Social Worker, Long Term Care Memorial Hospital

Detailed Overview

Reporting to the Program Manager, with accountability for clinical Social Work Practice to the Clinical Practice Leader, Social Worker, provides therapeutic clinical counselling services to residents and families in the assigned clinical area within Residential Care. Conducts social work and psycho-social assessments of residents and families using a variety of modalities and in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices and educates and provides consultation to residents, families and healthcare professionals.

Participates and provides leadership on the interdisciplinary team in care planning for the effective utilization of resident resources and participates as a member of local committees and planning bodies to identify areas for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance resident care services and reduce gaps in the community. Provides education to resident/family/interdisciplinary team as needed regarding Social Work practice.

Responsibilities Provides therapeutic clinical counselling services including adjustment, grief and bereavement to Residents and families in the assigned clinical area within Residential Care by methods such as exploring the emotional psycho-social response to identify problems, personal concerns and treatment objectives and facilitating change in a coping style, behaviour, attitude and feelings as it relates to the illness and other system issues.

Participates with Residents, families, community supports and interdisciplinary treatment teams to coordinate services, manage cases and facilitate meetings. Conducts social work and psycho-social assessments of Residents and families by methods such as interviewing the Resident and/or family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the patient and/or family and interpreting the data using a variety of modalities and in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices.

Educates and provides consultation to Residents, families and healthcare professionals on issues related to high risk factors, recovery and current community practice relevant to the assigned clinical specialty area in the fields of adaptation to illness and disability, trauma and bereavement, critical incident stress management, protection of vulnerable adults, chemical dependency and community living and support services. Maintains Residents records by methods such as documenting patient assessments, charting patient information, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements and documenting for future reference.

Provides input to the interdisciplinary team in care planning which includes assistance in managing adjustment to facility living by methods such as interviewing the Resident and/or family to assess and determine care plan and type of interventions required and articulating analysis and recommendations to members of the interdisciplinary team. Communicates with community health and social agencies including government Ministries, Continuing Care personnel and family physicians by performing duties such as collaborating in the assessment and management of individuals at risk, making referrals to appropriate resources when longer term treatment or follow-up is required and exchanging relevant information.

Acts as a resource to Residents and their families by performing duties such as providing information for Residents and families regarding community resources and access to these resources, suggesting contacts to facilitate optimal planning, arranging referrals and facilitating the development of community resources to support the health of families. Participates as a member of local committees and planning bodies by methods such as engaging in program/practice evaluation, identifying opportunities for change, assessing available outcomes and identifying areas for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance Resident care services and reduce service gaps in facility and the community.

Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics by methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, preparing reports as required and recommending an action plan to the Program Manager/PPC. Develops, coordinates and delivers in-services, presentations, psycho-educational and support groups and/or training related to the assigned clinical specialty area by methods such as collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team, determining relevant content and required audiovisual/handout aids, conducting literature searches and planning and coordinating seminars.

Maintains broad development in the Social Work profession by methods such as reviewing literature in the assigned clinical specialty area, consulting with clinical and community experts within the field, evaluating clinical practice and…