Prelicensed Social Worker

Fresenius Medical Care•Casselberry, FL

About The Position

Provides psychosocial services to patients treated by the facility, including in-center and home dialysis patients when applicable, using social work theory and accepted social work practice methods. Works with the healthcare team to promote positive adjustment, rehabilitation, and improved quality of life. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, informs, educates, and supports staff in understanding the emotional, psychological, and behavioral impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on patients and families. Supports quality indicators, outcomes, quality assessment and improvement activities, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. This is an entry-level MSW role. The Social Worker assesses patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs; collaborates on care planning; provides appropriate counseling, education, referrals, and interventions; and documents interactions and services. The role supports patients’ adjustment to dialysis, treatment adherence, transplant referral and waitlist processes, advance-care planning, and access to community, vocational, educational, insurance, and financial resources. The Social Worker also participates in quality reviews, patient admission and continuity-of-care activities, staff education, team huddles, and other related duties. The position has no supervisory responsibilities. Travel may be required when supporting multiple facilities.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work.
State temporary license, Registered Social Worker Clinical Intern credential, Associated Social Work license, or Provisional LCSW License, if required by the state.
Obtain the state licensure necessary to work independently without supervision within the first two years or as required by state guidelines.
0–2 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs as part of comprehensive patient assessments.
Collaborate with patients and the healthcare team on care planning and interventions that support rehabilitation, treatment goals, and quality of life.
Use patient education programs, social work methods, focused interventions, and quality-of-life measurement instruments to address barriers and treatment goals.
Monitor patients and provide interventions to support adjustment to dialysis and optimal psychosocial status and quality of life.
Provide supportive counseling within the scope of clinical training and state licensure, and goal-directed education and counseling for patients seeking transplantation.
Provide information and referrals to community resources, including home health services and vocational rehabilitation.
Maintain knowledge of local vocational and educational rehabilitation programs and assist patients with referrals and access.
Assess awareness of advance directives and help patients access forms and information and discuss their wishes with the healthcare team and support persons as appropriate.
Participate with the physician and nurse in discussions of patient DNR status to support informed decisions.
Follow FMCNA Social Work Policy and Measuring Patient Physical and Mental Function Policy, including documentation requirements.
Document MSW interactions and interventions with patients and families.
Provide psychosocial support and social work interventions addressing non-adherence, quality outcomes, and quality-of-life concerns based on patient acuity.
Participate in monthly interdisciplinary quality review meetings and report on adherence indicators, quality-of-life trends, and service recovery.
Assess patient knowledge of kidney disease and barriers to treatment adherence; coordinate tailored education with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
Provide information about treatment modalities with the interdisciplinary team.
Facilitate transplant referrals and collaborate with the team on transplant waitlist management.
Educate patients and families about psychosocial issues related to ESRD and available support services.
Review patient rights and responsibilities, grievance information, and facility policies with patients or representatives.
Collaborate with the team on quality assessment and improvement activities.
Review admission materials and address immediate patient needs or concerns.
Support referral and admission processes, including scheduling that promotes adherence and adjustment.
Interview patients requesting discharge to identify underlying concerns and share them with operational leadership.
Liaise with Insurance Coordinators to address patient insurance issues and educate patients about payment options and assistance programs.
Notify Insurance Coordinators of patient status changes affecting insurance, and refer treatment-bill questions to the patient billing solutions department.
Assist with personnel interviews and hiring decisions when requested by the SW Manager or Senior Manager.
Work with administrative support staff to keep patient resource lists current.
Provide staff training on psychosocial topics as needed.
Participate in weekly team huddles and discuss urgent patient issues with staff.
Follow caseload guidelines based on state regulatory requirements and work under appropriate supervision where required by state law.
Perform other related duties as assigned.