Social Worker Hospice ($30.09-$40.71)

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:   This position exists in the County Hospice program and involves responsibility for the delivery of varied social work services to patients and families.  The duties involve the responsibility for providing initial psychosocial evaluations, on-going psychosocial support, direct casework services, bereavement services, community education, outreach and referral.  The work is performed under the general supervision of a Hospice Medical Director.  The incumbent does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

·  Performs comprehensive initial psychosocial and bereavements evaluations and assists in the development and implementation of goal-directed patient plans of care;

·  Assists physicians and other home health care staff and interdisciplinary team members in understanding the significant social and emotional factors related to patient health problems;

·  Assesses the appropriateness of social work referrals and ensuring the timely provision of services;

·  Provides individual and/or family counseling;

·  Provides short-term crisis intervention and individual counseling to the hospice patient, their families and bereaved as needed;

·  Develops and maintains contact with appropriate community agencies and services in order to promote interagency cooperation and to facilitate related referrals;

·  Participates in the hospice quality improvement program;

·  Serves as a member of the hospice interdisciplinary team and provides input for the development of the Hospice Plan of Care;

·  Acts as consultant to home health care staff interdisciplinary team members;

·  Works with patients and families to provide them with information on resources and supports;

·  Documents comprehensive psychosocial and bereavement information clearly, concisely and in a time frame indicated in agency policy;

·  Actively engaged in decisions regarding appropriate admissions to the hospice program;

·  Schedules and conducts family meetings as indicated;

·  Maintains open communication with other team members and volunteers regarding the psychosocial and bereavement needs of patients and their families;

·  Participates in agency and community education and outreach programs as requested to promote professional growth and community understanding and support of patient care;

·  Demonstrates regular professional educational efforts to maintain and enhance social work and bereavement skills;

·  Assists with the development and revision of both social work and bereavement policies and procedures;

·  Responds to bereavement care requests of non-hospice survivors by providing information and/or referrals to appropriate agencies, support groups or counseling programs;

·  Participates in bereavement services related to survivor communication by providing mailings, memorial services and conducting support groups;

·  Maintains updated, accurate records, progress notes and discharge summaries in a timely manner;

·  Maintains and fosters confidentiality of all patient/family information;

·  Makes joint visits with Registered Professional Nurses and other team members to assist with the development/revision of the patient’s plan of care, discharge/transfer assignments.

·  Periodically reviews the social work section of the medical record for quality assurance purposes;

·  Participates in case conferences as related to patient needs.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Good knowledge of the practices and procedures of social work and of the social factors affecting patients and their families; good knowledge of social work treatment modalities and problem solving techniques used to assist patients and their families; good knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques used in group and individual counseling; working knowledge of community service agencies and resources; ability to make psychosocial assessments, and develop and implement treatment plans; ability to establish, maintain and terminate a therapeutic relationship with patients and their families; good knowledge of the Hospice Philosophy of Care; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; ability to prepare records and reports. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:       Either:

A) Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Master’s degree in social work, AND possession of current license to practice social work issued by the New York State Department of Education at time of application; or

B)  Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year college with a bachelor’s degree in social work and one year of social work experience in a health care setting; or

C)  Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, or other field related to social work and is supervised by an MSW as described in paragraph (A) and one year of social work experience in a health care setting.

LCHS offers competitive wage and benefits. Qualified applicants may forward their resume to Human Resources, Lewis County General Hospital, 7785 N. State St., Lowville, NY  13367 or Email: hr@lcgh.net. LCHS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.