Medical Social Worker II -Geriatrics/Full Time

Description

The Palliative Care Medical Social Worker will provide thorough clinical and psychosocial assessment and
therapeutic support to those individuals presenting with a life-limiting or life threatening illness. Goals are to
improve the patient's overall quality of life and provide support to the patient and family through patient's end of
life.
Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:
Provides direct service to patient's care.
Spends percentage of work time designated in direct care
Coordinates care for caseload at contracted level. Contributes to the achievement of program annual
performance volume goals.
Provides therapeutic support to patient and family and coordinates care across the health care
continuum.
Provides psychosocial interventions with the highest integrity related to cultural appropriateness and
developmental stage along the continuum of illness
Responds to referrals promptly.
Provides high quality clinical care.
Identifies high risk patients with a wide variety of psychosocial problems that may inhibit patients
recovery or well-being.
Utilizes appropriate clinical techniques to establish rapport and effective relationships to facilitate work
with 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 to
treatment plans and keeps health care team aware of information.
Utilizes assessment to make appropriate interventions to enable patient/family to cope with problems
including, 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 decision
making.
Assist in Advanced Care Planning (ACP)
Provides counselling and therapeutic support, including bereavement support after the loss of a loved
one
Involves 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 necessary
services to address needs.
Assists multidisciplinary team and patient and family in the clarification of the goals of care and the
plan of care
Assists the Palliative Care Director in ensuring excellent patient services, coordinating educational and
outreach services, leading quality improvement initiatives, and linking team efforts with other hospital
departments and with outpatient and community services.
Coordinates team efforts with appropriate hospital support departments to ensure smooth discharge
planning and clear follow-up discharge; may assist in the development of creative community or
system care options for patients.
Serves as a liason with the hospital hospice and other community hospices, home health, and nursing
homes to ensure care coordination and appropriate assignments and resource allocation to meet
patient needs throughout the continuum of care.
Facilitates patient transitions to new environment, helping patient/family cope emotionally and assuring
necessary 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 and
effectiveness of psychosocial interventions.
All clinical documentation is in keeping with policy and procedure. Thoroughly documents all patient
contacts 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 and
leadership in resolving operating problems.
Demonstrates organizational skills that foster completion of routine commitments/assigned tasks on a
timely 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 programs
or 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 to
identified problems and assists in implementation.
Contributes to and develops new program components; takes leadership role in program goals and
objectives.
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 and
weaknesses, develops and follows through on plans to meet learning needs.

Qualifications

Educational / Minimum Requirements:

MSW - Two-three years in health care setting.

Previous experience working in and with hospice is required.

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.

Salary : $100,000 - $300,000