Social Worker MSW - Radiation Oncology (West Branch)

MyMichigan Health•West Branch Township, MI

11d

About The Position

Responsible for delivering social work services to patient populations across the continuum of care for MyMichigan Health System in collaboration with other healthcare team members. The social worker assesses patients’ psychosocial and spiritual needs; provides education and counseling; and plans, coordinates, and implements care while contributing to patient outcomes and length of stay. The role communicates teamwork, caring, and compassion with internal and external healthcare team members. The social worker addresses psychosocial barriers to health and treatment, coordinates transitions and placements, supports patients and families in decision-making, and helps arrange financial, community, and care resources. The position also involves timely documentation, participation in quality improvement, staff meetings, and professional development, and support for BSW and/or MSW candidates as directed.

Requirements

Master of Social Work degree from an accredited college or university.
Licensure as a Master's Social Worker in Michigan, or actively working toward licensure.
Membership in at least one professional organization, such as NASW or SSWLHC.
Training, experience, or demonstrated competency in casework principles, including diagnosis, assessment, crisis intervention, treatment, and transition planning.
Knowledge of individual, family, and group therapy techniques.
Awareness of community resources, public assistance and entitlement programs, and appropriate care transitions.
Knowledge of issues related to age and developmental stage, special needs, and cultural patterns among patient populations.
Interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with individuals and groups at all levels.
Adherence to the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics.
Ability to handle multiple tasks, work independently, maintain regular and predictable attendance, and stay awake.
Ability to move freely about the facility with or without an assistive device and perform the job functions described.
Vision and hearing adequate to perform the job, with or without assistive devices.
Overall dexterity, including handling, reaching, grasping, fingering, and feeling; some movements may be repeated regularly or frequently.
Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including latex materials or an appropriate substitute if required.
Follow required bloodborne pathogen and TB testing requirements.
Ability to occasionally lift or carry 11–20 pounds and frequently handle 10 pounds and/or walk, stand, or operate arm/leg controls.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience in a hospital, social agency, or community organization dealing with physical health, mental health, or welfare; hospital experience is preferred.
Experience or demonstrated competency in medical social work practices, processes, and procedures.

Responsibilities

Provide social work interventions related to hospitalization, including crisis management, healthcare decision-making, adjustment to illness, ethical and legal concerns, discharge planning, transitional care, abuse, domestic violence, competency, financial problems, and compliance issues.
Participate in care coordination to identify high-risk factors, document key information and next steps, and capture avoidable days; co-lead daily care coordination meetings with a case manager partner as applicable.
Work with the healthcare team, patients, families, and significant others to transition patients to appropriate levels and places of care; advocate, mediate, and negotiate while emphasizing patient self-determination.
Facilitate extended-care placements and other facility transfers in coordination with the healthcare team.
Facilitate complex home-care arrangements in collaboration with the healthcare team.
Complete and document standard psychosocial-spiritual assessments to eliminate treatment barriers, improve patient and family satisfaction, and support appropriate resource utilization.
Lead efforts to obtain financial and other resources for patients and families in need.
Collaborate with physicians on competency and capacity determinations, legal guardianship, involuntary psychiatric admissions, adoptions, ethical concerns, and related matters; complete and distribute necessary legal and clinical documentation.
Identify the need for and conduct family meetings to support understanding, comfort, decision-making, and other important outcomes.
Apply relevant theories of family dynamics, crisis intervention, strengths-based and solution-focused practice, and the meaning of illness in casework.
Summarize patient and family situations and advise non-social-work staff on recommended actions and discharge barriers.
Identify how key professionals contribute to patient outcomes and length of stay.
Identify and address the learning needs of patients, families, and the healthcare team.
Participate in departmental performance improvement and continuous quality improvement processes.
Attend and actively participate in staff meetings; maintain positive working relationships and knowledge of community agencies and services.
Maintain timely, clear, concise documentation; compile monthly statistics and prepare reports as requested.
Participate in supervision and evaluation of BSW and/or MSW degree candidates as directed by the department manager.
Maintain professional development and educational requirements for professional licensure.
Contribute to and follow departmental and medical center policies and procedures to maintain a safe care environment.
Provide for the age-specific needs of the populations served.
Demonstrate competency in Microsoft Windows and participate in further learning opportunities offered by MyMichigan Health when required.