Family Services Coordinator; Social Worker​/Bereavement Counselor

Overview

New England Donor Services (NEDS) coordinates organ and tissue donation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, the eastern counties of Vermont and Bermuda. NEDS collaborates with over 200 hospitals and serves nearly 15 million people in our region, screening nearly 55,000 potential donor referrals annually. With approximately $150M in operating revenues, NEDS employs 387 clinical and non-clinical staff members.

Our mission is to save lives through organ and tissue donation. Our vision is to be a leader in developing and implementing strategies to increase the life-saving gifts of donation through effective relationships with clinical partners, donor families and the communities we serve. We have been recognized by the Boston Globe as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts ).

Are you a compassionate individual that enjoys meaningful work and making a positive difference in people’s lives? If so, we want to connect with you!

Position: Family Services Coordinator (FSC)

Travel: Will be required to travel a significant amount throughout New England. Mileage and other reimbursements available. Ideal candidate will live within 1 hour of Portland, Maine.

The FSC is an empathetic, respectful and skilled professional dedicated to the NEDS mission of saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation. The FSC assists hospitals 365 days a year to support collaborative donation processes (CDP) to ensure that potential donor families are offered the opportunity for donation. FSCs fulfill a call schedule that provides coverage to the entire NEDS service area.

• Fulfills an on-call schedule, including some weekends and holidays.
• Responds to new and open referrals in hospitals to offer donor families the opportunity for organ and tissue donation.
• May conduct donation discussions by phone as appropriate.
• Educates donor families to understand and accept the diagnosis of death as described by the primary care physician.
• In the absence of donor designation, assesses the patient’s legal next-of-kin’s readiness to engage in a discussion for donation.
• Advocates for donation while respecting cultural and religious beliefs.
• Maintains an authorization rate that demonstrates best-practice skills in obtaining authorization.
• Completes all required documentation regarding approach and authorization.
• Provides initial follow-up to donor families after donation.
• Performs other duties as deemed appropriate by leadership.

• Participates in required meetings and trainings if not responding to a case.
• Checks email at least daily unless on planned benefit time.
• Completes assigned trainings within defined timelines.

The schedule is 12 on-call shifts per month. Shifts begin at 0600 and end at 2400 (18-hour shifts). Some cases may require staying on-site past 2400. Orientation plan includes 4 shifts per month plus didactic training. A week in the Waltham office for new hire orientation is required.

• Ability to work empathetically and professionally with families in crisis, provide education on organ and tissue donation, and advocate for donation while respecting family circumstances.
• Strong communication skills and ability to develop effective professional relationships and adapt to organizational culture.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret donor medical records; conduct and document medical/social histories.
• Strong clinical assessment and crisis intervention skills.
• Computer skills in Word, Excel, Outlook and ability to learn internal systems (e.g., True North).

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work, health sciences or related field; or significant equivalent experience in another OPO.
• Experience in hospice care, bereavement counseling, pastoral counseling, crisis intervention or social work preferred.
• Previous hospital experience preferred.

• CPE, Social Work License preferred.
• Required to travel by personal vehicle; must maintain eligibility with vehicle and MVR standards; valid state driver’s license required.