Social Worker

REPORTS TO: Manager of Support Services 

FLSA/Labor Grade: Exempt 

Location: Columbus Service Area, including but not limited to: Columbus, Edinburgh, Franklin, Greenwood, Mooresville

Schedule: M-F 8-4:30 pm with on call and holiday rotation 

JOB SUMMARY

This position shall be responsible for providing counseling and supportive services that encourage the grief process and patient/family adjustment to the terminal illness, according to individual and/or family needs. 

Responsibilities: 

1. Assists in the implementation, development and revisions of the plan of care through the development of problems, intervention, and goals.
2. Provides services as indicated by the plan of care.
3. Assists patient/family in locating simple legal forms (e.g. Living Will, out of hospital DNR, General Power of Attorney, Health Care Representative).
4. Provides psychosocial assessments and psychological counseling for the following but not limited to:

1. Patient/family adjustment to terminal illness.
2. Individual counseling relating to: stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem and feeling of inadequacy.
3. Family counseling relating to social/emotional problems.
4. In the coordination of services for hospice care including: environmental, equipment, temporary care services, long term care and community support agencies. 
5. Economic counseling to assist in receiving financial aid applications.
6. Grief counseling.

5. Records in patients chart diagnostically, appropriately, and promptly the social finds, impressions and plan of action in relations to medical social problems.
6. Participates in quality assessment and performance improvement program and Hospice sponsored in-service training. 
7. Participates in Hospice team meetings that serve to coordinator the patient plan of care (IDG) and other team and organizational meetings that contribute to the accomplishment of strategic goals. 
8. Facilitates Support Groups
9. Assists with Memorial Services
10. May help and assist with bereavement follow-up care for thirteen months after patient’s death.
11. Participates in on-call service to patient/family to insure availability on a 24 hour, seven day-a-week basis.
12. Assists with training and educating bereavement volunteers.
13. An individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

1. Participated in the educational process of the Hospice approach to other professionals and volunteers. 
2. Other duties and tasks, as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Conditions are considered Essential Functions of Position.

1. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

2. Exposure to repetitive motion.

3. Predominantly inside environmental conditions with some exposure to outside environmental conditions.

4. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

5. Regularly required to use hands, talk and hear within normal range.

6. Frequently required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms, or twist. 

7. Specific vision abilities include close, peripheral, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

8. Finger dexterity required. 

9. Must follow Universal Protection Precautions and Blood borne Pathogens Guidelines. Possible Occupational exposure (Category C employee) to human blood borne pathogens.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Education
   • Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. 

2. Experience

•  Hospice and/or Home Health experience preferred. 
• Has one year of social work experience in a health care setting. 

3. Licensure

• Valid Indiana Driver’s License.
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Indiana Licensed. 

4. Skills

• Ability to exercise time management and flexibility to accommodate work schedule, including evenings and weekends
• Excellent interpersonal skills; working with large groups of volunteers and other diverse groups. 
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Ability to effectively present, respond and address clients, customers and the general public.
• Creativity and initiative required. 
• Ability to perform under high stress situations.
• Strong organizational, managerial, and motivational skills.
• Proficiency in accuracy, detail, and follow-up.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and the Internet.