Palliative Care Social Worker

Summary:

The Social Worker contracted or employed through the Agency is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for social work services and adherence to all conditions in the Service or Employment Agreement which include providing care based on the Social Work Practice Act.  The services will be provided in accordance with the philosophy, mission, standards, policies, and procedures of the health care service as ordered by the physician.

Essential Functions:

• Assesses theadvanced care planningandpsychosocialstatus of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient’s terminal illness and environment and communicates findings to the members of thepalliative careinterdisciplinary group. Provides an assessmentvia telehealth, orin the patient’sidentifiedresidence.
• Carries out social evaluations,includinggoals of care conversations, counseling related to disease process,family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns,high risksfor suicide, neglect or abuse and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.  
• Refers patient tocommunitycounseling resources asneeded forpatient and family/caregiverswho needassistancewith mental health, and other identifiedcoping difficulties.
• Assesses for, and educates interdisciplinarygroup, on any special needs related to the culture of the patient and family. Includingcommunication, rolesof familymembers, space, and any special traditions or taboos.
• Maintainsaccurateandtimelyclinical records on all patients referred to social work prepares clinical and progress notes.
• Educates patients and families on, andassistsin, preparation of advanced directives.
• Provides information to patients or families/caregivers and community agencies.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with Agency personnel to support patient care.
• Participates in the development of the individualized plan of care, involving the patient and family, and attends regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings,assistingthe team in recognizingcare planning needs forthe terminal illness.
• Assistsphysicianand other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems.
• Participates in discharge planning.
• Activelyparticipatesin qualityassessmentperformance improvement teams and activities.
• Provides positive customer relations in dealing with patients, families, physicians, fellow department employees, referral sources, services agencies, and others.
• Assistsfamily andpatientin planningforheathcare decisions.
• Performs other duties as requiredand necessary to ensure the success of the Agency.

Supervisory duties:

• None.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to consistently promote, support, work, and act in a manner in support of theMount Evansmission and values.
• Demonstrates goodinterpersonal,verbaland written communication, andorganizationskills.
• Understandspalliative andhospice philosophies, and issues of death/dying.
• Physical, sensory, and cognitive abilitiessufficientto perform essential functions.

Education:

• A graduate of a master’s degree program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education is preferred. A graduate of an accredited BSW program with commensurate experience may also be considered. Meets personnel qualificationsstatedin§418.114(b)(3).
• LCSW Required.

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) years’ experience in health carerequired, home health care and hospice experience preferred.

Additional Requirements/Licenses/Certifications:

• Possesses andmaintainscurrent CPR certification.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insuredin accordance withstate and/or organization requirements and is reliable.

Working 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 the individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work isgenerally performedvia telehealth orin an indoor home environment.
• Travel throughout the community to patientsoccasionally.
• In and out ofautomobile.

Physical Activities:

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 employeeis regularly required totalk and hear. Ability to stand, sit, walk, talk, reach with arms and hands, have good manual dexterity, use hands and fingers tooperatea computer and telephone.
• Prolongedperiodssitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able tolift upto 15 pounds at times.
• The ability to complete assignments in all types of weather and ever-changing and sometimes allergenic environments inpatients’homes, including extreme heat, humidity, dust, and smoke.