POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Masters Degree from a School of Social Work approved by the Council of Social Work Education. Two (2) years experience with at least one (1) year of experience in a health care setting (hospital, clinic, rehabilitation center, etc.). To have or be in the process of acquiring certification from the Academy of Certified Social Workers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Medical Social Worker is a qualified professional who provides medical social services to clients in their homes. These services are performed in accordance with the physician's orders and under the direction and supervision of the Director of Nursing or appropriate supervisor and other duties as deemed necessary.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

1.

Assists in the admission of the client to the Agency by:

a.

Performing an initial evaluation and assuring appropriateness of Doctor's orders as they pertain to client's condition.

b.

Assessing the client's psychosocial status.

c.

Evaluating the client, family member(s) and home situation to identify significant socio-economic and emotional factors that will effect the plan of treatment.

2.

Assist in development and implementation of the interdisciplinary client care plan as it pertains to Medical Social Work.

3.

Provides skilled Medical Social Work services based on professional evaluation and assessment of the client's potential to cope with social and health problems including short term individual counseling, community resource planning and crisis intervention.

a.

Acting as consultant to the members of the health team to assist them in understanding social, emotional and environmental factors related to the client's health problems.

b.

Helping clients to utilize the resources of their families and community.

c.

Providing rehabilitative and supportive casework.

d.

Assisting clients and their families with personal and environmental difficulties which predispose them toward illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical care.

e.

Involving client and family in the treatment plan.

4.

Observes, records and reports changes in the client's emotional and social factors that effect the client's illness, his needs for care, his response to treatment and his adjustments to care to physicians and other members of the health team.

5.

Consults with the attending physician concerning alteration of the plan of treatment.

6.

Maintains and submits written clinical records as deemed by the Agency, to include:

a.

Initial evaluation

b.

Care Plan

c.

Daily notes

7.

Evaluates the client's and family's response to and effectiveness of Medical Social Work intervention.

8.

Participates in discharge planning.

9.

Confirms, on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits with the Director of Nursing to coordinate necessary visits with other personnel.

10.

Notifies Agency of absences due to illness, emergency leave, planned vacations or special professional meetings which will affect agreed services with the Agency.

11.

Participates in agency activities and committees when appropriate.

12.

Participates in staff development activities and in-service education.

13.

Assumes responsibility for self-development by continually striving to improve his/her Medical Social Work practice through formal education, attendance at workshops and conferences, active participation in professional and related organizational meetings, and individual research and reading.

14.

Supervises the social work assistant as indicated.

JOB CONDITIONS:

The ability to drive extensively in a geographic area. Must be able to access clients' homes which will not be routinely wheelchair accessible. Hearing, eyesight and physical dexterity must be sufficient to perform a physical assessment of the client's condition and to perform and demonstrate client care. There must be the ability to give and receive information orally. On occasion, may be required to bend, stoop, reach and move client weight up to 250 pounds; lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds.

EQUIPMENT OPERATION:

Use of 10-line telephone, calculator and medical nursing equipment, i.e., glucometer, etc.

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Access to all client medical records which may be discussed with the Director of Nursing, the Administrator, the Executive Director, and the Quality Assurance department staff, including medical records and outside government agencies.