Hospice Bereavement Coordinator

We are seeking an experienced Hospice Bereavement Coordinator to join our team at Liberty Hospice. As a key member of our interdisciplinary team, you will play a vital role in providing compassionate care and support to our patients and their families.

Job Summary:

• Conduct comprehensive psycho-social assessments to identify bereavement risk, patient/family/caregiver needs, social, spiritual, and cultural factors, coping skills, and limitations.
• Develop, maintain, and assist patients/families/caregivers in establishing a patient-centered care plan, including treatment goals and interventions, in collaboration with the IDT team.
• Engage in critical thinking to assist patients in developing patient-centered goals addressing financial, spiritual, emotional, physical, and psychological needs, as well as support for closure, reconciliation, and a good death.
• Assess/reassess psychosocial and emotional strengths and limitations of coping and resolution skills of patients/caregivers/families related to illness, need for care, response to interventions, anticipatory grief, disease progression, and death and dying.
• Assist with level of care changes for patients as needed, updating facility protocol documentation, including PSSAR, FL2, and coordination with facility personnel.
• Coordinate with the hospice team to identify and address changes in clinical care plans and visit frequencies to meet increased patient and family needs during transitions to end-of-life care.
• Complete all visits as ordered and approved by MD, unless declined by the patient or authorized family representative.
• Attend facility patient care coordination meetings.
• Accurately document all observations, interventions, and concerns with patient/family-related care in the patient electronic medical record for pre-bereavement and bereaved patients.
• Document sustained continuum of care from start of care through discharge.
• Responsible for maintaining a current community resource book with information on counties served by the respective office.
• Educate patients/families on accessing and utilizing community resources available at evaluation visits, follow-up visits, and discharge interventions.
• Develops and oversees the implementation of regional bereavement programs and services to meet the needs of patients, families, and the community.
• Manages the bereavement program to effectively meet the bereavement needs of hospice patients and families.
• Promotes compliance with regulations and standards particular to state, federal, local, and accrediting bodies (AHHC, COPS, etc.) as well as Liberty Hospice standards, policies, and procedures.
• Develops and maintains a program of staff and community education related to bereavement issues and psycho-social concerns of hospice patients/families, utilizing hospice staff and volunteers in coordination with the IDT team.
• Ensures education and utilization of volunteers in providing services in the bereavement program.
• Coordinates appropriate mailings and risk assessments in assigned offices.
• Coordinates and plans appropriate visits and phone calls for assigned offices.
• Participates in the orientation and training of new employees and volunteers working in Hospice, educating staff on ongoing grief resources, education, and issues for increased knowledge.
• Coordinates all aspects of the volunteer program for Liberty Hospice in an assigned regional/geographical area.
• Develops and initiates plans to motivate and retain volunteers to ensure volunteer involvement in Hospice at required Medicare participation levels.
• Responsible for all human resource needs of hospice volunteers.
• Monitors reports from volunteers and brings urgent items to the attention of the appropriate hospice Clinical Director.
• Maintains working knowledge of CMS/Medicare requirements for a Hospice Volunteer program and adheres to all company policies and procedures.
• Promotes teamwork and shared responsibility for achieving the agency mission and vision.

To be successful in this role, you should possess:

• A Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, with one year of experience in a healthcare setting; or a Baccalaureate of Social Work (BSW) degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, or a baccalaureate degree (BS/BA) in psychology, sociology, or other field related to social work, supervised by an MSW, with one year of experience in a healthcare setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate within a multidisciplinary setting.
• Knowledge of computer skills and the ability to learn Microsoft Word, Excel, and company-approved documentation programs.
• Ability to work autonomously, with skills in organization, timeliness, and providing effective care for hospice patients and their families.
• Ability to engage in working knowledge of psycho-social principles and family dynamic development.
• Knowledge allowing for identification and reassessment of social, emotional, financial, and environmental factors affecting medical plans of treatment and desired outcomes.
• Working knowledge of stages of reaction to anticipatory grief and grief work.
• Active participation as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Occasional exposure to blood and body fluids, sharps, and infectious diseases.
• Frequent exposure to dangerous animals and traffic hazards while making home visits.
• Frequently encountering patients and situations presenting potential threats to personal safety.
• Occasional temperature changes and weather extremes.
• CPR certification required.
• Acceptance of travel based on agency needs.
• This position requires verbal communication with clients, families, community resources, and team members throughout the workday.
• Occasional evening and weekend work when necessary and needed.

The estimated salary range for this role is $65,000 - $80,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications.