PER DIEM SOCIAL WORKER

Integritus Healthcare • Greenfield, MA

1d • $38 - $42

About The Position

The purpose of this position is to provide initial psychosocial evaluations, ongoing psychosocial counseling, direct casework services, bereavement services, and community education, outreach, and referrals. Responsible for the delivery of varied social work services to hospice patients and families, and actively participates as a member of the hospice interdisciplinary team. The per diem social worker does not manage a caseload of patients/families and receives direction regarding those who need visits or assistance.

Requirements

• Initial psychosocial evaluations
• Ongoing psychosocial counseling
• Direct casework services
• Bereavement services
• Community education, outreach, and referrals
• Delivery of varied social work services to hospice patients and families
• Active participation as a member of the hospice interdisciplinary team
• Assessment of psychosocial status related to terminal illness and environment
• Communication of findings to registered nurse and interdisciplinary group
• Assessment of patient's residence and assistance with unsafe environments
• Social evaluations including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, high risks for suicide, neglect or abuse
• Intervention planning based on evaluation findings
• Counseling patients and families regarding stress and coping difficulties
• Crisis intervention
• Assessment and education on special needs related to patient/family culture
• Maintenance of clinical records
• Point of Service documentation
• Timely synchronization of patient data
• Effective communication with Patient Care Team
• Education and assistance with advanced directives
• Information and referral services for practical and environmental needs
• Liaison between patients/families and community agencies
• Maintenance of collaborative relationships with organization personnel
• Participation in plan of care development
• Assistance in recognizing effects of psychosocial stresses on symptoms of terminal illness
• Participation in discharge planning
• Assistance with durable power of attorney and funeral arrangements
• Keeping supervisor informed of problematic issues and changes in patient status
• Management of multiple priorities
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making
• Personal growth and development
• Maintenance and improvement of professional knowledge and skills
• Meeting individual program expectations and goals

Responsibilities

• Assesses the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment and communicates findings to the registered nurse and other members of the interdisciplinary group.
• Provides an assessment of the patient's identified residence and assistance when this is not a safe environment, and another plan is required.
• Carries out social evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, high risks for suicide, neglect or abuse, and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.
• Counsels patient and family/caregivers as needed in relation to stress and other identified coping difficulties.
• Provides crisis intervention when necessary.
• Assesses for and educates the interdisciplinary group on any special needs related to the culture of the patient and family.
• Includes communication, role of family, space, and any special traditions or taboos.
• Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
• Point of Service documentation is an expectation of all clinical personnel for quality care, accuracy, and communication standards.
• The clinician is expected to appropriately document, have timely synchronization of patient data & effectively communicate with the Patient Care Team.
• Educates patients and families on, and assists in, preparation of advanced directives.
• Provides information and referral services for the organization’s patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs.
• Serves as liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care.
• Participates in the development of the plan of care, involving the patient and family, assisting the team in recognizing the effects of the psychosocial stresses on the symptoms of the terminal illness, and may attend interdisciplinary group meetings as needed.
• Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotion­al factors related to health problems and death/dying issues.
• Participates in discharge planning when needed.
• Assists patient and family/caregiver with securing durable power of attorney and with funeral arrangements, as needed.
• Keeps supervisor informed of potentially problematic patient/family issues and significant changes in patient status.
• Manages multiple priorities and demonstrates effective problem-solving and decision-making.
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development.
• Maintains and improves professional knowledge and skills through continuing education and in-services.
• Meets individual program expectations and goals as identified through performance appraisal, annual plan, and by supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed