SOCIAL WORKER MSW-HOSPICE

Essential Job Functions

• Complete thorough assessment/reassessment of patient and family information.
• Include medical, social, environmental and spiritual/cultural factors which may impact treatment plans and patient response and compliance.
• Prepare psychological histories to augment existing service, or as a guide in determining or changing level of service.
• Assess a patients’ financial situation taking into consideration patient’s prognosis and medical needs, referring to an agency for financial assistance when indicated, interpreting the medical situation to the referring agency and facilitating the process of referral.
• Collaborate with professional staff to identify social problems, interrelatedness to the medical situation as well as assessing a patients/family’s strengths and weaknesses, and discuss alternate methods of intervention.
• Complete accurate, timely and appropriate documentation and communication of services rendered, plan of care, patient education, progress toward goals, and care, cost and quality outcomes.
• Participate with medical team members in development of the plan of treatment and discharge planning.
• Provide therapeutic goal directed counseling services to patients and families in order to facilitate the process for desired patient outcomes.
• Assist with health care decision making, patient rights, patient self-determination, customer satisfaction, length of stay and resource consumption.
• Apply advanced interpersonal skills in counseling, critical thinking, conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, advocating and education when dealing with patients, families and co-workers.
• Provide support and assistance to staff members giving care to patients.
• Contribute to the educational programs of a student, new employee or others who might be receiving experience in this area.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of community resources and expertise in accessing social systems.
• Provide healthcare consumers with specific information relevant to presenting problems or expressed needs in order to improve health status, promote wellness and healthy life styles.
• Assist patient/family to obtain economic stability through referral to assisting agencies.
• Hospice role- understand the hospice philosophy and perform care accordingly to enhance the quality of life of the terminally ill patient.
• Maintain and demonstrate an understanding of the Hospice benefit and comply with regulatory conditions of participation.
• Provide counseling services to Hospice patient/family regarding adjustment to terminal illness, emotional conflicts, financial planning, funeral arrangements, and the use of community services.
• Attend interdisciplinary team meetings and interprets the patient/significant others’ psychosocial response to the terminal illness.
• Collaborate with medical, nursing and counselor members of the core team to review patient referrals, develop the initial plan of care, and assess the need for inpatient and respite admission.
• Make pre-admission visits when requested.
• Complete a psychosocial assessment of hospice patients and families and provide follow-up care as determined by the interdisciplinary team.
• Assess patient/family spiritual needs and communicate with community clergy, as needed and request by patient/family.
• Assess survivor risk factors before death, and make bereavement referrals.
• Perform in accordance with Excela Health universal behavioral/costumer service standards and competencies to support the mission, vision, and values of the Health System.
• as patient census dictates, to provide quality necessary care where patient need is greatest.
• Cognitive ability to function and concentrate on the essential and specialty functions of the job at a high level.
• Achieves thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing an essential or specialty function of the job.
• Ability to think and concentrate for an entire shift.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Master of Social Work (MSW) or Doctoral Degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

• Minimum of one (1) year experience in a healthcare setting, skilled nursing facility, home health agency or hospice.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Academy of Certified Social Work (ACSW).
• Experience in Healthcare setting.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current PA State Licensure in Social Work
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required.
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance
• Valid Driver’s License (if out of state hire, the record report from applicable state driver’s license department is required)

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Education

• Masters or better in SOCIAL WORK

Licenses & Certifications

• SOCIAL WORKER

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)