MSW, LCSW Hospice Social Worker

Job Overview

This positionprovides a range of clinical social work services to patients/clients and families in inpatient, ambulatory and community settings utilizing individual, family or group modalities and practicing within the guidelines of professional social work ethics and standards.Participates in a multi-discipline case conferences. Consult with agency care providers regarding social service needs of clients and families.

• Provides psychosocial assessment of the individual and family, including limitations, deficits and strengths in their current situation and environment, as well as functional level.

• Responsible for psychosocial assessments and interventions in crisis situations that often involve issues of suicide, homicide, family violence, elder or child abuse.

• Demonstrates sound clinical judgment in assessing the patient's needs for long-term care, including evaluating the home and family situation, helping the patient and family to develop an in-home care plan, exploring alternatives to in-home care and arranging for placement if necessary.

• Provides information, referral and creative resource acquisition for specific individual and family needs both within the Hospital and in the community as indicated. Assists patients/families to understand psychosocial factors impeding their maximal utilization of hospital and community resources.

• Collaborates with and provides psychosocial consultation to the health care team to promote a smooth, coordinated plan of care.

• Provides medical social services to the patient’s family member or caregiver on a short-term basis when necessary to remove a clear and direct impediment to the effective treatment of the patient’s medical condition or rate of recovery.

• Treats patients and families with dignity and respect at all times. Offers time for questions and answers; demonstrates empathy in communication while working toward optimal health goals.

• Provides outreach, case finding/screening for high-risk issues that may impact on patient's progress, participation in plan, discharge or ability to utilize resources.

• Assists with discharge planning issues to ensure continuity of care. Formulates, coordinates and implements the psychosocial components of outpatient care.

• Consults, collaborates and communicates with a wide range of social, governmental and legal agencies, courts, schools, clinics, other hospitals, physicians and other sources.

• Actively engages in the regularly scheduled meetings, programs and activities of the Department. Serves on departmental committees. Represents the profession and Department in hospital and community meetings and committees.

• Participates in social work professional education, supervision and teaching activities; supervises or trains staff social workers, student interns, house staff, nurses, medical students, and volunteers as required.

• Continually monitors, assesses and modifies his/her own social work practice and programs. Conducts quality improvement activities and research regarding service delivery and effectiveness of interventions, as required.

• Ensures compliance within guidelines set forth by regulatory agencies (DPH, ERISA etc.) and demonstrates compliance with Home Health Foundation policies and procedures.