Medical Social Worker II

The Palliative Care Medical Social Worker will provide thorough clinical and psychosocial assessment andtherapeutic support to those individuals presenting with a life-limiting or life threatening illness. Goals are toimprove the patient's overall quality of life and provide support to the patient and family through patient's end oflife.Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities : Provides direct service to patient's care.Spends percentage of work time designated in direct careCoordinates care for caseload at contracted level. Contributes to the achievement of program annualperformance volume goals.Provides therapeutic support to patient and family and coordinates care across the health carecontinuum.Provides psychosocial interventions with the highest integrity related to cultural appropriateness anddevelopmental stage along the continuum of illnessResponds to referrals promptly.Provides high quality clinical care.Identifies high risk patients with a wide variety of psychosocial problems that may inhibit patientsrecovery or well-being.Utilizes appropriate clinical techniques to establish rapport and effective relationships to facilitate workwith patients and families on a timely basis.Obtains pertinent data including social history, living arrangements, relationships and support systems,occupational and financial and other information.Evaluates data, assessment, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and problems areas with regards totreatment plans and keeps health care team aware of information.Utilizes assessment to make appropriate interventions to enable patient / family to cope with problemsincluding, but not limited to sudden and / or chronic life-limiting or life threatening illness.Facilitates patient and family meetings regarding patient and family communication and decisionmaking.Assist in Advanced Care Planning (ACP)Provides counselling and therapeutic support, including bereavement support after the loss of a lovedoneInvolves patient / families in understanding alternatives and planning and deciding about post-hospitalization care and facilitating their adjustment to and motivation for participating in plan.Advocates on patient's / family's behalf for recognition of their individual needs and for necessaryservices to address needs.Assists multidisciplinary team and patient and family in the clarification of the goals of care and theplan of careAssists the Palliative Care Director in ensuring excellent patient services, coordinating educational andoutreach services, leading quality improvement initiatives, and linking team efforts with other hospitaldepartments and with outpatient and community services.Coordinates team efforts with appropriate hospital support departments to ensure smooth dischargeplanning and clear follow-up discharge; may assist in the development of creative community orsystem care options for patients.Serves as a liason with the hospital hospice and other community hospices, home health, and nursinghomes to ensure care coordination and appropriate assignments and resource allocation to meetpatient needs throughout the continuum of care.Facilitates patient transitions to new environment, helping patient / family cope emotionally and assuringnecessary information and coordination of transportation, etc.Adheres to hospital policy and regulatory requirements that impact on planning.( ) Provides crisis intervention services for patients undergoing emotional, social distress.Maintains all records and documentation according to policy and procedure.Demonstrates quality in documentation reflecting depth of understanding of patient and family andeffectiveness of psychosocial interventions.All clinical documentation is in keeping with policy and procedure. Thoroughly documents all patientcontacts and services on the same day.Maintains other program maintenance activities on a timely basis.Maintains ongoing program activities related to smooth program management; takes initiative andleadership in resolving operating problems.Demonstrates organizational skills that foster completion of routine commitments / assigned tasks on atimely basis, while managing priority of patient care.Participates actively in team, program meetings, taking leadership role when assigned.Assumes responsibility for projects, assignments or joins work groups designed to improve programsor meet goals; independently keeping supervisor informed of status / progress.Conducts work in keeping with BH and department policies and procedure.Participates and contributes to program development.Participates in ongoing and scheduled review of program;proposes and evaluates solutions toidentified problems and assists in implementation.Contributes to and develops new program components; takes leadership role in program goals andobjectives.Provides consultation and education activities on voluntary or assigned basis at contracted level.Participates in marketing activities specific to new program areas and overall service.Participates in marketing activities specific to new program areas and overall service.Supervises others- interns, staff and communicates with supervisors on performance.Provides for own professional growth and development.Demonstrates achievement toward stated annual goals of professional / work plan.Maintains / expands professional skills by attending external educational opportunities.Attends and participates in BH staff development programs; assesses with supervisors strengths andweaknesses, develops and follows through on plans to meet learning needs.Educational / Minimum Requirements : MSW - Two-three years in health care setting.State / Federal Mandated Licensure or Certification Requirements : LCSW eligible.Bristol Hospital Mandated Educational Requirements : General orientation at time of hire. Fire / Safety / Infection Control annually. Other programs as mandated by Hospital. Clinically relevant educational programs as appropriate; all other mandated programs as they occur.Special Requirements : Acute care hospital experience strongly preferred for inpatient Medical Social Worker. Knowledge of entitlement and pre-admission screening programs preferred. Knowledge of DSM-IV, excellent written and verbal communication, knowledge of community resources, social work theory and practice. High degree of empathy / sensitivity, patience and stress tolerance. Demonstrated casework skills. For Home Care Agency : Must have a car to drive to home visits and a valid Connecticut driver's license in good standing; $100,000-$300,000 automobile liability insurance.Home Care experience preferred for Home Care Medical Social Worker.Physical Requirements : Position requires ability to frequently lift light objects, perform moderately difficult manipulative and hand-eye coordination skills; walk, stand and sit for prolonged periods; see objects closely and hear normal sounds with some background noises. Deals with emotionally stressed patients, families and other health care providers in pressured crisis situations. Makes independent decisions in confusing situations.Work Environment : Inpatient Areas : Works in areas throughout hospital including but not limited to nursing floors, patient rooms, Emergency Department, clinics and less frequently in patient homes. Environment is often stressful including frequent exposure to background noise, a variety of people, telephone contact. Shares office space with others. Has high level of contact with all levels of customers. May have contact with highly emotional or out-of-control patient / families. Home Care Agency : Work in patient's homes; exposed to a variety of elements in home setting.Cognitive Requirements : Position requires ability to concentrate on fine detail with interruption and attend to tasks for more than 60 minutes at a time. Individual must be able to understand and relate to theories behind several related concepts and remember multiple tasks given over long periods of time. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Excellent listening skills and understanding of ethnic and cultural differences.DisclaimerThe above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Salary : $100,000 - $300,000