Clinical Social Worker, MSW - Ridge Meadows Hospital

Detailed Overview

Reporting administratively to the Manager, Health Services and clinically reporting the Professional Practice Chief, Social Work, provides social work services to patients in an assigned area to improve the emotional and social consequences of a health condition for the patient and family; promotes effective coping and adaptation to the problems brought on by illness; works towards optimal functioning, mastery of situations, maintenance of important social roles, functions and relationships, safe and timely discharges to home or other levels of care.

Responsibilities Identifies and engages with eligible patients in an assigned area utilizing a variety of social work high risk screening and case-finding techniques. Conducts social and psychosocial assessments of patients and families; interprets the information using a variety of modalities in accordance with professional standards and clinical practice. Provides therapeutic counseling services to patients and families experiencing a variety of circumstances relating to their illness.

Facilitates a process whereby the patient and family identify their needs for recovery, adaptation and mastery of the situation; promotes patient/family autonomy by ensuring their participation in planning and decision making and the development of problem solving abilities. Follows up and provides ongoing monitoring of psychosocial situations for patients; evaluates their response to interventions and revises the patient care plan, as required.

Provides information regarding patient'''s psychosocial situation as a member of the interdisciplinary team; participates in developing a comprehensive plan of care with/for the patient; collaborates and consults with other community professionals. Acts as a resource for patients and their families by providing information regarding community resources and access to these resources, facilitating referrals where appropriate; facilitates the development of community resources by identifying services needed to support the health of the patient/family.

Helps patients explore their reactions to loss and provides counseling from a strengths perspective to sustain patient motivation and hope. Coordinates and advocates for the patient with other service providers, both internal and external to the organization, to promote maximum patient social functioning. Participates in quality improvement activities by providing input into the development, implementation and evaluation of program goals, objectives, policies and procedures.

Educates other health service providers about the psychosocial aspects of the health problem through participation at discharge planning rounds, patient and family conferences, clinical documentation and consultations. Documents clinical interventions and participates in outcome assessments and workload measurement activities. Performs other related duties as assigned. Qualifications

Education and Experience Masters of Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work, plus one year's recent related clinical experience with individual, family and group social work. Current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.

Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of counselling skills and clinical practice models as it relates to individuals, families and groups. Demonstrated ability to conduct social and psychosocial assessments. Ability to provide leadership to the interdisciplinary team in care planning in complex client situations. Ability to work effectively with others including working effectively in a multicultural environment. Ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team, and understanding the scope of practice of other health care disciplines.

Ability to make effect referrals, reflecting in-depth knowledge of community resources and strong collaborative skills in working with other community agencies. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with clients, families, other members of the health care team, and community agencies. Demonstrated ability to effectively deal with conflict. Ability…