Hospice of Davidson County Hiring For Full Time: Home Care Social Worker at Lexington, NC, United States Full Time

Job Description

Position Description

Medical Social Worker I

Primary Function:

In compliance with Hospice philosophy, goals, and policies, the Social Worker I functions as a member of the interdisciplinary Hospice care team; as educator, negotiator, advocate, counselor, and home care monitor.

The major focus of the Social Worker I is related to medical social work which assists patients and families with social and emotional needs and practical problems relevant to advanced illness and death.

Training:

Orientation to Hospice, Home Health, Inpatient and Palliative Care services and any other training that may be necessary to complete the assigned duties.

Supervision: Director of Home Care Services

Qualifications:

• Baccalaureate degree in social work from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, or a baccalaureate degree in psychology, sociology or other field related to social work and is supervised by a MSW as described above and has one year of social work experience in a healthcare setting or Baccalaureate degree in social work from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is employed by Hospice before December 2, 2008 is not required to be supervised by MSW.
• Experience in medical social work and counseling preferred.
• Must be physically capable of providing patient care in a patient’s home and various

institutional settings to include supporting, moving, and lifting adult patients, and lifting

equipment and supplies. * Ability to work with the team concept of patient/family care and to react to crisis situations independently.

• Ability to work interdependently.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to work with community agencies and ancillary health services.
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and speaking.
• Must be available for night and weekend duty when appropriate.
• Must be able to interact with patients, family members, visitors, co-workers, and medical staff under a variety of circumstances.
• Maintain current unrestricted North Carolina driver’s license and maintain minimum

automobile liability insurance for the duration of employment. * Regular, reliable attendance is essential.

• Must be current in health immunization requirements of North Carolina and Hospice of Davidson County.
• Commitment to the Hospice concept and standards.

Job Duties:

The Social Worker I provides medical social services and counseling to patients and families, acts as liaison with other community resources and assist staff and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors affecting a patient and family during illness and grief.

The following are the specific responsibilities of the Social Worker I:

Family Units:

• Assesses and Interprets to the care team the family units’ psychosocial needs and problems, as these change over time.
• Participates with IDT in developing and implementing initial and continuing care plans.
• Ensures that patient/family care plan is reviewed at team conferences.
• Provides ongoing counseling and assists family units in coping with personal and

environmental difficulties which impinge on care related to dying, death, and grief. * Acts as referral agent to the community; resources required to assist with concerns, needs and problems.

• Advises and assists family units in third party reimbursement mechanisms.
• Serves as advocate between families and community.
• Records family unit’s data in Hospice records.
• Aware of basic pain management including use of pain rating scales. Recognizes and

communicates with the Hospice nurse the need for intervention regarding pain when indicated. * Completion of bereavement needs assessment and makes appropriate referrals.

Staff:

• Makes home visits daily to assist patients and families with social and emotional needs

relating to terminal illness and death. * Participates in staff and volunteer mutual support system.

• Shares psychosocial aspects of Hospice care with care team.
• Participates in volunteer training as needed.
• Participates in ongoing evaluation of Hospice program and services.
• Attends team conferences.
• Documents services and expenditures for reimbursement purposes.
• Acknowledges importance of team awareness.
• Addresses patients, co-workers, and other healthcare professionals in a pleasant and

respectful manner. * Demonstrates the ability to remain friendly and cooperative during all work conditions.

• Conveys instructions, directions, and information to co-workers.
• Consults with immediate supervisor as issues and concerns arise while maintaining

consistent and concise lines of authority. * Attends required in-services on an annual basis:

• Risk Management
• Bloodborne Pathogens/TB
• Body Mechanics
• Fire Safety
• General Safety/Hazardous Materials
• Patient/Staff Relations
• Maintains a safe and clean work area to promote work place safety.
• Completes Employee Activity Log daily.
• Maintains confidentiality of Protected Health Information (PHI) at all times.
• Performs other duties or special projects as requested by the Director of Impatient Services.
• Participates in hospice sponsored in-service training.
• Participates in QAPI program.
• Participates on Hospice committees as needed
• Performs job duties in accordance with all Hospice policies, procedures, and professional

and community standards. * Abides by the Hospice Professional Code of Conduct.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms, to talk or hear.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Status and Hours of Work:

This position is classified as exempt. Usual working hours are 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, or as needed to perform duties. This position is not eligible for overtime pay.

I have read and understand my job description. I have been given a personal copy of my signed job description. I understand that my performance evaluation will be based on my current job description and how I follow the procedures and policies from the Hospice of Davidson County, Inc. Policy Manual.

This position has the flexibility to telework as approved by the supervisor.

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