Hospice Social Worker Greater Milwaukee South

Responsibilities

• Provides initial psychosocial evaluations, ongoing counseling, bereavement services, and community referrals appropriate to meet the specialized needs of the terminally ill
• Responsible for the assessment of psychosocial needs of patients and families as well as development of a social work plan of care reflecting problems, interventions, and outcome goals
• Implements the plan of care in conjunction with the hospice interdisciplinary team and according to hospice specific protocols and measures
• Continually evaluate appropriate hospice level of care with the interdisciplinary group
• Assures a smooth transition between hospice levels of care: GIP, Routine, Continuous Care
• Facilitates conversations specific to end-of-life planning including goals of care, funeral arrangements, caregiving, guardianship and legacy work
• Participates in the QA/CQI process for Advocate Hospice
• Responsible for achievement of agency, department and personal goals and objectives

Licensure & Certification

• Social Worker license issued by the state of employment
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles

Education & Experience

• Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work
• One year experience in a medical clinical setting or hospice/palliative care preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of evidence-based counseling models such as family systems, strengths-based and narrative therapy, to provide short-term counseling to patients and their families
• Understanding of family dynamics and psychosocial issues related to terminal illness
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations and provide crisis intervention when necessary
• Ability to identify risk factors of complicated grief, suicide, neglect, and abuse
• Ability to recognize the effects of psychosocial stresses on the symptoms of terminal illness including trauma and PTSD
• Knowledge of issues related to anticipatory grief, death, and bereavement
• Knowledge of community resources, advanced directives, funeral planning, and facility placement
• Exceptional collaboration skills, advocacy abilities and ability to perform as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to identify client needs with consideration to cultural, ethnic, religious, economic, and other diverse backgrounds
• Excellent time management, prioritizing and documentation skills
• Intermediate computer skills including EMR, presentation applications and electronic mail

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Must be able to travel to all areas within the Advocate Aurora service area in all extremes of weather on all types of roads
• Exposed to widely varying social and environmental conditions in patient’s neighborhoods and homes
• Must be willing to work occasional overtime if needed
• Required to make visits to private residences which may not be accessible to people with disabilities
• Will be exposed to the following hazards on a frequent basis: mechanical, electrical, chemical, blood and body fluids
• Will be required to wear PPE, protective clothing and equipment as needed
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job