Full Time Medical Social Worker- Inpatient Care

Job Summary:

Provides medical social services and counseling to patients/caregivers, evaluates, assesses and completes patient needs for social service assistance, planning and coordination of patient programs and acts as a liaison between the patient, hospital, agency, physician and community in the hospice and home service venue with appropriate linkage of community services and/or resources, actively assists with the bereavement program and with the interdisciplinary team.

Job Qualifications:

• Current Texas Bachelor or Master Social Work license
• One-year experience in a health care setting preferred
• Knowledge and/or experience with end-of-life issues
• Hospice or home health experience preferred
• Valid Texas Driver’s License
• Proof of current Automobile Liability Insurance
• Reliable transportation
• Demonstrate ability to relate effectively with physicians, health care professionals, patients/families, the community, and members of the hospice interdisciplinary team
• Proficient with Microsoft Office software relevant to position; ability to master software applications relevant to position (including but not limited to the electronic medical record)
• Ability to read, write and comprehend English
• Employee must be FIT tested for an N95 mask

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Assess hospice patients and families to identify social services needs as evidenced by the treatment plan of care, clinical records and information from the interdisciplinary team.
• Interviews patients and families in order to assess psychological, social, emotional and economic needs and applies specialized social work theory, knowledge, methods and ethics and the professional use of self to restore or enhance their needs.
• Utilizes knowledge of family dynamics and communication patterns in plan of care concerns, resource referrals and any interventions needed to support the patient.
• May provide supportive and/or bereavement individual counseling related to new diagnosis, pre-bereavement, emotions related to active death and dying processes. The LMSW may provide clinical treatment methods of marital, couple, family and group counseling to patients and their families to cope with illness and/or death under clinical supervision from the Social Worker Team Leader. LMSW’s may practice clinical social work under a board approved clinical supervision plan and board approved supervisor. If additional support/counseling is needed, referrals to private therapists will be made.
• Completes documentation and paperwork, as required by Agency policies and following the physician’s plan of care for medical social services and in timely manner.
• Respond to patient requests regarding information, education, support about end of life care including advanced directives, family mediation/reconciliation, funeral planning, body donation, stress management, stages in the life cycle relevant to death and dying, etc.
• Maintains current knowledge of community resources, makes referrals as needed.
• Creates a discharge plan for each patient and assists patient/family/caregiver with placement of the patient into a long-term facility, inpatient unit, patient returning to a home with Outpatient Care services when appropriate. Determine any additional assistance needed with a level of care change. Maintain a level of flexibility with the discharge plans as they can change daily based on physician or nurse information on patients prognosis.
• Identify obstacles to compliance and assist with teaching and educating the patient and family on the benefits of the interventions.
• Assess financial resource needs; ability to educate patient and family on financial program guidelines or criteria and assist with applications and referrals. Inform HOET financial staff when finances or programs change.
• Participates in and attend hospice in-services, education programs and utilizes opportunities to educate potential consumers in the community and other health care professionals regarding the hospice concept of care.
• Communicates clearly and effectively with patients, families, physicians, co-workers and other social service personnel.

• Shows initiative and interacts positively with staff by not participating in non-constructive criticism.
• Represents the Hospice of East Texas in a professional and ethical manner in all contacts with the public.
• Participates in volunteer training when requested.
• Supports management efforts in implementing hospice programs and in all communications both formal and informal.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information and business trade practices.
• Assumes accountability for reporting incidents and complaints according to HOET policy.
• Maintains patient rights and dignity. Assures the care of the dying patient, optimizing his/her comfort and dignity.
• Participate in on-call as scheduled

• Respond to priority requests is necessary
• Use of time management for effectiveness, efficiency and productivity
• Ability to interact sensitively with patients and caregivers is mandatory
• Capable to understand and interact professionally with diverse ethnic, cultural and spiritual family dynamics, patterns and special needs or traditions.
• Ability to assess for suicide risk, crisis situations, safety concerns or abuse or neglect of patient/caregivers and collaborate with Social Worker Team Leader and interdisciplinary team.
• Capable to handle and intervene for crisis situations and seek assistance from Social Worker Team Leader or Inpatient Care Director as needed.
• Provide supportive counseling to staff at time of patient death or in stressful situations as needed.
• Assist with orientation and training of staff, and required in-services.
• Actively engage in professional growth opportunities and maintain level of skills and competency.
• Perform other reasonable duties as assigned

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently required to drive, stand, sit, walk, reach with hand and arms, stoop, kneel, twist and crouch
• Regularly required to use hands to handle and feel; speak and hear
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds
• Ability to deal effectively with emotional stress
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, ability to focus and ability to drive during varied weather conditions and day/night lighting

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Medical specialties:

• Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

COVID-19 considerations:
Hospice of East Texas follows the CMS mandate regarding vaccines

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Social work: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Preferred)

Work Location: One location

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