Family Support Specialist

LifeCenter Northwest • Anchorage, AK

4d • $83,918 - $121,715 • Onsite

About The Position

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is LifeCenter Northwest’s (LifeCenter) clinical expert on assessment, intervention, and communication with donor families, focused on driving authorization for organ donation. The FSS embodies the belief that donation can have a positive impact on donor families and models this attitude in all interactions with potential donor families, health care teams, and LifeCenter employees. As the subject matter expert on navigating trauma, shock, loss, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, the FSS is relied upon for optimizing opportunities for supportive interactions with donor families. This includes conducting a thorough assessment of a potential donor family before determining the most appropriate time to introduce organ donation. The FSS will lead the Donation Conversation with the goal of addressing a potential donor family’s needs in order to enable authorization for organ donation. Following authorization for donation, the FSS will support donor families throughout the donation process, in collaboration with other members of the FS team. The FSS will be responsible for contributing to a culture of growth and development through thoughtful reflection of their own practice and aiding in the training of their teammates.

Requirements

• KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES
• Experience with crisis intervention, trauma informed care, and an understanding of the impacts of grief, end of life, and trauma on nervous system regulation.
• Ability to work with families/legal next of kin from diverse backgrounds and support them through the organ donation process.
• Experience utilizing specific methods for working with individuals or families facing crisis, trauma, or end of life, including Motivational Interviewing, Crisis Intervention Model, Solution Focused Therapy, etc.
• Experience managing heightened behavior and effectively utilizing de-escalation techniques to reduce harm to the individual, LifeCenter and hospital staff, and others involved.
• Skill in navigating persistent change and dynamic, challenging environments. In this capacity, and with the influence this position carries across the organization, this individual must actively foster an organizational culture based on collaboration, support, and constructive communication (e.g., organization skills, ability to work effectively under deadline constraints, effective written and verbal communication skills, judgment and problem-solving skills, education and training skills).
• Must possess excellent knowledge of writing and editing standards, including grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary.
• Must demonstrate operating knowledge of computers with a demonstrable, intermediate level skill (at a minimum) with email, Word, Excel, and other comparable software programs.
• BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS
• The employee in this position must uphold the core values of LifeCenter; these include: Integrity: We are trustworthy, reliable, respectful, and accountable. Collaboration: We work in partnership with others, seeking to understand and be understood, and finding common ground and shared goals to build upon together. Courage: We take personal responsibility and face challenges head-on. Service: Through professionalism and dedication, we honor our commitment to serve others and our obligation to be good stewards of the gift of life
• Physical Activities/Requirements
• This position requires on-call responsibilities and travel is essential to this position; consequently, the employee must be prepared to travel by automobile and aircraft within and outside the LifeCenter service area. This position requires the ability to effectively operate phones, computers, and other office equipment. May require the ability to operate specialized equipment, such as audio-visual equipment. The individual must have the ability to communicate clearly in English to accurately convey information and be able to hear at normal speaking levels both in person and over the phone. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Generally, working conditions do not require exposure to hazardous materials nor extremes in health and safety hazards. Work is normally performed in an office or hospital setting as well as other business environments. This position is required to follow hospital immunization, health screening, and background check requirements. Immunizations and tests will be provided by LifeCenter as required. The employee is required to move or lift up to 50 pounds with or without assistance.
• ANTICIPATED TIME COMMITMENT
• This position requires on-call availability, night, weekend work, holidays, and may have to work extended shifts. Some duties are required to be completed outside of call schedule.
• EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & JOB REQUIREMENTS
• Master’s degree required in Social Work, mental health, or related field.
• Licensed Social Work Associate & Independent Clinical (LSWAIC) preferred.
• A minimum of two years' relevant industry experience may be considered as a substitute for education.
• Experience in an Organ Procurement Organization with proven success obtaining authorization for organ donation may be considered a substitute for education.
• 2 years' experience in clinical assessment, intervention, and crisis response with individuals or families experiencing trauma and/or bereavement required.
• Experience working with individuals or families in a hospital setting preferred.
• Requires a valid driver’s license and access to an insured automobile
• Requires a real ID or passport to allow for air travel as needed.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or applicable medical or religious exemption will be required as a condition of employment upon offer

Nice To Haves

• Licensed Social Work Associate & Independent Clinical (LSWAIC) preferred.
• Experience working with individuals or families in a hospital setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Authorization for Donation and Donor Family Support
• Assessment of Potential Donor Family
• Execute expert comprehensive assessment of potential donor family dynamics, including psychosocial, cultural, and community factors.
• Using understanding of interdisciplinary health care, collaborate with hospital care teams and other LifeCenter staff to evaluate family readiness and develop a plan for the Donation Conversation.
• Works in strong collaboration with hospital staff, FS AOC, Resource Triage Coordinator (RTC), Administrator-on-Call (AOC) and clinical staff to evaluate and determine the best time to introduce donation to potential donor families.
• Completes comprehensive review of Family Readiness Assessment (FRA) including engaging with physicians, nurses, and ancillary services, as appropriate, to assess family understanding of grave prognosis and readiness for donation discussion.
• Provides recommendation regarding timing of donation conversations based on FRA assessment.
• Present assessment of family dynamics to Family Support AOC, and recommends timing and methodology of Donation Conversation (Initial Donation Conversation VS Donation Conversation).
• Role models function for newer employees. With training, may act as preceptor to new employees.
• Leading Donation Conversation and Providing Family Support
• Leads Donation Conversation, focusing on identifying and addressing each family’s unique needs to enable authorization for donation.
• Utilizes expertise in trauma, loss, and communication to adapt language, delivery, and problem-solving approach for each potential donor family.
• Partners with clinical and Hospital Development team to support patient’s registered donation decision and is able to educate potential donor’s legal next of kin (LNOK) about donation options, status of donor designation, or requesting authorization for donation from legal LNOK.
• Facilitates supportive donation experience for donor families in person or by phone, including but not limited to completing authorization or disclosure paperwork, Uniform Donor Risk Assessment Index (UDRAI), and memory making.
• Is present with families during end of life, including honor walks and withdrawal of mechanical support during comfort measures.
• If applicable, coordinates hand-off of donor family to Family Support Coordinator, ensuring continuity of care and support for remainder of donation case.
• Role models function for newer employees. May act as preceptor to new employees after completion of Preceptor Training program and a minimum of six months following orientation at LifeCenter.
• On-Site Donation Advocacy and Donor Family Support
• Provides rapid on-site support for donor families at hospitals throughout LifeCenter Northwest’s (LCNW) service area. This position requires regular, time-sensitive travel to and from case activity across the region. As such, the ability to independently and reliably commute between locations is essential to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role. Due to the nature of the work, which may involve urgent or unscheduled travel, personal driving capability is a critical operational need.
• Communication
• Is able to provide information comprehensively and concisely, adapting language and delivery to meet the needs of the other parties.
• Demonstrates high stress tolerance when navigating dynamic, pressured, and fast paced situations, maintaining appropriate communication, decision making skills, and critical thinking abilities.
• Actively maintains and models professional boundaries with donor families, hospital care teams, and LifeCenter staff.
• Using knowledge of medical charting practices, effectively documents interactions and relevant information into electronic charts.
• Offers a growth-mindset approach to professional practice and skills.
• Demonstrates a solution-focused attitude with a willingness to develop creative options for workplace challenges.
• Experienced and comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback with compassion and candor.
• Administrative and Quality Duties
• Completes chart documentation corrections timely and accurately.
• Collaborates in resolution of non-conformance investigations and development of appropriate corrective and preventative actions
• Supervision
• This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities. This position may work in a preceptor capacity. When designated as a preceptor, this role serves as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department and assists managers with providing continuous feedback to employees the role is precepting.
• Other Responsibilities
• With additional training, may act as Family Support Administrator on Call
• Complies with applicable laws, regulations, and LifeCenter policies and procedures.

Benefits

• LifeCenter Northwest offers medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and travel accident insurance.
• Employees have the option of enrolling in the following supplemental or voluntary plans: life insurance, short-term disability, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness coverage and pet insurance.
• Employees enrolled in our 403(b) program will receive an employer match of up to 7% after one year, employees are auto enrolled at 3% and may change their enrollment at any time.
• LifeCenter encourages all employees to find balance and well-being and provides all employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and provides a quarterly Wellness Reimbursement.
• Employees enjoy paid holidays throughout the calendar year and earn 119 hours of PTO annually (to start) as well as Health Time Off hours that is earned 1 hour per 30 worked, paid living donor leave, two weeks paid jury duty leave after 6 months of service, and three weeks of paid parental leave after one year of service is complete.
• A comprehensive review of benefits can be found at https://lcnw.org/about/employment-opportunities/.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level