Social Worker (MSW) - Hospice

Responsibilities

• Interviews patient/patient's social support system to complete and initiate psychosocial evaluation.
• Provides counseling, support, and education to patient/patient's social support system.
• Assists patients/patient's social support system in coping with stress related to hospitalization, disability, chronic/terminal illness.
• Works collaboratively with patients and patient's social support system to establish and implement a plan of care with multidisciplinary team that meets the patient's identified psychosocial needs.
• Serves as a resource to hospital staff and physicians regarding emotional, social, and psychosocial components of the patient's illness and its effects on their social support system.
• Assists and facilitates the multidisciplinary team in understanding and integrating these aspects into the plan of care.
• Intervenes in crisis situations, appropriately and effectively applying crisis intervention theory and skills.
• Completes psychosocial assessments for the patient's post-hospital care for designated patients and their support system.
• Works with the Clinical Care Management team to assess and evaluate the patient/patient's social support system for the appropriate level of care or environment setting to meet care needs across the continuum.
• Participates in multidisciplinary care planning meetings.
• Maintains current knowledge and researches availability of community agencies and community resources for social, emotional, or financial assistance.
• Provides information and education to patients and their social support on community resources and options for post-hospital care appropriate to the age of the patients served, in collaboration with the Clinical Care Management team; makes referrals to community agencies as needed.
• Reports suspected cases of child and adult abuse/neglect/exploitation; serves as liaison between hospital, patients/patient's social support system, and Department of Social Services during evaluation/investigation.
• Identifies and records clinical, psychosocial, and financial barriers to a smooth transition across the healthcare continuum and assists in identifying and facilitating system improvements.
• Works with Clinical Care Management leadership to identify problems, recommend solutions, and work toward resolution.
• Develops and maintains accurate case records of each referred patient; documents in medical record according to departmental standards.

Physical Requirements

• Works in an office-type setting with extensive walking throughout the facility.
• Prolonged periods of sitting reviewing medical records and documentation.
• Repetitive wrist motion and occasional lifting of 10–20 pounds.
• Requires frequent verbal and written communication in English.
• Intact sight and hearing with or without assistive devices required.
• Must be able to handle a fast-paced environment, moving independently from one location to another.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education required.
• LCSW preferred.
• If working in the state of South Carolina, must meet and maintain license requirements as outlined by the state.
• At least 1 year professional experience in hospital or health-related setting preferred.
• Expertise with Data Management Tools.
• Adherence to National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.