Hospice Medical Social Worker - PRN

Qualifications & Attributes

• Licensed Social Worker with current license in the state of employment.
• Master of Social Work preferred.
• Minimum of one year's experience in health care, hospice experience preferred.
• Understands hospice philosophy, and issues of death/dying.
• Ability to create positive impressions and communicate with a variety of people.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, families, physicians and co-workers.
• Ability to remain calm, have patience and be accommodating.
• Caring and compassionate while working with patients.
• Knowledgeable on social work best practices.
• Ability to make appropriate judgments.
• Ability to identify a situation and handle it with the best possible solution.
• Detail-oriented and observant.
• Disciplined style of work ethic.
• Ability to prioritize and be timely.
• Works efficiently.
• Ability to follow directions and work as a team member.

Major Areas Of Responsibility

• Affirms the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment.
• Carries out social evaluations and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.
• Counsels patients and family/caregivers as needed in relationship to stress, and other identified coping difficulties.
• Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
• Provides information and referral services for organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs.
• Serves as liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies.
• Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and personnel.
• Participates in the development of the plan of care and attends case conferences weekly.
• Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems and death/dying issues.
• Assists patient and family/caregiver with securing durable power of attorney and with funeral arrangements, as needed.

Management Responsibility

N/A

Health Qualifications

• Must be able to meet all physical position requirements.
• Evidence required of a current negative tuberculin skin test or x-ray or receive TB testing at the date of orientation.
• An annual tuberculin skin test is required, unless the employee has documentation of a previous TB test.
• Employee must be free of physical/medical conditions, which would limit or restrict their ability to perform the job functions listed below.
• Bloodborne exposure risk is all.

Physical Demands

• Constantly (66%-100%): Reading, Speaking, Writing English, Communications Skills, Computer/PDA Usage, Hand/finger dexterity, Hearing/Seeing, Talking in person, Hearing in person, Vision for close work.
• Frequently (34%-66%): Walking, Sitting, Talking on the phone, Hearing on the phone.
• Occasionally (2%-33%): Driving, Bending, Standing, Stretching/Reaching, Climbing, Stooping (bend at waist).
• Rarely (1% or less): Lifting up to 50 lbs. with or without assistance, Distinguish smell/taste.