On-Call Social Worker

Description

To identify, triage, and respond to patient and family needs. On-call social worker should provide responsive social work support for patient and family needs. 

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

· Be available by telephone or cellular telephone and respond within 15 minutes 

· Communicate with on-call team members and patient care unit staff on regular basis 

·  Evaluate the physical, financial, psychological, spiritual, and  pre-bereavement needs of the patient/family in  coordination with  interdisciplinary team 

· Complete patient admission visit and psychosocial admission assessment for new patients 

· Assist in assessing patient appropriateness for services  

· If patient not appropriate, recommend other services available and refer to community agencies as appropriate 

· Educate the patient and family about Hospice services  

·  Assess the financial resources of the patient and family and instruct  them on coverage for Hospice services,  i.e. Hospice Medicare/Medicaid  benefit, Medicare, private insurance, as appropriate 

· Report patient/family information to the Support Services Team Coordinator

· Update primary team on patient status 

· Develop plan of care with goals defined by the patient/family and hospice interdisciplinary team 

· Provide social work services according to patient plan of care  

· Communicate patient changes or family needs to volunteer, chaplain, massage therapist, and minister, if  applicable 

· Support individual coping mechanisms and facilitate constructive expression of feelings and concerns  

· Provide support at time of death when appropriate  

· Notify volunteer, chaplain/minister and other staff at time of death, if applicable 

· Attend funeral or receiving to provide support to family 

· Other duties as assigned