Overview

To deliver varied social work services to Hospice patients and their families. To provide initial emotional, spiritual, psychosocial assessments, ongoing counseling, bereavement services and community education, outreach and referral. The Hospice social worker is an integral part of the Hospice IDG.

Responsibilities

1. Performs initial psychosocial, emotional, spiritual and bereavement assessments and assists in the development and implementation of goal-directed IDG care plan. Policies and Procedures Manual for Hospice ©2009 MED-PASS, Inc. (Revised July 2021) 4A.51.22. Conducts ongoing reassessments of patient/family needs and counseling as required. 3. Provides short term crisis intervention and individual or family counseling when indicated. 4. Provides services, under the direction of a physician (who approves plan of care). 5. Participates as a member of the Bereavement Team as assigned. 6. Observes, assesses and brings to IDG conferences information regarding psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, physical and financial conditions affecting the patient and family. 7. Assumes the active role of advocate for the patient/family unit. 8. Develops and maintains contact with appropriate community agencies and services in order to promote interagency cooperation and to facilitate related referrals. 9. Documents comprehensive psychosocial, emotional and spiritual assessment clearly and concisely in a timely manner. 10. All patient/family visits, telephone contacts and referral actions are recorded in the patient record per policy. 11. Provides ongoing counseling related to issues of death and dying to the patient and family as needed. 12. Attends staff meetings, IDG and other meetings as assigned and appropriate. 13. Participates in the orientation program as assigned. 14. Adheres to all Hospice policies. 15. Assumes responsibility for own personal and professional development and maintenance of skills in social work. 16. Exhibits Hospice philosophy in all job related roles. 17. Other duties as assigned by Director/Manager of Patient Services.

Qualifications

A Hospice Social Worker must at least meet one of the following options: 1. Have an MSW degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and one year of experience in a health care setting. 2. Have a baccalaureate degree in social work (BSW) from a school of social work accredited by the CSWE, and one year of experience in a health care setting and be supervised by a MSW from a school of social work accredited by the CSWE and who has one year of experience in a health care setting. If the BSW is employed by the Hospice before December 2, 2008, he/she is exempted from the MSW supervision requirement. 3. Have a baccalaureate degree in psychology, sociology or other field related to social work, and at least one year of social work experience in a health care setting and be supervised by a MSW from a school of social work accredited by the CSWE and who has one year of experience in a health care setting.