Social Worker (Home Health & Hospice)

Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay•Virginia Beach, VA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker (Home Health & Hospice) plays a vital role in supporting patients and their families throughout the end-of-life journey. This position is responsible for assessing the psychosocial, emotional, and environmental needs of patients and identifying resources and support systems that promote comfort, safety, and coping during terminal illness. The Social Worker provides counseling, crisis intervention, and bereavement support to patients and their loved ones, helping them navigate the emotional and practical challenges associated with hospice and home health care. They assess factors such as suicide risk, abuse or neglect concerns, and barriers to maintaining a safe home environment, while coordinating appropriate interventions and community resources. Working collaboratively with physicians and the interdisciplinary care team, the Social Worker helps identify social and mental health stressors that may exacerbate symptoms related to terminal illness and contributes to the development and ongoing revision of each patient's individualized plan of care. This role provides medical social services in accordance with established care plans and offers short-term counseling and emotional support to patients and families as needed. The Social Worker is expected to embody Westminster-Canterbury's core values of Respect, Passion, and Professionalism in every interaction and to promote a culture of accountability by encouraging others to do the same.

Requirements

Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
A minimum of 1 year social work experience in a healthcare setting
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft and Google applications.
Valid state driver’s license, with a Motor Vehicle Driving Record satisfactory to WCBay and our insurance providers & proof of motor vehicle insurance.
Effectively meets deadlines and performs responsibilities with minimal supervision.
Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills for clear and professional interactions.
Able to address outside and inside inquiries
Able to supervise, train co-workers
Able to exercise discretion and work independently

Nice To Haves

Master of Social Work (MSW) from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
A minimum of 2 years’ experience in medical social work, including one year dedicated to hospice or home health services.
Proven background in advance care planning, crisis intervention, and psychosocial advocacy for individuals facing life-limiting conditions.
Ability to maintain a valid state social work license suitable for the required level of clinical practice.
Hold or be prepared to pursue specialty certification in hospice and palliative care social work (e.g., APHSW-C or CHP-SW).
Strong aptitude for interdisciplinary collaboration and navigating community-based resources or long-term care systems.

Responsibilities

Assist in providing information and preparation of advance directives, funeral planning issues and transfer of responsibilities regarding fiscal, legal and health care decisions.
Prepare clinical and progress notes, identify and manage family dynamics and communication patterns.
Includes the patient/ family in the plan of care.
Identify and utilize appropriate community resources and assess patient/ family ability to access them.
Evaluate patient family response to psychosocial interventions
Assess caregiver's ability to function adequately and assess need for counseling related to risk assessment for pathological grief.
Assess special needs related to cultural diversity including communication, space, role of family members and special traditions.
Identify the developmental level of the patient/family and obstacles to learning or ability to participate in care of patients.
Identify obstacles to compliance and assist in understanding goals of interventions.
Identify support systems available to reduce stress and facilitate coping with end-of-life care.
Evaluate for long-term care when appropriate and assess ability to accept change in level of care.
Communicate psychosocial information to inpatient facilities when level of care is changed.
Assist patient/family in assessing financial resources when appropriate.
Identify patient/family needs when discharged or when level of care changes.
Evaluate patient/family response to intervention(s) when referred to community agency and satisfaction of the service(s) provided.
Assess and coordinate bereavement needs and coordinate.
All other duties as assigned.