Hospice Social Worker - MSW - as needed

Williamsburg, Virginia

Overview

Works under the supervision of the physician in accordance with the plan of care to provide quality therapeutic services for patients, residents, and their families. All services are provided by a qualified MSW. Medical Social Services include : assessing emotional factors related to terminal illness, assessing the patient / family psychosocial status, potential for risk of suicide and / or abuse or neglect. Assessing environmental resources and obstacles to maintain safety, assisting the physician and other IDT members in recognizing and understanding the social / mental stress and / or disorder that exacerbates the symptoms related to the terminal illness. Participates in the development or revision of the plan of care. Provides social services including : short term individual counseling, crisis intervention, assistance in providing information and preparation of advanced directives, and transfer of responsibilities regarding fiscal / legal and healthcare decisions. Assesses need for counseling related to risk assessment for pathological grief. Assesses special needs related to cultural diversity including communication, space, role of family members and special traditions.

What you will do

• Provides therapeutic services for patients, residents, and their families. Accurately assesses biopsychosocial functioning of assigned patients and residents by using effective interviewing skills, behavioral observation, mental health assessment skills, and collateral sources of information. Synthesizes information into a written document that provides valuable information for treatment planning. Completes Diagnostic Summaries as assigned.
• Maximizes use of clinical supervision and apprises Clinical Manager or Program Director of complex or problematic clinical issues.
• Completes individualized, thorough medical record documentation according to facility and departmental policy. Maintains thorough and timely documentation of case management activities.
• Employee's individual productivity measures are satisfactory based on FTE / status and average number of assigned patients in case load.
• Provides quality and clinically sound individual, family, and group therapy interventions based on assessed needs that are appropriate for age, stage of development, and level of functioning. Participates in the development and revision of the plan of care. Involves the patient / family in the plan of care.
• Provides social services to include short-term individual counseling, crisis intervention, assistance in providing information and preparation of advance directives, funeral planning and transfer of responsibilities regarding fiscal, legal, and health care decisions. Identifies and utilizes appropriate community resources and assesses patient / family ability to access them. Evaluates patient for long-term care when appropriate and assessing ability to accept change in level of care. Communicates psychosocial information to inpatient facility when level of care changes. Identifies patient / family needs when discharged or when level of care changes. Evaluates patient / family response to interventions when referred to community agency and satisfaction of the services provided.
• Serves as the point of contact for family members and assures they are active participants in the treatment process with patient consent. Provides education for families on suicidality, diagnosis, and plan of care as appropriate. Addresses patient / family questions and issues. Assists patient / family in assessing financial resources as appropriate.
• Supports and benefit patients, residents, department, or facility, in productive ways without compromising patient care duties during non-patient care time.
• Establishes and maintains solid relationships with referral sources, agency personnel, and community providers. Builds trusting collaborative relationships with an interdisciplinary team to support participant care needs. Actively participates in interdisciplinary team meetings. Communicates participant and / or caregiver needs to team members, integrates clinical interventions with the plan of care, and evaluates progress on objectives.

Qualifications

Education

Experience

Licenses and Certifications

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