Hospice Social Worker PRN
About The Position
The Hospice Social Worker provides professional social work services based on the individual needs of patients and families, as identified by the interdisciplinary group (IDG) and psychosocial assessment. The role offers psychosocial and supportive services to minimize stress and address problems associated with terminal illness, related conditions, and the dying process. The Social Worker assesses patient and family needs, provides counseling and crisis intervention, helps families access financial and community resources, and supports patients and caregivers through changes, grief, and approaching death. The position collaborates with the interdisciplinary care team to develop and update individualized care plans, documents services, participates in discharge planning and education, and coordinates care under the direction of the Director of Health Services. The role also includes bereavement services, volunteer recruitment and supervision, staff consultation and training, and support for ethical and safety practices.
Requirements
- Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW).
- Masters-level social workers eligible for state licensure or certification must pass the licensure exam within six months of employment.
- Maintain current licensure in good standing with the state licensing board and provide copies of current licenses for personnel records.
- Current driver’s license and automobile liability insurance.
- One year of experience is preferred.
Nice To Haves
- Ability to work a flexible schedule.
- Completion of orientation and any training necessary to perform assigned duties effectively.
- Positive criminal history check, Office of the Inspector General Sanction Check, and licensure validations.
- Ability to meet the Clinical Competency Assessment within the first 90 days of employment and subsequently as recommended by the Administrator.
- Timely and regular attendance, punctuality, and professional appearance.
- Strong communication skills and a warm, friendly, approachable, helpful, and caring demeanor with patients, families, visitors, and clients.
Responsibilities
- Provide professional counseling and assess psychosocial and financial needs, including explaining Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance benefits when necessary.
- Complete psychosocial histories and assessments of patients and family systems in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Provide crisis intervention and suicide assessment.
- Participate in developing and updating plans of care with the interdisciplinary team and collaborate with other team members.
- Provide services consistent with the plan of care and help patients and families cope with psychosocial changes and stresses related to terminal illness.
- Locate and obtain resources to support patients’ financial, social, and emotional well-being.
- Counsel family members and caregivers to help them cope with the patient’s approaching death.
- Document all services in the medical record and prepare clinical and progress notes in accordance with policy and procedures.
- Provide bereavement services and refer families to other resources as needed.
- Train hospice and nursing home staff in patients’ and families’ psychosocial needs.
- Recruit, train, and supervise hospice and home care volunteers, including assigning volunteers to families and patients.
- Help physicians and other health care team members understand social and emotional factors related to patients’ health problems.
- Supervise or advise an assigned BSW or baccalaureate-degree worker serving in a social work capacity.
- Use appropriate community resources and participate in discharge planning and ongoing in-service education.
- Act as a consultant to agency personnel and coordinate patient and family care under the direction of the Director of Health Services.
- Demonstrate knowledge of hospice services, terminal illness progression, DNR and advance directives, financial resources, cultural diversity, family life cycle, grieving, and burial planning.
- Use social work interventions such as assessment, counseling, education, community-resource referrals, and crisis intervention.
- Continually reassess patient and family psychosocial needs, including bereavement risk, and maintain individualized care plans.
- Identify and attempt to resolve ethical situations arising in hospice care, seeking leadership assistance as needed.
- Participate in agency surveys and required reports, maintain professional education and credentials, and attend mandatory in-services.
- Respect patient rights, comply with the corporate compliance program, report occupational hazards, and follow established safety, fire prevention, smoking, infection-control, and equipment procedures.
- Perform other related duties as necessary or directed by a supervisor or Administrator.
