Social Worker

About VIA Health Partners

VIA Health Partners is an industry leader and top-10 nationally ranked provider of end-of-life care. We are a community-based, not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider with deep community roots and decades of experience serving all patients and families regardless of their ability to pay or medical complexity. We are a people-first organization whose funds go to serve our mission.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, and Dental plans through BCBS
• 28 days of Paid Time Off
• Excellent mileage reimbursement rate
• 403b Retirement plan with matching
• Focused programs honoring Veteran patients
• Assistance with achieving Certified Hospice & Palliative Nurse (CHPN) certification
• Best Orientation and Onboarding program
• Seasoned Hospice leaders guiding your career growth

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments of patients, caregivers, and families to identify emotional, social, and environmental strengths and problems related to their diagnosis, illness, treatment, and life situation
• Develop, implement, and evaluate plans of care for patients, caregivers, and families
• Incorporate therapeutic, preventive, and other clinical social work practices that address patient/caregiver and family needs for counseling and education while maintaining the dignity of the dying patient
• Address patient and caregiver needs for resource and referral services and advocacy
• Update plan of care as goals and objectives are achieved or changed
• Support patient/family's individual spiritual/cultural beliefs by assessing cultural issues, developing culturally sensitive care plans, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams
• If not an LCSW, consult with and involve a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Social Work Preceptor in cases requiring clinical social interventions beyond expertise or scope of practice
• Document assessments, care plans, interactions, and interventions according to regulatory and agency standards
• Participate in and work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary group (IDG) and other VIA departments in achieving patient care goals
• Provide education on hospice philosophy and services, advance care planning, and other issues related to end-of-life care; conduct family meetings
• Collaborate with long-term care community staff and other IDG members to determine the patient's level of care and coordinate appropriate utilization of services
• Initiate referral process for volunteers, chaplains, and grief services; continue to reassess supportive service needs and interventions
• Maintain working knowledge of community agencies and resources; assess and refer patient/family to appropriate resources
• Manage time, caseload, and technology; assume responsibility for effective and professional delivery of health services
• Schedule visits in advance based on prioritized judgment of caseload needs
• Prepare for visits, anticipate care needs, review plan of care and patient information, and obtain needed materials and educational resources
• Make visits to provide needed care; follow established plan of care, evaluate patient/caregiver responses, and revise plan of care as necessary
• Provide interventions consistent with the plan of care and perform all interventions required for each visit; identify new problems or needs when they occur
• When appropriate, facilitate transfers of patients to other settings including respite, skilled nursing facilities, or other hospices
• Facilitate patient and caregiver independence to the extent possible
• Facilitate transition from active patient/caregiver status to grief care services after the death of a patient
• Plan workday to respond to priorities and minimize travel time
• Ensure accurate, complete, and timely clinical documentation in accordance with VIA guidelines
• Keep clinical records current by completing and synchronizing electronic medical records throughout the day; complete and submit all clinical documentation per VIA clinical documentation guidelines
• Record time/mileage report logs accurately; submit activity logs in accordance with VIA policy
• Assume responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with interdisciplinary teams and interdepartmental staff
• Attend and participate in meetings as assigned
• Participate actively in the process of improvement
• Maintain open lines of communication with Supervisor; keep Supervisor apprised of any complex patient/caregiver issues
• Assume responsibility for related duties as required or assigned
• Ensure that VIA professional reputation is maintained and projected
• Assume responsibility for professional development and staying abreast of current trends in the social work field; incorporate new information and methods into practice
• Maintain current professional licensure in NC as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and in SC as a Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice (LISW-CP), as applicable

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required if working as a BSW
• Master's degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution if working as MSW
• Medical social work or hospice experience preferred
• Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) or a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by the NC Social Work Certification and Licensure Board and SC Board of Social Work Examiners, Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice (LISW-CP); remain in good standing with the licensing board
• Computer proficiency required
• May perform other duties as required