Medical Social Worker On Call

• To identify, triage and respond to patient and family needs. On-call social worker should provide responsive social work support for patient and family needs.
• This is a part-time role servicing both the Burke and Caldwell areas.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be available by telephone or cellular telephone and respond within 15 minutes
• Communicate with on-call team members and patient care unit staff on regular basis
• Evaluate the physical, financial, psychological, spiritual and pre-bereavement needs of the patient/family in coordination with interdisciplinary team
• Complete patient admission visit and psychosocial admission for new patients
• Assist in assessing patient appropriateness for services
• If patient not appropriate, recommend other services available and refer to community agencies as appropriate
• Educate the patient and family about hospice services
• Assess the financial resources of the patient and family and instruct them on coverage for hospice services, i.e. hospice Medicare/Medicaid benefit, Medicare, private insurance, as appropriate
• Report patient/family information to the nurse team coordinator
• Update primary team on patient status
• Develop plan of care with goals defined by the patient/family and hospice interdisciplinary team
• Provide social work services according to patient plan of care
• Communicate patient changes or family needs to volunteer, chaplain, massage therapist, and minister if applicable
• Support individual coping mechanisms and facilitate constructive expression of feelings and concerns
• Provide support at time of death when appropriate
• Notify volunteer, chaplain/minister and other staff at time of death, if applicable
• Attend funeral or receiving to provide support to family
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability and willingness to work with patients/families regardless of race, color, creed, age or sexual orientation. Must respect their beliefs and philosophy with an attitude of openness and receptiveness.
• Knowledge of health care systems and policies relevant to hospice population
• Knowledge and ability of working with end-of-life issues
• Knowledge and ability to apply therapeutic perspectives (i.e. conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients, caregivers and families, motivational interviewing, life review, strengths-based perspective, meaning centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, therapeutic arts and music techniques)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Master’s degree or bachelor’s degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council of Social Work Education preferred

Experience

• Two years of clinical experience preferred
• Experience in health care preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Visual acuity to read written documentation and computer tasks
• Ability to sit extended periods of time and perform administrative tasks
• Ability to stand, bend and lift an average of 30 pounds
• Manual dexterity with the ability to manipulate office equipment and keyboard for extended periods of time
• Ability to walk, squat, kneel, climb and balance

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must have an automobile with required insurance coverage and state driver’s license