Hospice Social Worker (MSW)

• Provides professional counseling, assessment of psychosocial needs, assessments for financial needs and services including providing written explanation of Medicare, Medicaid and Insurance benefits to prospective patients/families when necessary, and provides guidance with regards to the grief and loss process.

• Completes psychosocial history and assessment, assessing the needs of the patient and family systems’ psychosocial needs, within the guidelines of the policies and procedures.

• Provides crisis intervention and suicide assessment.

• Participates in the development of the plan of care with the interdisciplinary team, collaborates with other team members, and participates in updates to the plan of care.

• Provides services to the patient and family consistent with the plan of care.

• Assists the patient and family to cope with the psychosocial changes and stresses related to the terminal illness.

• Locates and obtains resources necessary to the financial, social, and emotional well-being of the patient.

• Provides counseling to family/caregivers to assist in coping with approaching death of the patient.

• Documents in the medical record all services.

• Provides bereavement services to families of patients and refers families to other resources as needed.

• Provides training in psycho-social needs of patients/families to hospice staff/nursing home staff.

• Recruit, train, and supervises hospice and home care volunteers, including assignments to families and patients.

• Assist with the physician and other health care team member’s in understanding the significant social and emotional factors related to the health problems of the patient.

• Supervise/advise assigned BSW or baccalaureate degree person working in capacity of a social worker.

• Prepares clinical and progress notes according to policy and procedures.

• Uses appropriate community resources.

• Participates in discharge planning.

• Participates in ongoing inservice education.

• Acts as a consultant to agency personnel.

• Coordinates care provided to patients and families under the direction of the Director of Health Services.

• Other duties as assigned by Administrator.

• Demonstrate knowledge of hospice services, progression of terminal illness, DNR/advance directives, financial resources, cultural diversity, family life cycle, grieving process, and burial planning.

• Employ skilled social work interventions (e.g. assessment, counseling, education, referral to community resources, crisis intervention).

• Continually reassess psychosocial needs of patient/resident and family (including bereavement risk).

• Maintain, formulate and adhere to individualized care plans to address patient/resident/family needs.

• Identify and attempt to resolve ethical situations that arise in the course of providing hospice care. Seek assistance from leadership as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES\:

• Participate in center/agency surveys (Licensure / JCAHO) and any subsequently required reports.

• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs to keep abreast of changes in your field as well as to maintain current license/certification, as required.

• Attend and participate in mandatory inservices.

• Honor patients/residents’ rights to fair and equitable treatment, self-determination, individuality, privacy, property and civil rights, including the right to wage complaints.

• Comply with corporate compliance program.

• Report job-related functions/tasks that involve occupational hazards including exposure to blood and body fluids and others as necessary.

• Follow established safety regulations, to include fire protection & prevention, smoking regulations, infection control, etc.

• Follow established safety procedures when performing tasks and/or working with equipment.

• Perform other related duties as necessary and as directed by supervisor.

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