Hospice Medical Social Worker

Summary Of Responsibilities

The Hospice Social Worker is a professional member of the interdisciplinary group who is responsible to assessing patient and family factors to estimate capacity to cope with diseases, terminal-illness, and death. The Hospice Social Worker communicates with the interdisciplinary team as needed for updates to patient and family status. Ensures growth & profitability of the company through the responsible use of company resources and educating the community to our services.

Essential Functions/Duties

• Completes an initial, comprehensive, and ongoing assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs and appropriate resources.

  • Develops, writes, and initiates a Psychosocial plan of care.
  • Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs.
  • Participates in revising the plan of care as necessary.

• Provides counseling and support to family and Patient for crisis intervention, preparing Advance Directives, funeral planning, issues involving transfer of fiscal, legal and health care responsibilities, community resources and bereavement needs.

  • Assesses patients for existing mental disorders, stress, suicide risks.
  • Assesses caregiver’s ability to function adequately.
  • Assesses need for counseling related to risk assessment for pathological grief.
  • Assesses special needs related to cultural diversity including communication, space, role of family members and special traditions.

• Evaluates for long-term care when appropriate and assesses the ability to accept a change in level of care.

  • Identifies Patient/family needs when discharged or when level of care changes.
  • Communicates psychosocial information about patient/family to the facility when there is a level of care change.
  • Identifies obstacles to compliance and assists in understanding goals of interventions.
  • Identifies support systems available to reduce stress and facilitate coping with end-of-life care.
  • Identifies the developmental level of patient/family and obstacles to learning or ability to participate in the care of patients.
  • Aids Patient/family in assessing financial resources when appropriate.
  • Evaluates Patient’s insurance coverage and pursues options for financial assistance if needed.
  • SUBMIT PAPERWORK IN A TIMELY MANNER TO UPDATE AND MAINTAIN PATIENT MEDICAL RECORDS.

• Provides counseling to hospice staff.

  • Participates in agency quality improvement programs (QAPI).
  • Provides community programs concerning hospice and related issues of loss & illness.

• MET OR EXCEEDS ESTABLISHED PRODUCTIVITY STANDARDS.

  • Adheres to established personnel policies.
  • Addresses Patient/family questions and issues.
  • Evaluates Patient/family response to interventions when referred to a community agency and satisfaction of the service provided.
  • Ensures that all care is provided with respect for patient rights.
  • REPORTS ALL GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS MADE BY PATIENTS OR FAMILIES TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE.
  • REPORTS ALL ALLEGATIONS OF PATIENT ABUSE AND/OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF PATIENT.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Proficiency with electronic devices.
• Ability to convey ideas clearly in written and verbal form.
• Ability to provide therapeutic and compassionate care while navigating complex psychosocial dynamics.
• Ability to problem-solve and formulate unique approaches to the provision and implementation of services and support.
• Collaborate social work plan of care and pertinent findings with interdisciplinary team members.

Core Values

• AMBASSADOR: Represents The Highlands at Wyomissing® in a positive light with integrity. Takes pride in our community.
• COMMITMENT: Dedicated, adaptable, tolerant, dependable, focused, and passionate. Often does more than is required. Reports to work as scheduled and timely.
• COMPASSIONATE: Is empathetic, mindful, and kind.
• INNOVATIVE: Is curious. Identifies new methods and efficiencies.
• RESULTS-DRIVEN: Has a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and completing work. Exerts unusual effort over time to achieve a goal. Maintains commitment to goals in the face of obstacles and frustrations.
• TEAM ORIENTED: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to achieve common goals.

Position Type/Expected Hours Of Work

The Hospice Social Worker position is non-exempt. Standard days and hours of work are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Holidays are covered on a rotating schedule.

Education And Experience Requirements

• High school Diploma or GED (Required)
• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited institution (Required)
• PA State Licensure (Preferred)
• 1-year social worker experience (Preferred)
• Completion of the Highlands Hearthstone Ambassador training within 30 days of employment (Required)

Work Authorization/Security Clearances

• Medical Screening
• Criminal History Clearance
• FBI Fingerprint Clearance (Only required if you have not lived in PA for the last 2 years)
• Immigration and naturalization (I-9) Clearance

Physical Requirements And Physical Demands

• While performing duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to climb, kneel, pull with force, reach above head, reach above shoulder, push/pull (up to 100+ lbs.), lift from floor level up, lift from waist level up, lift above shoulders/head, ability to lift, push, pull with assistance (mechanical or co-worker) the weight of the average patient specific to department, Lifting 25 lbs. maximum and frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 lbs.

Safety Hazards And Physical Environment

• May be exposed to blood borne pathogens - High Risk
• May be exposed to communicable diseases
• May be exposed to moving mechanical parts
• May be exposed to potential electrical shock
• May be exposed to toxic, caustic, chemicals, and / or detergents
• May be exposed to rare occasions during which it is necessary to interact with a resident exhibiting aggressive behavior.