed and as requested and participates in the orientation and training of volunteers and provides support to volunteers as appropriate.

I will treat everyone with courtesy. I will foster a healing environment.

• Treat others with fairness, kindness, and respect for personal dignity and privacy.
• Listens and responds appropriately to others’ needs, feelings, and capabilities.

I will strive for superior performance in every aspect of my work. I will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of others.

• Meets and/or exceeds customer expectations.
• Actively pursues learning and self-development.
• Pays attention to detail; follows through.

I will be professional in the way I act, look and speak. I will take ownership to solve problems.

• Sets a positive, professional example for others.
• Takes ownership of problems and does what is needed to solve them.
• Appropriately plans and utilizes required resources for various job duties.
• Reports to work regularly and on time.

I will be engaged and…