Social Worker Home Team

Columbus Hospice Inc•Columbus, GA

About The Position

The Hospice Social Worker (MSW) serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team and provides supportive services to help meet patients’ and families’ social, emotional, and economic needs in relation to the impact of terminal illness. Wages are determined by the number of years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The role includes counseling, psychosocial assessment, care coordination, community resource referrals, documentation, and support with insurance and advance-care planning. The social worker also provides clinical supervision for licensure purposes, mentors new social workers as assigned, and participates in staff education and community activities. The position requires active social work licensure in Georgia and Alabama, BLS/CPR certification, a valid driver’s license, satisfactory motor vehicle record, insurance coverage, and reliable transportation. Applicants must obtain a license in their primary state of employment before hire and become licensed in the second state within 90 days. The role involves rotating after-hours call, including weekends and holidays, and in-person home visits as indicated by the plan of care and patient and family needs. Employees must complete 15 continuing education hours per year, including at least 12 hospice-specific hours, and meet the agency’s other professional, privacy, attendance, and conduct expectations.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Georgia and Alabama social work licenses, or the ability to obtain them. The license for the primary state of employment is required before hire; the second state license must be obtained within 90 days of employment.
BLS/CPR certification.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to work cooperatively in a team-oriented environment.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
Excellent customer service skills.
Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgment.
Ability to work a flexible schedule and evaluate situations, prioritize, and coordinate patient-care needs as they arise.
Ability to deal effectively and professionally with grief, high anxiety, and emotions related to death and dying.
Ability to solve practical problems and work with varied concrete situations where standardization is limited.
Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-based instructions.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Ability to write speeches and articles for publication in a prescribed style and format.
Ability to present information effectively to top management, public groups, and boards of directors.
Influenza vaccine during influenza season (November through March), or compliance with policy requirements for declination.
Valid driver’s license, satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record, auto insurance coverage in accordance with policy, and reliable transportation.
Maintain active professional licensure in Georgia and Alabama and complete 15 continuing education hours annually, including at least 12 hours in hospice-specific topics.

Nice To Haves

Two or more years of hospice-related experience and/or training.
Clinical experience in varied multidisciplinary settings.
Knowledge of family dynamics and counseling or therapy experience.

Responsibilities

Provide consultation to interdisciplinary staff on social issues concerning patients and families.
Provide clinical supervision for other social workers for licensure purposes; this does not include administrative supervisory responsibilities.
Provide counseling to patients and families based on psychosocial, emotional, or economic problems and in accordance with the plan of care.
Complete psychosocial assessments of assigned patients within three days.
Conduct all patient home visits and assessments in person, in accordance with the plan of care.
Attend interdisciplinary team meetings and facilitate discussion of psychosocial issues in hospice care.
Coordinate with team members to develop and implement the plan of care.
Use community resources to assist patients and families with food, housing, and other basic needs.
Maintain accurate, current, and pertinent documentation in patient records in accordance with policy.
Participate in agency and community psychosocial educational activities as requested.
Participate in Hospice staff orientation and in-service training programs.
Obtain insurance coverage, such as Medicaid or disability coverage, for patients without financial resources when necessary.
Assist patients with durable healthcare Power of Attorney and advance directives, and assist with funeral arrangements.
Mentor new social workers as assigned.
Complete assessments specific to patient needs, including suicide and home-safety assessments.
Assist patients and families with nursing home placement, respite, and other levels of care.
Complete continuing education required for license renewal, including 15 hours annually with at least 12 hours in hospice-specific topics.
Maintain active professional licenses in Georgia and Alabama.
Take rotating after-hours call, including weekends and holidays as assigned, and make visits as indicated by patient and family needs.
Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of patients, staff, and agency operations.
Represent the company positively and professionally; complete responsibilities thoroughly and with good judgment.
Seek assistance from the immediate supervisor when unsure about a task or job responsibility.
Meet attendance requirements and arrive promptly to work.
Assist with special projects and perform other assigned duties, including cross-training to other roles as needed.