Social Worker - Hospice - PRN

About the role

The Hospice Social Worker is responsible for delivering social work services to hospice patients, including psychosocial evaluations, ongoing counseling, casework services, coordination of referrals and bereavement services.

Responsibilities

• Perform initial and ongoing psychosocial/bereavement evaluations of patients/family/caregiver and assist in the development/implementation of the plan of care.
• Is a core member of the interdisciplinary group (IDG) and actively participates in IDG meetings for development and evaluation of the patient’s plan of care.
• Implement a plan of care for each assigned patient/family/caregiver unit and evaluation of that plan of care.
• Assist patient/family/caregiver in determining of goals of care including completion of Advance Directives and POLST forms as needed.
• Conduct patient and family counseling and education considering family system/dynamics and coping methods to all age groups.
• Address advocacy needs for patients/families/and organization.
• Facilitate formal and informal meetings with patients/caregivers/family member as needed.
• Provide crisis management support and consultations with patient/family/caregiver or IDG team.
• Provide information regarding the patient/family/caregivers psychosocial, spiritual, physical and financial needs or difficulties to the IDG team or providers involved in the patients care.
• Serve as liaison with hospitals, care facilities and appropriate agencies to promote interagency cooperation, developing and maintaining communication and facilitating referrals to meet patient needs throughout the continuum of care.
• Responsible for organizing/facilitating the transfer/discharge of patients.
• Assist the family/caregivers in making final arrangements at time of patient’s death.
• Assess, develop and coordinate bereavement plan for significant others for one year following patient death.
• Responsible for documentation in the electronic medical records, assuring accuracy, completeness and compliance with regulations, certification standards, legal and ethical standards according to policies and procedures.
• Participate in orientation of new employees, volunteers or students seeking experience in hospice.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited college.
• Current Oregon LCSW, LMSW or CSWA license.
• Minimum one year hospice experience, including a background in medical social work.
• Valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and automobile liability coverage or access to an insured vehicle.
• CPR certification at hire or within 6 months in position.

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge in case management, social work and counseling in a hospice setting.
• Knowledge of Federal, State and Local regulations, Hospice Medicare Conditions of Participation, and HIPAA privacy rules and regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to take initiative and utilize innovative techniques and ingenuity.
• Ability to interact with various departments throughout the organization.
• Ability to work flexible hours (i.e., after-hours coverage or weekend coverage), as needed.
• General computer skills and a working knowledge of Electronic Medical Records systems, MS office, Outlook, and the internet.
• Ability to adhere to organizational standards, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to tolerate grief.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to learn, focus, understand, and evaluate information and determine appropriate actions.
• Ability to accept direction and feedback, as well as tolerate and manage stress.
• Ability to see, read, hear, and speak clearly for at least 6 hours/day.
• Ability to push, pull, stand, sit, and perform repetitive finger and wrist movement for at least 3-6 hours/day.
• Ability to lift, carry, walk, bend, climb stairs and/or pinch small objects up to 3 hours/day.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle in all kinds of weather conditions.