Medical Social Worker On Call

Description To identify, triage and respond to patient and family needs. On-call social worker should provide responsive social work support for patient and family needs.

This is a part-time role servicing both the Burke and Caldwell areas.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Be available by telephone or cellular telephone and respond within 15 minutes · Communicate with on-call team members and patient care unit staff on regular basis · Evaluate the physical, financial, psychological, spiritual and pre-bereavement needs of the patient/family in coordination with interdisciplinary team · Complete patient admission visit and psychosocial admission for new patients · Assist in assessing patient appropriateness for services · If patient not appropriate, recommend other services available and refer to community agencies as appropriate · Educate the patient and family about hospice services · Assess the financial resources of the patient and family and instruct them on coverage for hospice services, i.e. hospice Medicare/Medicaid benefit, Medicare, private insurance, as appropriate · Report patient/family information to the nurse team coordinator · Update primary team on patient status · Develop plan of care with goals defined by the patient/family and hospice interdisciplinary team · Provide social work services according to patient plan of care · Communicate patient changes or family needs to volunteer, chaplain, massage therapist, and minister if applicable · Support individual coping mechanisms and facilitate constructive expression of feelings and concerns · Provide support at time of death when appropriate · Notify volunteer, chaplain/minister and other staff at time of death, if applicable · Attend funeral or receiving to provide support to family · Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

· Ability and willingness to work with patients/families regardless of race, color, creed, age or sexual orientation. Must respect their beliefs and philosophy with an attitude of openness and receptiveness. · Knowledge of health care systems and policies relevant to hospice population · Knowledge and ability of working with end-of-life issues · Knowledge and ability to apply therapeutic perspectives (i.e. conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients, caregivers and families, motivational interviewing, life review, strengths-based perspective, meaning centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, therapeutic arts and music techniques)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

· Master’s degree or bachelor’s degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council of Social Work Education preferred

Experience:

· Two years of clinical experience preferred · Experience in health care preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

· Visual acuity to read written documentation and computer tasks · Ability to sit extended periods of time and perform administrative tasks · Ability to stand, bend and lift an average of 30 pounds · Manual dexterity with the ability to manipulate office equipment and keyboard for extended periods of time · Ability to walk, squat, kneel, climb and balance

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

· Must have an automobile with required insurance coverage and state driver’s license