Social Worker - Hospice

Work Where You Matter!

At St. Croix Hospice we guide patients and families through the end-of-life journey. Through compassionate care, we focus on our patient's quality of life, empowering them to make the most of their time with dignity, comfort and respect. If you are ready to be part of an extraordinary team of caregivers, then come work where you matter.

Social Worker

Position Overview

The Social Worker is an experienced professional and member of the patient care team who provides emotional and practical support for patients and their families in accordance with their unique Plan of Care. As part of the patient care team the Social Worker meets with patients and their families, coordinates with the clinical team and connects them with community resources and services.

Essential Functions and Skills
Patient Care

• Assesses the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment and communicates findings to the Registered Nurse and other members of the interdisciplinary care team. Provides an assessment in the patient's identified residence and assistance when this is not safe and another plan is required.
• Carries out social evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, suicide risk, neglect, or abuse, and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.
• Counsels' patients and family/caregivers as needed in relationship to stress, and other identified coping difficulties. Provides crisis intervention when necessary.
• Provides ongoing Bereavement support to individuals identified as moderate or high-risk.
• Assesses any special needs related to the culture of the patient and family while educating interdisciplinary care team. Includes communication, role of family, space, and any special traditions or cultural considerations.
• Works under the supervision of a Master Social Worker (MSW).
• Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
• Educates patients and families and assists in preparation of advanced directives.
• Provides information and referral services for patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs.
• Provides information to patients and families/caregivers regarding and serves as a liaison to community agencies.
• Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and personnel.
• Participates in the development of the individualized plan of care, involving the patient and family, and attends regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings, assisting the team in recognizing the effects of the psychosocial stresses on the symptoms of the terminal illness.
• Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems and death/dying issues.
• Assists Bereavement leadership in maintaining a program to meet the needs of families/caregivers for 13 months following the death of a patient to ensure compliance with all state, federal, and CHAP regulatory requirements.
• Ensures the initial bereavement assessment is completed or assigned to appropriate team member in a timely manner.
• Assists Chaplain in making condolence call to bereaved as needed.
• Assists with maintaining, organizing, and updating bereavement support group schedule.
• Assists family and patient in planning funeral arrangements, financial, legal, and health care decision responsibilities.
• Responsible for maintaining compliance with all HIPAA regulations and requirements. Treats all patient information as confidential and utilizes protected health information on a minimum necessary basis.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Must have a bachelor's degree in social work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Current licensed in the state(s) of practice
• Six (6) licensure levels:
  • Licensed Bachelor Social Work (LBSW)
  • Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
  • Limited Licensed Master Social Worker (Limited LMSW)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Social Service Technician (SST)
  • Limited Social Service Technician (SST)
• Social Workers can have compact licenses.
• Ability to pass background, consumer report, and drug test.
• Valid State Driver's License, access to an automobile in good working order, automobile insurance in accordance with state and organizational requirements, and an acceptable driving record required.

Preferred

• Master's degree in social work, preferred.
• 1+ years of social work experience in a health care setting, preferably hospice.

Physical Requirements
The physical requirements described are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made.

• Pushing/Pulling and Lifting/carrying up to 12 pounds. Occasionally up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to adapt to a variety of work conditions to ensure the highest quality of patient care in a home setting.
• May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases. Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances. May be exposed to/occasionally exposed to patient elements. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations. Travel required. OSHA exposure category: Category I - Position includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues. Category II - Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues, but employment may require unplanned Category I tasks. Category III - Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues; would not be required to perform Category I tasks.