Master Social Worker MSW Palliative Medicine

About the role

This position provides psychosocial support to patients and families by providing specialized social work intervention to include, but not limited to providing resources, education, supportive/grief counseling, assistance with final arrangements, and engaging with patients and families in order to determine goals of care.

Responsibilities

• Processes and facilitates the psychosocial assessment with analysis of functional and psychological needs of the patient within the framework of his/her developmental stage, functional abilities, cultural milieu, and support network.
• Assesses the relationship of the patient's medical needs to the patient's home situation, financial resources, and availability of community resources.
• Assesses of the social, emotional, and cultural factors related to the patient's illness, need for care, response to treatment, and adjustment to care.
• Provides holistic support to patients and their families, addressing not only medical needs but also emotional, social, spiritual, physical, and cultural concerns.
• Offers counseling and resources to help patients cope with the challenges of serious illness while demonstrating cultural competency.
• Maintains knowledge of contemporary behavioral health and system theories relevant to health care, end of life dynamics, and interventions, grief, and bereavement counseling.
• Ensures the goals of care addresses both the physical and cultural needs of the patient.
• Facilitates conversations about advanced care planning, helping patients and families navigate difficult decisions regarding end-of-life care preferences, goals, and values.
• Identifies gaps in documentation of advanced care planning and plays an active role in filling these gaps by assisting with completion of these forms.
• Focuses on improving the quality of life for patients by addressing psychosocial factors such as depression, anxiety, caregiver fatigue, and financial concerns.
• Promotes patient’s quality of life by ensuring and addressing that patient care plans are in alignment with goals of care.
• Collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams for care coordination including physicians, nurses, chaplains, case managers, and other community liaisons as needed, to ensure a care plan that meets the unique needs of each patient and family.
• Provides ongoing support and continuity of care throughout the hospitalization as well as throughout the patient’s illness trajectory.
• Helps patients and families navigate transitions in care settings, such as hospital to home or hospice.
• Serves as an advocate for patients and families by helping navigate complex healthcare systems, understand rights, access resources, and overcome barriers to care.
• Facilitates conflict mediation to address any disputes or conflicts that may arise while navigating difficult/painful decisions.
• Helps to identify and address a patient's social determinants, their impact on patient’s care plan and identify possible barriers as the trajectory of their illness progresses.
• Engages with patients and families sooner to help promote appropriate care in the acute setting and facilitate discussion about future needs to help mitigate length of stay and future health related costs.
• Maintains specialized training and professional expertise in Palliative Medicine and end-of-life care, as well as in counseling, grief support, and ethical decision-making, making them invaluable members of the Palliative Medicine team.

  Requirements

  Requires a Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited school. Requires a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) (equivalent*) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or have a MSW with the requirement to become licensed within 6 months of hire date. An equivalent license applies to states that do not recognize an LMSW; therefore, the employee must possess a Master’s Degree and be a Licensed Social Worker. For assignments in an acute care setting, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is also required. Requires a proficiency level typically achieved with 3 years of social work experience in a health care setting (i.e., hospital, home health, hospice, behavioral health).

  Qualifications

  Previous Hospice or Palliative Care experience is preferred. Experience In Conflict Mediation Is Preferred. Additional related education and/or experience preferred.