Social Worker

Position Description

Social Worker

Primary Function: In compliance with Hospice philosophy, goals, and policies, the

Social Worker functions as a member of the interdisciplinary Hospice care team; as educator, negotiator, advocate, counselor, and home care monitor.

The major focus of the Social Worker is related to medical social work and family counseling which assists patients and families with social and emotional needs and practical problems relevant to advanced illness and death.

Essential Functions: 1. Must have a baccalaureate or master's degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

2. Maintain current unrestricted North Carolina driver's license and maintain minimum automobile liability insurance for the duration of employment.

3. Must be physically capable of providing patient care in a patient's home and various institutional settings to include supporting, moving, and lifting adult patients, and lifting equipment and supplies.

4. Must be available for night and weekend duty when appropriate.

5. Must be able to interact with patients, family members, visitors, co-workers, and medical staff under a variety of circumstances.

6. Regular, reliable attendance is essential.

7. Must be current in health immunization requirements of North Carolina and Hospice of Davidson County.

Supervision: Director of Support Services

Qualifications: A baccalaureate or master's degree in social work from a program

accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Experience in medical social work and counseling.

Ability to work with the team concept of patient/family care and to

react to crisis situations independently.

Ability to work interdependently.

Knowledge of community resources.

Ability to communicate clearly in writing and speaking.

Commitment to the Hospice concept and standards.

Duties:

The Social Worker provides medical social services and counseling to patients and families, acts as liaison with other community resources and assists staff and other team members in under-standing significant social and emotional factors affecting a patient and family during illness and grief.

The following are the specific responsibilities of the Social Worker:

Family Units

1. Interprets to the care team the family units' needs and

problems as these change over time.

2. Participates with team in developing and implementing initial

and continuing care plans.

3. Ensures that patient/family care plan is reviewed at weekly

team conference.

4. Assists family units in coping with personal and environ- mental difficulties which impinge on care related to death and grief

5. Acts as referral agent to community resources required to

assist with concerns, needs and problems.

6. Advises and assists family units in third party reimbursement

mechanisms.

7. Serves as advocate between families and community.

8. Records family unit's data in Hospice records and assists/

instructs volunteers in recording.

9. Aware of basic pain management including use of pain rating scales. Recognizes and communicates with the Hospice nurse the need for intervention regarding pain when indicated.

Staff

1. Makes a minimum of three to four home visits daily to assist patients and families with social and emotional needs relating to terminal illness and death.

2. Participates in staff and volunteer mutual support system.

3. Shares psychosocial aspects of Hospice care with care team.

4. Participates in volunteer training.

5. Participates in ongoing evaluation of Hospice program and

services.

6. Assists with coordination of patient/family volunteer program.

7. Attends weekly team conferences.

8. Documents services and expenditures for reimbursement

purposes.

9. Acknowledges importance of team awareness.

10. Addresses patients, co-workers, and other healthcare professionals in a pleasant and respectful manner.

11. Demonstrates the ability to remain friendly and cooperative during all work conditions.

12. Conveys instructions, directions, and information to co- workers.

13. Consults with immediate supervisor as issues and concerns arise while maintaining consistent and concise lines of authority.

14. Attends required in-services on an annual basis:

A. Risk Management

B. Bloodborne Pathogens/TB

C. Body Mechanics

D. Fire Safety

E. General Safety/Hazardous Materials

F. Patient/Staff Relations

15. Maintains a safe and clean work area to promote work place safety.

16. Completes Employee Activity Log daily.

17. Follows all policies and procedures.

18. Maintains confidentiality of Protected Health Information (PHI) at all times.

19. Performs other duties or special projects as requested by the Director of Support Services.

Physical Demands: 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 essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms, to talk or hear.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.