Hospice Social Worker MSW - Ridgecrest CA
About The Position
The Hospice Social Worker delivers social work services to hospice patients and their families. The role provides initial emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial assessments; ongoing counseling; bereavement services; and community education, outreach, and referrals. The Hospice Social Worker is an integral member of the hospice interdisciplinary group (IDG) and works under the direction of a physician who approves the plan of care. The position requires the ability to work independently, make sound judgments, respond appropriately to crises outside a hospital setting, and adapt to different social, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds. The role involves patient and family contact in varied environments and requires reliable transportation, a current driver’s license, and auto liability insurance.
Requirements
- Meet at least one of the following education and experience pathways: an MSW from a CSWE-accredited school of social work and one year of experience in a healthcare setting; a BSW from a CSWE-accredited school of social work and one year of healthcare-setting experience, with qualifying MSW supervision (with an exception for BSWs employed by the hospice before December 2, 2008); or a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, or another field related to social work, at least one year of social work experience in a healthcare setting, and qualifying MSW supervision.
- Ability to work independently and make accurate, sometimes quick, judgments.
- Ability to respond appropriately to crises outside a hospital setting.
- Ability to accept and adapt to different social, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds.
- Minimum of two years of experience as a social worker preferred.
- Recent active patient contact within the past three years preferred.
- Ability to cope with mental and emotional stress and demonstrate emotional stability.
- Current valid driver’s license, auto liability insurance, and reliable transportation.
- Provide evidence of an annual TB test and other state-required tests or examinations.
- Ability to meet the role’s physical requirements, including minimal assistance with lifting or transferring a 100-pound patient, with appropriate adaptive devices if needed to meet sensory requirements.
Nice To Haves
- At least two years of experience as a social worker.
- Active patient contact within the past three years.
Responsibilities
- Perform initial psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and bereavement assessments and help develop and implement a goal-directed IDG care plan.
- Reassess patient and family needs and provide counseling as required.
- Provide short-term crisis intervention and individual or family counseling when indicated.
- Provide services under the direction of a physician who approves the plan of care.
- Participate in the Bereavement Team as assigned.
- Observe and assess psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial conditions affecting patients and families, and report relevant information at IDG conferences.
- Advocate for the patient and family unit.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community agencies and services to promote interagency cooperation and facilitate referrals.
- Document psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual assessments clearly, concisely, and promptly.
- Record patient and family visits, telephone contacts, and referrals in the patient record according to policy.
- Provide ongoing counseling to patients and families about death and dying as needed.
- Attend staff meetings, IDG meetings, and other appropriate meetings as assigned.
- Participate in the orientation program as assigned.
- Adhere to hospice policies and maintain personal and professional social work skills.
- Exhibit the hospice philosophy in job-related activities and perform other duties assigned by the Director/Manager of Patient Services.
Benefits
- Positive culture
- Competitive compensation
- Company parties
- Paid time off
