Hospice Social Worker

Compassus•Wichita, KS

About The Position

The Hospice Social Worker models Compassus values and promotes its philosophy, using the 6 Pillars of Success as a foundation. The role upholds the Code of Ethical Conduct and fosters positive working relationships within the company and with external stakeholders. The Hospice Social Worker provides preventive, educational, evaluative, and treatment services to meet the psychosocial needs of patients and families and help them improve, restore, and maintain their coping abilities. The role uses community resources and the interdisciplinary team (IDT) to support this work. The Social Worker explains hospice services and Medicare benefits, completes psychosocial assessments and care planning, provides counseling and support, coordinates with the IDT, and helps patients and families address concerns such as finances, insurance, living arrangements, caregiver stress, grief, and community resources. The role may facilitate long-term care placement and support advance planning. It also involves timely documentation, participation in facility care-planning meetings, and maintaining respect for families' environments and belief systems.

Requirements

Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program and at least 1 year of healthcare experience.
Candidates with a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field and 1 year of healthcare experience may be considered at locations where an MSW is available to supervise.
Hold state licensure as required and applicable in the state of practice.
For Oklahoma practice, licensure is required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic, including calculating rates, ratios, and percentages.
Ability to read and interpret business and professional materials, technical procedures, and governmental regulations; write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; and present information and respond to questions effectively.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English.
Ability to articulate and embrace the hospice philosophy.

Responsibilities

Explain hospice services and Medicare benefits to patients and families, and obtain Informed Consent and Election of Benefits documents as requested.
Submit appropriate documentation and paperwork to facilities after patient visits, in accordance with company policy and timelines.
Participate in the interdisciplinary team (IDT), including developing and implementing plans of care.
Provide psychosocial support and counseling to patients and families, and support involvement of external counseling resources as appropriate to their needs and scope of practice.
Identify when other IDT members need to intervene.
Communicate patient and family needs effectively to the IDT.
Collaborate with the IDT to coordinate psychosocial care and support and ensure appropriate, continuous, quality care.
Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date care plans reflecting patients' current problems, goals, and interventions.
Respect families' environments and belief systems and provide nondiscriminatory care.
Complete initial and ongoing psychosocial assessments, identifying and addressing concerns involving finances, insurance, living arrangements or long-term care placement, caregiver stress, pre-bereavement and anticipatory grief, and community resources.
Facilitate long-term care placement when warranted and monitor adjustment.
Participate in care-planning meetings at long-term care facilities.
Support and facilitate advance planning, including living will and power-of-attorney documents, funeral arrangements, memorial services, and body or organ donation.
Perform other duties as assigned.