Responsibilities:  

• Conduct a psychosocial assessment as part of the comprehensive assessment within 5 days of admission to the hospice program. This includes emotional, social, financial and environmental resources and to identify appropriate psychosocial problems, interventions and goals for the patient’s plan of care.
• Participate in IDG meetings and the development of the patient’s plan of care.
• Observe, record and report changes on the patient's emotional and social factors that are being affected by the patient's illness and his/her need for care and his/her response to treatment.
• Maintain and submit written clinical records as deemed by the Agency, including the initial evaluation, the care plan and daily notes.
• Evaluate the patients and family's response to, and effectiveness of, the medical social work intervention.
• Confirm, on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits with the patients’ Case Managers to facilitate coordination of other staff visits.
• Participate in IDG and QAPI meetings and activities.
• If the patient/family declines Social Work services, the Social worker continues to offer support to the IDG in it’s care of the patient and to monitor the patient/caregiver’s evolving needs.
• Participate in discharge planning, as needed.
• Assume responsibility for self-development by continually striving to improve his/her Medical Social
• Worker practice through formal education, attendance at workshops and conferences, active participation in professional and related organizational meetings, and/or individual research and reading.
• Assess the patient's/ family members’ ability to cope with the patient’s dying.
• Act as consultant to the members of the health team, assists them in understanding the social, emotional and environmental factors related to the patient's health problems.
• Help patients to utilize the resources of their families and the community.

Qualifications:  

• The Medical Social Worker is an individual licensed by GA State Board of Social Work
• Examiners, has a master’s degree in social work form a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Must be a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• At least one year of post-master’s social work experience in a health care setting
• Hospice experience preferred.
• Ability to reliably handle and maintain confidential information.
• Must be a licensed driver with an insured automobile in good working order.
• The ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.

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