LCSW/LMFT - Palliative Care

Kaweah Delta Health Care District•Visalia, CA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care. It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do — in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community. The LCSW/LMFT provides education, referral and support in a psychosocial aspect in the situations of individuals, families, or groups; helping to improve social or health services. Provides specialty level biopsychosocial evaluation of patient/family needs related to understanding, acceptance and preferences for care in serious illness and supports the Palliative Medicine Team in understanding same. Provides education to the Palliative Medicine Team regarding the whole person/person in environment perspective; psychosocial and family dynamics, cultural and spiritual aspects of care; social determinants of health; trauma informed care; and communication style to support the effectiveness of the Palliative Team consultation process. Reviews and evaluates advance care planning documents to ensure identification of appropriate surrogate decision makers as needed. Facilitates completion of Advance Care Planning documents such as Advance Directive and/or Physician’s Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) when appropriate. Provides evidence based, non-pharmacological interventions for pain and symptoms related to serious or advanced illness; such as motivational interviewing, mindfulness and relaxation practices, meaning making and legacy work, management of caregiver stress and bereavement support. Arrange and facilitate family meetings and consultations in collaboration with fellow Palliative Medicine Team members, ensuring mutual understanding and effective management of family and team dynamics. Intervenes in crisis situations, providing needed assessment, counseling and information to patients and their families. Communicates and collaborates effectively with other providers including, RN, referring provider; Patient & Family Services, Case Management Team members to ensure patient’s goals of care; care and discharge plan are understood. Documents all necessary patient information carefully and accurately and according to procedure in both the patient record and the Palliative Care Quality Collaborative program. Assists in financial counseling, linking patients and their families to appropriate resources. Assesses need for ongoing bereavement or therapeutic support and facilitates referrals as appropriate. Provides education to department, hospital staff, and community on Palliative Medicine topics/interventions. Provides support and knowledge on palliative medicine issues through structured community outreach programs. Reviews and remains current regarding research, standards of practice and national guidelines for palliative medicine to determine appropriateness of local clinical practice. Provides consultation, direction, guidance and supervision as requested for Medical Counselor and ASW/MFTI. Provides Team Lead coverage for Palliative Medicine Service in absence of Palliative Medicine Service Manager. Provides field supervision to Master's prepared students as requested. Provides informal and formal education/training to medical learners and/or Hospice Palliative Medicine Fellows as appropriate. Completes all appropriate training modules offered by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to patients referred for Palliative Medicine consultation and their families. Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT)
Kaweah Health approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire/transfer.
Advance Palliative Hospice Social Work Certification (APHSW-C) within three years of hire/transfer.
Demonstrates knowledge of policies and procedures for the Palliative Medicine Service.
Demonstrates knowledge of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care 4th Edition.

Nice To Haves

Previous hospital based social work or palliative care social work experience.

Responsibilities

Provides specialty level biopsychosocial evaluation of patient/family needs related to understanding, acceptance and preferences for care in serious illness and supports the Palliative Medicine Team in understanding same.
Provides education to the Palliative Medicine Team regarding the whole person/person in environment perspective; psychosocial and family dynamics, cultural and spiritual aspects of care; social determinants of health; trauma informed care; and communication style to support the effectiveness of the Palliative Team consultation process.
Reviews and evaluates advance care planning documents to ensure identification of appropriate surrogate decision makers as needed.
Facilitates completion of Advance Care Planning documents such as Advance Directive and/or Physician’s Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) when appropriate.
Provides evidence based, non-pharmacological interventions for pain and symptoms related to serious or advanced illness; such as motivational interviewing, mindfulness and relaxation practices, meaning making and legacy work, management of caregiver stress and bereavement support.
Arrange and facilitate family meetings and consultations in collaboration with fellow Palliative Medicine Team members, ensuring mutual understanding and effective management of family and team dynamics.
Intervenes in crisis situations, providing needed assessment, counseling and information to patients and their families.
Communicates and collaborates effectively with other providers including, RN, referring provider; Patient & Family Services, Case Management Team members to ensure patient’s goals of care; care and discharge plan are understood.
Documents all necessary patient information carefully and accurately and according to procedure in both the patient record and the Palliative Care Quality Collaborative program.
Assists in financial counseling, linking patients and their families to appropriate resources.
Assesses need for ongoing bereavement or therapeutic support and facilitates referrals as appropriate.
Provides education to department, hospital staff, and community on Palliative Medicine topics/interventions.
Provides support and knowledge on palliative medicine issues through structured community outreach programs.
Reviews and remains current regarding research, standards of practice and national guidelines for palliative medicine to determine appropriateness of local clinical practice.
Provides consultation, direction, guidance and supervision as requested for Medical Counselor and ASW/MFTI.
Provides Team Lead coverage for Palliative Medicine Service in absence of Palliative Medicine Service Manager.
Provides field supervision to Master's prepared students as requested.
Provides informal and formal education/training to medical learners and/or Hospice Palliative Medicine Fellows as appropriate.
Completes all appropriate training modules offered by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC).
Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to patients referred for Palliative Medicine consultation and their families.
Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs.
Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.
Performs other duties as assigned.