Social Worker- Full Time, Sign-On Bonus

Social Worker - Full Time (Covering Nashville and surrounding areas)

Location: Nashville Area

Status: Full Time

Hours: 40/week, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

SUMMARY

The Social Worker provides an assessment for and provision of psychosocial services and support to patients and their families.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Performs initial and ongoing assessment of the patient and family's psychosocial status and assists in accessing resources for social, financial, and community needs for adequately managing care and dealing with death.
2. Upon initial contact with the patient, reviews the services hospice is responsible for providing. Assists in obtaining informed consents.
3. Develops a plan of care that optimizes patient and family ability to cope with the psychosocial impact of illness and impending death.
4. Offers support, guidance and counseling in order to diminish stress and enhance emotional wellbeing.
5. Provides information about and/or refers to other community resources that are available to supplement psychosocial needs.
6. Describes additional Alive Hospice support services that may be used if appropriate, to ease care-giving demands (i.e., Patient Care Volunteer, Home Health Aide, Respite).
7. Educates patient and family about Advance Directives as a means of promoting self-determined life closure.
8. Assists patients and families to complete Advance Directives as needed.
9. Initiates opportunities for patient and family to discuss funeral planning and burial arrangements.
10. Participates in interdisciplinary care planning conference.
11. Collaborates with other team members about ongoing psychosocial issues and family dynamics in order to heighten the delivery of empathetic and emotionally supportive care.
12. Assesses family's bereavement needs throughout the duration of the patient's life and develops a bereavement plan of care for the family following the patient's death. This includes referral to Grief Support Services as necessary.
13. Facilitates bereavement support groups.
14. Conducts presentations to professional and community organizations about patient services, issues related to death and dying and bereavement support groups.
15. Attends department meetings.
16. Serves on department and agency committees.
17. Attends mandatory agency in-services as part of continuing education.
18. Completes all clinical documentation in a timely manner, per Alive Hospice policy.
19. Notifies team members of significant changes in patient status, using established agency procedures.
20. Completes required EMR documentation to reflect time worked and mileage accrued.

20. Follows all agency protocols, policies and procedures appropriately.

21. Participates in the after-hours on call program and is available to respond in situations when the need for psychosocial care arises.

22. Other duties may also be assigned.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, interpret and apply theories and concepts of professional clinical journals, texts and treatment plans. Ability to write documentation which accurately depicts the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care. Able to write policy and professional correspondence to various healthcare entities. Ability to calmly, maturely and effectively communicate, educate and build a rapport with patients, families, other healthcare professionals and community members.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as conversion, probability, simple statistical inference and algebra. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportion to practice, patient care, healthcare management problems. Ability to interpret laboratory and diagnostic data.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills. Ability to put into practice theoretical constructs of professional clinical discipline training and continuing education. Ability to determine status of patient/family and respond with appropriate interventions. able to prioritize and re prioritize based on patient need. Ability to provide appropriate crisis intervention. Ability to follow geographic and complex patient/family care directions. Ability to appropriately delegate, teach and monitor care of peers and practice extenders. Able to formulate hypotheses, use judgment and process to problem solve. Ability to apply assessment, planning implementation and evaluate skills to meet care needs.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Professional maturity and the ability to respond calmly and effectively in stressful situations and to cope with high stress levels.

Communication and Relationship Skills: Exemplifies high level of written oral and listening communication skills, always respecting patient confidentiality.

Agency Policy and Philosophy: Communicates and supports agency mission and values in all professional interactions.

Continuing Education: Seeks to improve knowledge and skills relative to performance of job and personal growth.

Quality and Performance Improvement: Participates in new and continuing programs designed to monitor and improve quality and performance relevant to the mission and philosophy of Alive Hospice, Inc.

Teamwork: Functions consistently and collaboratively as an integral part of Interdisciplinary Care Team and other teams (committees, etc.) bringing experience and education to contribute to optimal team functions and outcomes.

Ethics: Demonstrates a high level of work, personal and professional ethics.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

State of Tennessee LMSW licensure, or must obtain this licensure within eight (8) months of hire date. Current Tennessee driver's license and automobile insurance as required by state law.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk and hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Frequently required to drive an automobile.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions, infectious diseases, and use of an automobile. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Patient home and general office setting.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The agency requires this position to complete 15 hours of continuing education per year covering topics that will contribute to improvements in carrying out the above responsibilities. Regulatory agencies may require some disciplines to have additional hours in order to be licensed or certified.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, including meeting the required competencies. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work. One (1) year of work experience in healthcare setting required. Hospice experience preferred.