Hospice Social Worker - $3,500 Sign-On Bonus

About the Role

As a Social Worker at St. Croix Hospice, you will be an experienced professional and valued member of the patient care team. You will provide emotional and practical support for patients and their families in accordance with their unique Plan of Care. You will meet with patients and families, coordinate with the clinical team, and connect them with community resources and services.

Responsibilities

• Assess the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment; communicate findings to the interdisciplinary care team.
• Conduct social evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, suicide risk, neglect, or abuse, and plan interventions based on findings.
• Counsel patients and family/caregivers regarding stress and other identified coping difficulties; provide crisis intervention when necessary.
• Provide ongoing bereavement support to individuals identified as moderate or high-risk.
• Assess cultural needs of the patient and family, educating the interdisciplinary care team on communication, family roles, traditions, and cultural considerations.
• Maintain clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
• Educate patients and families and assist in preparation of advanced directives.
• Provide information and referral services for practical and environmental needs; serve as a liaison to community agencies.
• Maintain and develop contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patients and personnel.
• Participate in developing the individualized plan of care, involving the patient and family, and attend interdisciplinary group meetings.
• Assist the team in recognizing psychosocial stresses on symptoms of terminal illness.
• Assist physician and team members in understanding social and emotional factors related to health problems and death/dying issues.
• Support Bereavement leadership in maintaining a program for families/caregivers for 13 months post-patient death, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Complete or assign the initial bereavement assessment in a timely manner.
• Assist the Chaplain in making condolence calls to bereaved families as needed.
• Maintain, organize, and update the bereavement support group schedule.
• Assist families and patients in planning funeral arrangements, financial, legal, and healthcare decision responsibilities.
• Maintain compliance with all HIPAA regulations; treat patient information confidentially and use protected health information on a minimum necessary basis.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Current license in the state(s) of practice. Three licensure levels accepted:
  • Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
  • Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
  Social Workers can have compact licenses.
• Ability to pass background check, consumer report, and drug test.
• Valid state driver’s license, access to an automobile in good working order, automobile insurance, and an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work.
• 1+ years of social work experience in a healthcare setting.
• 1+ years of experience in a healthcare setting.

Physical Requirements

• Pushing, pulling, and lifting/carrying up to 12 pounds; occasionally up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to adapt to a variety of work conditions to ensure high-quality patient care in a home setting.