Hospice Alliance
Job Title: Social Worker
Reports to: Clinical Team Manager
Hours: Core business hours are 8am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Summary
The hospice and palliative care Social Worker furthers the mission of Hospice Alliance by providing clinical support to patients and their families in conjunction with the other members of the team. The Social Worker has special expertise related to the psychosocial, spiritual, bereavement, environmental and financial needs of hospice patients and their families.
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 occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics 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. Work may be completed at a patient’s home, skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, hospital, or our Hospice House. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES OF SOCIAL WORKER
The duties are for both hospice and palliative care/Supportive Care Management patients:
- Assess patient/family social and emotional needs, including Social Detriments of Care. Assess patient/family coping skills with particular emphasis on end-of-life issues.
- Complete and update the comprehensive assessment on a regular basis within regulatory guidelines.
- Assist patient/family and staff in utilizing community resources.
- Assess patient/family financial and insurance status and assist with appropriate resources as indicated.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team (IDT) meeting to establish, review, and revise the plan of care for each patient, ensuring goals are patient centered.
- Identify and address comfort care needs in collaboration with other members of the hospice team.
- Instruct and educate the patient, family, and caregivers and coordinate patient and family services.
- Maintain the dignity of the dying patient and support the patients and family’s unique spiritual and cultural beliefs.
- Assists with admission of new patients as needed.
- Participates in HA committees, memorial services, and events as assigned.
- Facilitates funeral planning as appropriate.
- Documents all information in the medical record assuring accuracy, completeness and compliance with regulations, certification standards, legal and ethical standards.
- Perform Social Work Services in compliance with Hospice Alliance Policies and Procedures and the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Precepts new employees/students as needed.
- Participation in the weekend and holiday on-call rotation.
- Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE FOR SOCIAL WORKER POSITION
Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work, masters preferred; current State of Wisconsin license in good standing; social work experience in health care setting preferred; valid driver’s license, personal vehicle for on-the-job transportation, and evidence of insurance coverage as required by Hospice Alliance policy required.