Grief Support Specialist

Description

VIA Health Partners is an industry leader and top-10 nationally ranked provider of end-of-life care.  More importantly we are proud to be a community based, not for profit hospice & palliative care provider.  We have deep community roots, with decades of experience serving ALL patients’ and families’ needs regardless of their ability to pay or their medical complexity. We are a people first organization whose funds go to serve our mission.

Due to our significant growth, we are looking for amazing new staff who share these same values. Apply now and be a part of our success story.

We provide excellent benefits including:

• Medical, Vision, and Dental plans through BCBS
• 28 days of Paid Time Off
• Excellent mileage reimbursement rate 
• 403b Retirement plan with matching
• Focused programs honoring Veteran patients
• Assistance with achieving Certified Hospice & Palliative Nurse (CHPN)
• Best Orientation and Onboarding program you’ve experienced
• Seasoned Hospice leaders guiding your career growth

Essential Functions

• Assumes responsibility for the provision of grief care
  • Assesses grief care needs based on survivor assessment with input from initial evaluations, psychosocial assessment, death assessment and other documents that are part of the on-going grief assessment process.  Develops, implements, and evaluates plan of care. Evaluates and updates plan of care as goals and objectives are achieved or changed.
  • Provides individual/group counseling and therapeutic interventions.
  • Provides referrals to community resources and initiates and maintains a liaison relationship with community resources to effectively coordinate multidisciplinary care.  Consults with the interdisciplinary team when initiating care and when significant changes in care needs occur.  Reliably communicates pertinent information to appropriate members of the interdisciplinary team.
  • Provides anticipatory grief services when requested by the interdisciplinary team and/or provides consultation regarding anticipatory grief interventions to members of the team.
  • Provides community education and presentations on issues of grief and loss.
  • Conducts memorial services and other remembrance activities as requested.
  • Participates in interdisciplinary group conferences (IDG) and special case conferences.
• Assumes responsibility for the effective and professional delivery of health services
  • Schedules visits in advance based on prioritized judgment of case load needs.
  • Prepares for visits, anticipates care needs, reviews plan of care, and obtains needed materials and educational resources.
  • Makes visits to provide needed care.  Follows established plan of care, evaluates responses to determine progress toward goals, and revises plan of care as necessary.
  • Provides interventions consistent with the plan of care and performs all interventions required for each visit.  Identifies new problems or needs when they occur.
  • Plans workday to respond to priorities as well as to minimize travel time.
  • Carries caseload, maintains productivity, and produces timely documentation according to current organizational standards.
  • Consistently strives to provide care that meets VIA’s Exceptional Care/Exceptional Experience standards.
• Ensures accurate, complete and timely clinical documentation in accordance with VIA Health Partners guidelines
  • Keeps clinical records current by transferring laptop information daily. 
  • Completes and submits all clinical documentation per VIA Health Partners clinical documentation guidelines.
  • Records time/mileage report logs accurately.  Submits activity logs in accordance with VIA Health Partners policy.
• Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with interdisciplinary teams and interdepartmental staff
  • Attends and participates in meetings as assigned.
  • Participates actively in the process of improvement.
  • Maintains open lines of communication with supervisor.  Keeps supervisor apprised of any complex patient/caregiver issues.
  • If assigned to a HART team, may provide memorial services on behalf of assisted living or nursing home staff and/or residents.
• Assumes responsibility for related duties as required or assigned
  • Ensures that VIA Health Partners professional reputation is maintained and projected.
  • Assumes responsibility for professional development and staying abreast of current trends in the pastoral counseling field.  Incorporates new information and methods into practice. 
  • Assists as needed with Chameleon’s Journey and other activities.
  • Maintains current professional licensure if applicable.
• May perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Divinity or a graduate degree in another related field preferably with clinical concentration. 
• Clinical experience in death, dying, and grief care required, with a thorough understanding of Hospice care. 
• A minimum of one year counseling experience in the are of grief and bereavement or the equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience.
• Basic computer skills, using Microsoft Office.