Social Worker, Hospice

Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.

Delivers varied social work services to Hospice patients and their families. Provides initial emotional, spiritual, psychosocial assessments, ongoing counseling, bereavement services and community education, outreach and referral. Integral part of the Hospice IDG. Services are provided in accordance with accepted standards of professional practice and the policies and procedures of Prisma Health.

• All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's values:
  Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
• Initiates contact with the patient/family within 48 hrs. of Hospice admission to assess psychosocial needs, financial resources, stability of the caregiving situation and the patient's end of life wishes, and risk factors that may affect the delivery of care.
• Offers support to the patient /family based upon their belief system, recognizing and appreciating the age, cultural and religious differences of the individuals.
• Plans/offers age-appropriate interventions, based upon knowledge of the stages of development and end of life issues:
  Pediatrics, Adult, Geriatric.
• Evaluates the effect of psychosocial concerns on the overall comfort of the patient and the grieving process for the patient and family.
• Reassesses the needs of the patient/family based upon the changing needs, the effects of stress and the process of grief. Reports progress toward goals.
• Evaluates the effect of the social work interventions, alters the POC as needed.
• Participates in IDG care planning, offering insights and knowledge to other team members in a supportive manner. Recognizes the value of the interdisciplinary approach to care. Seeks opportunities to collaborate and to keep all team members informed.
• Assists the patient to verbalize wishes for self‑determined life closure. Assists the team and other medical professionals to follow the expressed wishes of patient. Assists the family to be supportive of the patient's wishes.
• Completes the documentation of all contacts within twenty‑four hours.
• Practices and promotes sound ethical practices assisting the team to explore ethical issues in the delivery of care.
• Attends visitations and funerals when indicated in order to offer support.
• Visits the family of SNF residents and patients in CRCF's in their home to offer support.
• Acts as a patient/family advocate.
• Plans/offers family/individual grief counseling and support for clients of all ages based on knowledge of the different ways in which each person processes grief and loss and considers their individual beliefs, values, and cultural/religious backgrounds.
• Makes appropriate referrals to community agencies for the long‑term counseling needs of clients.
• Consults with mental health professionals involved in the care of the patient /caregiver in order to support existing therapy.
• Assess the patient/caregiver for risk factors related to mental health, suicide, violence, etc., informs the team and plans interventions.
• Plans/offers complimentary interventions (relaxation, massage, music, etc.) to both patient and family to assist with stress/anxiety reduction and to promote rest.
• When assigned, carries out the bereavement plan (letters, memorials, counseling, support group, etc.) in a timely manner and documents all activities and contacts in the bereavement record.
• Offers supportive interventions (debriefing) to other team members as needed.
• Provides bereavement support as requested for any community entity (employers, churches, schools, SNF's etc.).
• Leads the team in the resolution of intrafamily conflicts, facilitating family conferences.
• Maintains all counseling records according to policy and procedure.
• Coordination of care plan with other agencies.
• Works with team members, the client and outside agencies to identify resources, plan care and coordinate information and interventions resulting in an improved environment of care and caregiving situation.
• Makes referrals to DSS and coordinates interventions and planning.
• Makes referrals to agencies that can provide additional services to meet patient/family needs (i.e. CLTC,…