Hospice Social Worker

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides social work services to patients and families in collaboration with other IDG members, volunteers and community resources
• Provides a consistent high quality hospice experience for every patient and family served by soliciting and identifying patient and family goals while complying with established social work visit structure
• Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of the patient’s psychosocial care plan
• Provides assessment, planning, intervention and ongoing evaluation of psychosocial function to meet assigned patient and family needs/goals by:
  • Making recommendations to members of the IDG and volunteers on ways to support the patient and/or family
  • Assisting patients and families with personal and environmental difficulties
  • Actively participating in IDG and family meetings to provide input on patient care and team support
  • Providing patient/family counseling related to planned health care services
  • Utilizing community resources to assist the patient/family to meet goals
• Communicates timely and effectively with the appropriate Team Leader/designee, physicians, patients, families, contracted vendors and community resources.
• Coordinates with other members of the team the change in level of care or location of assigned patients.
• In collaboration with Chaplains, provides bereavement support to families when appropriate.
• Develops and provides education to Coastal Hospice staff, volunteers and community members regarding the emotional and social dimension of hospice patients.
• Maintains continuity and consistency of care by:
  • Recording all pertinent information in a concise, effective manner according to organizational standards
  • Completing documentation in the patient’s electronic medical record by the end of the assigned work day
  • Providing hand off communication according to established policy and procedure
• Promotes high quality patient care and team operations by:
  • Functioning within Coastal Hospice Policy and interdisciplinary care model in meeting team goals
  • Supervises social work interns (BSW and MSW) as requested by the Team Leader and/or Social Work Resource Coordinator; supervision of BSW vs. MSW will be assigned based upon licensure and experience
  • Maintaining effective professional relationships with referral sources, community agencies and other health care partners
  • Participating in the on-call rotation for weekday and weekend coverage as assigned
  • Utilizing Medical Social Work Resource Coordinator for complicated patient/family issues or concerns related to the Social Work discipline
• Works collaboratively with other social workers to meet program needs.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent within the guidelines of ADA, FMLA, OSHA and other federal, state and local laws
• Flexibility in schedule to manage frequency and duration of visits based on patient/family needs
• Must be able to lift and carry up to fifty (50) pounds with or without the use of assistive devices
• Understand and comply with Coastal Hospice’s mission, values, vision, policies and Employee Handbook

Coastal Hospice complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Education and Work Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited school
• 2 years’ experience in hospital, long term care or hospice setting preferred
• Current LMSW license in the state of Maryland; LCWS-C preferred