Medical Social Worker

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY:
The Medical Social Worker provides social services to patients in their homes with the physician's orders and under the supervision of the Director of Professional Services or appropriate supervisor.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assesses the psychosocial status of patients related to the patient's illness and environment per the company's Psychosocial Assessment Policy. Issues identified related to patient coping will be included in the comprehensive assessment and addressed in the plan of care.
• Provides rehabilitative and supportive social casework geared toward restoring patients to their optimum level of social and health adjustment. This includes assisting patients and their families in understanding, accepting, and following medical recommendations.
• Helps patients utilize the resources of their families and the community. This may be accomplished by either referring patients to resources or acting as a liaison/advocate on behalf of the patients in their dealings with other health and welfare agencies.
• Maintains a list of public and private agencies as resources for the patient and organization personnel.
• Assists patients and their families with personal and environmental difficulties, which predispose them toward illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical care. These range from counseling members of the patient's family to assisting patients with admission into facility-based care.
• Consults with physician and other members of the health team for the purpose of assisting them to understand the significant social, emotional, and environmental factors related to the patient's health problems.
• Documents all assessments, plans of care and clinical progress notes in the medical record in a timely manner
• Attends case conference meetings.
• Participates in staff development activities and in-service education.
• Participates in the development and revision of physician's plan of treatment for the patient.
• Participates in discharge planning
• Acts as consultant for other agency clinical personnel.
• Communicates effectively with all providing care.
• Confirms on a weekly basis the scheduling of visits with Case Manager to coordinate necessary visits with other agency clinical personnel.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Supports the mission, values and goals of Signature Healthcare at Home

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:
• Prefer Professional Social Worker Licensure in the States(s) practicing.
• For Social Workers practicing in Oregon, professional license issued by the OR Board of Social Workers (LMSW or LCSW) or CSWA (Clinical Social Work Associate) is required with documentation from the OR Board of Social Work that there is an active Supervision Plan and name of Supervisor for CSWA.
• Graduate of Accredited School specific to Master's in Social Work.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.
• Minimum of one year of experience or more, in hospital, home health, or hospice clinical setting is preferred.
• Prefer experience in working in a collaborative healthcare professional team approach to care of the patient.

QUALIFICATIONS and SKILLS:

• Experience with electronic medical record.
• Basic computer and technology knowledge.
• Problem-solving, human relations and oral/written communication skills.
• Demonstrates excellent critical thinking.
• Self-directed and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates good communication, flexibility, and teamwork in performing job.
• Demonstrates excellent observation, problem solving, verbal and written communications, clinical skills per competency checklist.
• Shows ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.
• Excellent customer service skills.

The above statements are intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

The employer for this position is stated in the job posting. The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US. Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets. More information about The Pennant Group, Inc. is available at http://www.pennantgroup.com.

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