Hospice Social Worker

Overview

Work Where You Matter! ix Hospice we guide patients and families through the end-of-life journey. Through compassionate care, we focus on our patient’s quality of life, empowering them to make the most of their time with dignity, comfort and respect. If you are ready to be part of an extraordinary team of caregivers, then come work where you matter.

Essential Functions And Skills

• Assess the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient’s terminal illness and environment and communicate findings to the Registered Nurse and other members of the interdisciplinary care team. Provide an assessment in the patient’s identified residence and assist when this is not safe and another plan is required.
• Carry out social evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, suicide risk, neglect, or abuse, and plan intervention based on evaluation findings.
• Counsel patients and family/caregivers as needed in relation to stress and other identified coping difficulties. Provide crisis intervention when necessary.
• Provide ongoing bereavement support to individuals identified as moderate or high-risk.
• Assess any special needs related to the culture of the patient and family while educating the interdisciplinary care team. Include communication, role of family, space, and any special traditions or cultural considerations.
• Work under the supervision of a Master’s Prepared Social Worker (MSW).
• Maintain clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
• Educate patients and families and assist in the preparation of advanced directives.
• Provide information and referral services for patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs.
• Provide information to patients and families/caregivers regarding and serve as a liaison to community agencies.
• Maintain and develop contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and personnel.
• Participate in the development of the individualized plan of care, involving the patient and family, and attend regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings, assisting the team in recognizing the effects of psychosocial stresses on the symptoms of the terminal illness.
• Assist physicians and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems and death/dying issues.
• Assist Bereavement leadership in maintaining a program to meet the needs of families/caregivers for 13 months following the death of a patient to ensure compliance with all state, federal, and CHAP regulatory requirements.
• Ensure the initial bereavement assessment is completed or assigned to an appropriate team member in a timely manner.
• Assist Chaplain in making condolence calls to the bereaved as needed.
• Assist with maintaining, organizing, and updating bereavement support group schedules.
• Assist family and patient in planning funeral arrangements, financial, legal, and health care decision responsibilities.
• Maintain compliance with all HIPAA regulations and requirements. Treat all patient information as confidential and utilize protected health information on a minimum necessary basis.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in social work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Current licensed in the state(s) of practice
• Five licensure levels:
• Certified Social Worker (CSW)
• Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (CAPSW)
• Certified Independent Social Worker (CISW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Social Work Training Certificate (SWTC)
• Social Workers can have compact licenses.
• Ability to pass background, consumer report, and drug test.
• Valid State Driver’s License, access to an automobile in good working order, automobile insurance in accordance with state and organizational requirements, and an acceptable driving record required.

• Master’s degree in social work, preferred.
• 1+ years of social work experience in a health care setting.
• 1+ years of experience in a healthcare setting.

The physical requirements described are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made.

• Pushing/Pulling and lifting/carrying up to 12 pounds. Occasionally up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to adapt to a variety of work conditions to ensure the highest quality of patient care in a home setting.