Hospice Social Worker (LMSW)

Social Worker | BeLoved Hospice

Job Summary

Provides social services to terminally ill patients and their families within a medically approved plan of care. Assists patients and families to manage problems or needs related to their psychosocial functioning and bereavement.  Assists social work team with resources and interventions to provide optimal patient support.

Accountability

This position reports directly to the Director of Social Services.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

General:

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.

1. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the agency’s mission, philosophy and scope of services.
2. Demonstrates knowledge and respect of rights and responsibilities by observance of patient/participant: Privacy, confidentiality and safety, including reporting of patient/participant abuse or neglect.
3. Foster and maintain an effective working relationship between co-workers, patients, families, caregivers, and other professional members of the community.
4. Demonstrates reliability by: Making every attempt to report to work on time and providing proper notification for absence or tardiness.
5. Demonstrates ability to problem-solve and make decisions by: Assessing situations and considering all possibilities to resolve the issues then correcting the problems presented in a reasonable amount of time.
6. Seeks guidance and direction as needed, utilizing proper chain of command.
7. Demonstrates professionalism at all times by respectful interpersonal relationships with employees, patients, families, caregivers, referral sources, contractors, and community members.
8. Demonstrates effective time management skills by: Coordinating activities to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency, willingness to adjust or revise work schedules as requested, seeking prior authorization for overtime, adhering to the policy for make-up time, completing assigned projects within specified time frames.
9. Participates in Performance Improvement activities when requested.
10. Works well independently and within the Interdisciplinary Team structure.
11. Promotes a team approach through cooperation, mutual respect, flexibility and dependability.
12. Ensures all regulatory standards for State, Federal and CHAP are met.
13. Assumes responsibility for on-going personal development and continuing education.
14. Completes monthly and annual trainings as assigned by the Governing Board, Director of Human Resources and/or Director of Nursing.
15. Creates opportunities for new referrals and referral relationships when representing the company in the community.
16. Supports the philosophy, objectives and mission of BeLoved Hospice.
17. Stays current with all mandatory agency requirements.
18. Attire to be consistent with the BeLoved Hospice dress code policy.

Specific to Position:

1. Follows an individualized Plan of Care established by the interdisciplinary team for each patient.
2. Assists interdisciplinary team members in identifying potential high-risk bereavement factors.
3. Oversees and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration between team members, physicians and available community resources.
4. Completes PASRR/LOC requests
5. Assists with crisis intervention, issues, concerns and ethical dilemmas.
6. Assists patient with placement issues
7. Evaluates psychosocial care provided through home visits, conferences and documentation review.
8. Immediately reports any changes to the RN Case Manager or interdisciplinary team.
9. Performs joint patient care visits with the RN Case Manager or other members of the interdisciplinary team to address psychosocial or safety concerns.
10. Maintains open lines of communication between other disciplines regarding patient issues.
11. May provide psycho educational training opportunities to hospice team on the significance of social and emotional factors potentially faced during end of life.
12. Performs a psychosocial assessment of patient’s status and needs, including cognitive functioning, emotional status adjustment to illness and its implications, coping abilities, relationships, identity issues, unfinished business, etc.
13. Assesses the social, emotional, financial and material factors related to the patient’s illness and involves the patient and family in establishing a care plan with mutually agreed upon goals.
14. Provides crisis intervention related to patient’s terminal illness and needs for care including reducing or eliminating high risks indicators endangering the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
15. Assists other hospice team members in understanding the social and emotional factors related to the patient’s illness.
16. Initiates appropriate clinical interventions in accordance with professional standards of practice and agency-established criteria for competency.
17. Refers hospice patients and family members to appropriate resources
18. Other duties as assigned.

Physical/Safety Requirements:

1. Participates in emergency procedures, including disaster drills.
2. Operation of equipment in a safe manner and shares responsibility for communicating safety violations or unsafe practices to management.
3. Equipment Used: General office equipment (telephone, copy machine, computer, fax machine) and motor vehicles.
4. Category 2 for potential exposure to blood/bodily fluids.
5. 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.
6. Utilizes appropriate PPE, as needed.
7. Follow the designated plan of action in the event of a fire or other emergency/disaster/
8. Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
9. Must have the strength and endurance required for sitting for lengthy periods of time.
10. Must possess sight/hearing/speech senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position are fully met.
11. Use appropriate body mechanics as needed for personal use.
12. Utilize appropriate basic office equipment.

Qualifications and Experience

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job.

1. Must be licensed by the Board of Licensed Social Workers in the State of Oregon
2. Prefer one year experience in hospice or home health.
3. Working knowledge of chronic illnesses, capable of explaining the major points of the illness to others.
4. Must have reliable transportation and maintain auto insurance.
5. Successful completion of background check pursuant to ORS 181A.195.
6. Read, write and understand the English language.
7. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions, problem solve, and have exceptional follow through skills. 
8. Must be able to cope with emotionally charged situations encompassing patients, families, caregivers, and team members.

• Group Health Plan Medical Coverage, Dental, and Vision
• Employee Assistance Program, Life & AD&D Insurance at no cost to you
• Supplemental health benefits such as hospital confinement, accident insurance, and more
• 401(k) with employer match
• Mileage reimbursement
• Education reimbursement opportunities 
• Eight Paid Holidays
• PTO accruals for part-time and full-time
• Free Gym Membership
• KATANA safety device and support 
• and more!