Hospice Social Worker

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Completes social worker assessment as related to terminal illness for hospice admissions according to policies and procedures. Coordinates hospice bereavement at the start of admission to hospice through 12 months after the hospice patient is deceased.

Provides psychosocial support and counseling in accordance with the wishes and needs of the patient/family.

Participates in the development, update, and completion of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) plan of care, including a bereavement plan of care for the patient and family and attends and participates in the IDG meetings.

Regularly assesses the hospice patient's social service needs and implements the plan of care provisions to meet those needs.

Provides ongoing psychosocial assessment of the family's coping capacity relative to the patient's terminal condition.

Links patient and family with needed community resources to meet ongoing social, emotional, and economic needs.

Provides bereavement services to families and Hospice staff during the bereavement period, as needed.

Works with HHC/Hospice Supervisor to coordinate the Hospice Volunteer Program including, but not limited to: assigning and updating volunteers and attending Hospice volunteer meetings.

Maintains case records containing pertinent, accurate and current information in the clinical and progress notes, including, but not limited to, social history, psychosocial assessment, and psychosocial counseling according to policy and procedure; prepares correspondence, other reports and other records as required. Adheres to all confidentiality policies and procedures and maintains confidentiality of administrative information.

It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed on a regular basis, nor is the list exhaustive in the sense it covers all the duties an employee may be required to perform. The examples are merely indicative, not restrictive.

Supervisory Responsibilities 

No supervisory responsibilities.

Mathematical Skills 

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability 

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills 

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of client management systems; Internet; spreadsheet and word processing software.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 

Valid Wisconsin Driver’s License, with access to reliable transportation.

Wisconsin Social Work License.

Other Skills and Abilities 

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in the application and interpretation of departmental policies and regulations.

Knowledge of human growth and behavior.

Knowledge of social casework principles and methods.

Knowledge of resources available in the community.

Ability to satisfactorily perform the following functions or demonstrate the following skills including:  establish a therapeutic relationship with clients; make independent decisions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients/families, physicians, health care professionals, co-workers, members of the IDG team, other agencies, and the public; and provide complex services in accordance with principles common to the specialty of the employee.

Ability to apply laws of confidentiality appropriately.

Demonstrates the ability to interpret, support, and uphold the standards, ethics, and boundaries of the social work profession.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to walk and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to weather conditions; hazards of driving; unclean inside environmental conditions; and difficult interpersonal interaction with exposure to potentially violent patients. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.