Position Summary

This position supports patients with kidney disease and their families. The social worker is a member of the multidisciplinary team. The patient population includes patients on dialysis, and under consideration for kidney transplant and the general nephrology patients. The social worker covers patients across the continuum of care and has the opportunity to develop long term relationships due to the chronic health needs of this patient population. Experience in a health care setting and/or dialysis preferred. LICSW required.

The Social Worker II fosters positive and professional interpersonal relationships with patients/families, physicians, hospital staff, community agency representatives and visitors, provides comprehensive psychosocial assessment for identified patients and based on findings, facilitates interventions. Effectively uses interpersonal communication skills to resolve conflicts and promote a healing environment. Demonstrates leadership and advanced clinical practice by mentoring junior staff, educating social work students and staff, medical/nursing providers on a range of topics that impact patient and family coping, communication, family dynamics, de-escalation and staff coping.

Minimum Education
Master's Degree in Social Work (Required)
Minimum Work Experience
3 years post MSW experience (Required)
Required Skills/Knowledge
Excellent communication skills.
Ability to relate to divergent patient populations.
Sensitivity to individuals from varied backgrounds and cultures.
Required Licenses and Certifications
Must be licensed in the District of Columbia at minimum at the LICSW-level. Must be licensed in MD and/or VA if social work services will be provided in those jurisdictions as part of the job requirements, including telemedicine. (Required)
Functional Accountabilities
Ensures Effective Patient/Family Plan is Developed, Implemented and Documented

• Facilitate interventions, based on assessment, family and staff requests, and timeframe.

• Facilitate the child protection process of assessment, referral, plan, and implementation, if appropriate.

• Provide follow-up services as appropriate and assesses outcome of interventions.

• Document assessment and interventions in the patient's medical record, in accordance with departmental standards.

• Provide comprehensive psychosocial assessment for identified patients and families.

• Develop plan for intervention based on assessment.

• Use range of communication skills to assist patients, families and staff to address care needs and complex issues.

Ensures Effective Multidisciplinary Communication Established Surrounding Patient/Family

• Educate staff about psychosocial issues impacting treatment plans.

• Organize patient care conferences when complex issues arise.

• Participate in team meetings to address general and specific patient care issues.

• Facilitate the discharge planning process by working with Case Management staff, nursing staff, and physicians.

• Communicate with relevant hospital staff about patient care issues to insure continuity of care.

• Advocate for patient and family needs within the hospital system.

Identifies, Utilizes, and Recommends Appropriate External Resources to Meet Patient/Family needs

• Research appropriate resources to assist families to care for their children at home.

• Share information with relevant agencies, respecting patient/family confidentiality.

• Maintain positive and effective referral relationships with community agencies and professional organizations.

• Advocate for patient/family needs within the community.

Removes Complex Barriers to Achieving Optimal Patient/Family Outcome

• Intervene in complex situations involving patient care needs, communication problems, or systems issues.

• Research appropriate solutions within the hospital or in the community.

• Mediate conflictual situations, collaborating with other staff as appropriate.

• Provide assistance to patients, families, and staff, while maintaining respect for boundaries and set appropriate limits

Advanced Clinical Practice and Leadership

• Precepts staff on patient care documentation standards, provides mentorship and support to newer/junior staff on documentation practices.

• Provides educational programs for unit staff, social work staff, social work interns on issues such as communication, child abuse, domestic violence, de-escalation techniques, patient/family coping, family dynamics impacting decision making.

• Serves as a resource for staff in locating community resources in their area of expertise and hard to find resources and supports.

• Supports and mentors new and junior staff in providing effective social work services by promoting evidenced based practice and implementing improvements with measured outcomes

• Participates in the education of MSW students in the Children's National field placement program.

• Participates in the review, revision and implementation of policies, procedures and programs that reflect professional practice standards to achieve hospital and departmental goals.

• May represent the profession of social work on hospital and/or ad hoc committees and groups.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance