Master Social Worker MSW Palliative Medicine

Banner Health•Sun City, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Master Social Worker in Palliative Medicine, you will serve as a vital member of our interdisciplinary team, providing compassionate, holistic support to patients facing serious illness and their families. In this role, you will guide patients and families through complex healthcare decisions, facilitate advanced care planning conversations, and address the emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of care. You will work collaboratively with physicians, nurses, chaplains, and case managers to ensure each patient's care plan aligns with their values, goals, and quality of life priorities. Your expertise will be essential in helping patients navigate transitions in care, overcome barriers to accessing resources, and find meaning and comfort during challenging times. This position requires a background in palliative care or hospice, where you have developed expertise in end-of-life support, bereavement counseling, and addressing the multifaceted needs of patients navigating life-limiting conditions. At Banner Medical Group, you'll have the opportunity to perform a critical role in the community where you practice. Banner Medical Group provides both primary and specialty care throughout the communities in which Banner Health operates. We do this in a variety of settings - from smaller group practices like our Banner Health Clinics in Colorado and Wyoming, to large multi-specialty Banner Health Centers in the metropolitan Phoenix area. We currently have more than 1,000 physicians and more than 3,500 total employees in our group and are seeking others to enhance our ability to deliver our nonprofit mission of providing excellent patient care. POSITION SUMMARY This position provides psychosocial support to patients and families by providing specialized social work intervention to include, but not limited to providing resources, education, supportive/grief counseling, assistance with final arrangements, and engaging with patients and families in order to determine goals of care. This position may also assist with discussion surrounding advanced care planning and advanced directive completion as deemed appropriate. This position is part of an interdisciplinary team that supports people at critical junctures in their lives. The goal is to aid in adaptation and empower the patient and the family to ensure goals of care are being understood, honored and appropriate for the trajectory of their illness. This position serves patients by addressing goals of care in order to adapt care plans to match that of the unique needs of all ages and cultures as well as the differently abled, those with psychiatric illness, chronic illness and terminally ill patients.

Requirements

Requires a Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited school.
Requires a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) (equivalent) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or have a MSW with the requirement to become licensed within 6 months of hire date. An equivalent license applies to states that do not recognize an LMSW; therefore, the employee must possess a Master’s Degree and be a Licensed Social Worker.
For assignments in an acute care setting, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is also required.
Requires a proficiency level typically achieved with 3 years of social work experience in a health care setting (i.e., hospital, home health, hospice, behavioral health).
Experience working with an EMR to promote accurate and timely documentation.
Knowledge of government/community resources such as Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care, or any other applicable resources/services.
Must demonstrate critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, effective communication skills, human relations skills, and time management skills. Solution driven, creative and resourceful problem-solving skills. Skilled in organizing and prioritizing work. Ability to manage time well and perform assigned duties with attention to detail, accuracy and follow-through. Awareness and sensitivity to cultural diversity. Knowledge of self-care, personal boundaries; abilities, limits, and inner resources.
Employees working for Banner Home Care AZ must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.

Nice To Haves

Previous Hospice or Palliative Care experience is preferred.
Experience in conflict mediation is preferred.
Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Processes and facilitates the psychosocial assessment with analysis of functional and psychological needs of the patient within the framework of his/her developmental stage, functional abilities, cultural milieu, and support network. Assesses the relationship of the patient's medical needs to the patient's home situation, financial resources, and availability of community resources. Assesses of the social, emotional, and cultural factors related to the patient's illness, need for care, response to treatment, and adjustment to care.
Provides holistic support to patients and their families, addressing not only medical needs but also emotional, social, spiritual, physical, and cultural concerns. Offers counseling and resources to help patients cope with the challenges of serious illness while demonstrating cultural competency. Maintains knowledge of contemporary behavioral health and system theories relevant to health care, end of life dynamics, and interventions, grief, and bereavement counseling. Additionally, ensures the goals of care addresses both the physical and cultural needs of the patient.
Facilitates conversations about advanced care planning, helping patients and families navigate difficult decisions regarding end-of-life care preferences, goals, and values. Identifies gaps in documentation of advanced care planning and plays an active role in filling these gaps by assisting with completion of these forms.
Focuses on improving the quality of life for patients by addressing psychosocial factors such as depression, anxiety, caregiver fatigue, and financial concerns. Promotes patient’s quality of life by ensuring and addressing that patient care plans are in alignment with goals of care.
Collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams for care coordination including physicians, nurses, chaplains, case managers, and other community liaisons as needed, to ensure a care plan that meets the unique needs of each patient and family.
Provides ongoing support and continuity of care throughout the hospitalization as well as throughout the patient’s illness trajectory. Helps patients and families navigate transitions in care settings, such as hospital to home or hospice.
Serves as an advocate for patients and families by helping navigate complex healthcare systems, understand rights, access resources, and overcome barriers to care. Facilitates conflict mediation to address any disputes or conflicts that may arise while navigating difficult/painful decisions.
Helps to identify and address a patient's social determinants, their impact on patient’s care plan and identify possible barriers as the trajectory of their illness progresses. Engages with patients and families sooner to help promote appropriate care in the acute setting and facilitate discussion about future needs to help mitigate length of stay and future health related costs.
Maintains specialized training and professional expertise in Palliative Medicine and end-of-life care, as well as in counseling, grief support, and ethical decision-making, making them invaluable members of the Palliative Medicine team.