Medical Social Worker - Hospice

Medical Social Worker

Medical Social Services will be provided by a qualified social worker under the direction of a physician. Medical Social work services will be based on the patient's psychosocial assessment and the patient and family's needs. The Master of Social Work is responsible for supporting and supervising Medical Social Workers to deliver high-quality care consistent with standards of practice. The Master of Social Work may also deliver medical social services to patients, participate in the coordination of care with the Interdisciplinary Group/Team (IDG/T), and participate in on-call rotation per the Hospice needs. The Master of Social Work reports to the Hospice Administrator.

Role Expectations:

• Provide supervision for Medical Social Workers consistent with training and experience of Medical Social Workers. Also taking into consideration the complexity of patient care and collaboration with the IDT/G.
• Be readily available when social services are being provided.
• The supervising Master of Social Work must hold documented conferences with the Medical Social Worker regarding patient care.
• The Master of Social Work is responsible for determining the frequency of the conferences consistent with accepted standards of practice.
• Assesses and completes the Comprehensive Assessment within five (5) days of the patient's election of hospice care to identify patient and family's psychosocial, financial, environmental and community needs as evidence by POC, documentation, clinical records, IDG/T meetings and community resource referrals.
• Assists with advance directives, funeral planning, discharge planning, family counseling and may assist in changes in the level of care as indicated by the patient or family's needs.
• Meets mandatory continuing education requirements of the Hospice and licensing board.
• Demonstrates commitment, professional growth, and competency by maintaining a working knowledge of public and private eligibility standards and requirements.
• Provides patient and family/caregiver counseling around issues of end-of-life, death, and grief.
• Attends IDG/Team meetings, participate in the patient care planning process and coordinating and collaborating with the IDG to promote coordination of patient care.
• Provides an environment that promotes respect for patients and their privacy and property.
• Provides services utilizing infection control measures (OSHA)
• Timely submission of all required paperwork.
• Demonstrates commitment and professional growth by participating in hospice-sponsored in-service programs and maintaining or improving competency. Participates in the Hospice's QAPI program.
• Promotes the Hospice's philosophy and administrative policies.
• Performs on-call responsibilities and provides on-call services to patients and their families as assigned. Meets productivity standards.
• Provides effective communication to patients, their family members, team members, and other health care professionals.
• Transportation: Reliable transportation and valid auto liability insurance

Requirements:

• Graduate of Medical Social Work degree as a Licensed Medical Social Worker.
• Graduate of a Master program
• Adhere to state regulations where practicing including:
• Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council Standards
• Evidence of passing the Texas Jurisprudence Exam
• Licensure: Current drivers' license
• Experience: One (1) year of experience in palliative care or hospice preferred.
• Skills: Working knowledge of community resources. Good interpersonal skills. Demonstrates ability to work with computers.

Physical Requirements:

1. Environmental and Working Conditions: Works in patient homes in various conditions; possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and infectious diseases; ability to work a flexible schedule; ability to travel locally; some exposure to unpleasant weather; PRN emergency calls.
2. Physical and Mental Effort: Prolonged standing and walking required, with ability to lift up to 50lbs and move patients. Requires working under some stressful conditions to meet deadlines and patient needs, and to make quick decisions and resource acquisition; meet patient/family individualized psychosocial needs. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity.
3. Ability to communicate with patients, families, physicians, co-workers, and visitors to be able to exchange accurate information regarding patient condition and health status. Ability to exchange and express information by means of language and communicate information effectively.
4. Ability to hear the nature of sounds. Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupt at inappropriate times.
5. Ability to make independent judgments and decisions. Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
6. Ability to view tablet, Electronic Health Record, and review, assess, record or type data quickly and accurately.
7. Ability to travel to patient homes and office/support center locations as needed to deliver care or for education purposes.

This description is a general statement of essential functions that are required to be performed on a regular and continuous basis. It does not exclude other duties as assigned