Medical Social Worker On Call

On-Call Social Worker

To identify, triage and respond to patient and family needs. On-call social worker should provide responsive social work support for patient and family needs.

This is a part-time role servicing both the Burke and Caldwell areas.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Be available by telephone or cellular telephone and respond within 15 minutes
• Communicate with on-call team members and patient care unit staff on regular basis
• Evaluate the physical, financial, psychological, spiritual and pre-bereavement needs of the patient/family in coordination with interdisciplinary team
• Complete patient admission visit and psychosocial admission for new patients
• Assist in assessing patient appropriateness for services
• If patient not appropriate, recommend other services available and refer to community agencies as appropriate
• Educate the patient and family about hospice services
• Assess the financial resources of the patient and family and instruct them on coverage for hospice services, i.e. hospice Medicare/Medicaid benefit, Medicare, private insurance, as appropriate
• Report patient/family information to the nurse team coordinator
• Update primary team on patient status
• Develop plan of care with goals defined by the patient/family and hospice interdisciplinary team
• Provide social work services according to patient plan of care
• Communicate patient changes or family needs to volunteer, chaplain, massage therapist, and minister if applicable
• Support individual coping mechanisms and facilitate constructive expression of feelings and concerns
• Provide support at time of death when appropriate
• Notify volunteer, chaplain/minister and other staff at time of death, if applicable
• Attend funeral or receiving to provide support to family
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability and willingness to work with patients/families regardless of race, color, creed, age or sexual orientation. Must respect their beliefs and philosophy with an attitude of openness and receptiveness.
• Knowledge of health care systems and policies relevant to hospice population
• Knowledge and ability of working with end-of-life issues
• Knowledge and ability to apply therapeutic perspectives (i.e. conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients, caregivers and families, motivational interviewing, life review, strengths-based perspective, meaning centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, therapeutic arts and music techniques)

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Master's degree or bachelor's degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council of Social Work Education preferred

Experience:

Two years of clinical experience preferred

Experience in health care preferred

Physical Demands:

Visual acuity to read written documentation and computer tasks

Ability to sit extended periods of time and perform administrative tasks

Ability to stand, bend and lift an average of 30 pounds

Manual dexterity with the ability to manipulate office equipment and keyboard for extended periods of time

Ability to walk, squat, kneel, climb and balance

Special Requirements:

Must have an automobile with required insurance coverage and state driver's license