Social Worker

Weiss Memorial Hospital has been serving Chicago’s North Side and surrounding communities providing excellent health care services for over 60 years. We are a 236-bed, Joint Commission-accredited facility providing a full range of health care services to meet the needs of our diverse community. We have grown to better serve our community to include more than 450 doctors representing 42 medical specialties and more than 800 employees, all committed to providing you with personalized care. We are looking for exceptional people who share our mission and values to join our team!

JOB SUMMARY

Provides social services appropriate to patients’ needs to address psychosocial adjustment, discharge planning, access of appropriate resources. Responsible for decision making in accordance with clinical, fiscal, and organizational objectives. Functions as liaison between patient and family and the case management team.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduation from an accredited school of Social Work with Master’s degree

2. Current social work license in State of Illinois preferred or obtained within first year of hire

3. CPR certification

4. Basic English language competence for verbal and written communication in English language.

5. Knowledge and skills necessary to provide age specific care, appropriate for the types of patients served.

6. Effective interpersonal skills to establish therapeutic relationships with patients/caregivers, interdisciplinary team members and external contacts.

JOB RELATIONSHIPS (INTERNAL/EXTERNAL)

Communicates effectively through frequent verbal and written interactions, including phone calls, patients, their families, physicians, staff, referral sources, agencies, the community, and representatives from external organizations. Adjusts patient interaction and/or treatment to match each patient’s age-specific developmental, educational, or other related needs.

JOB DUTIES ** (* denotes “essential function” ** )

1. Demonstrates the Weiss VALUE Program, which are key in providing quality service to patients and customers. *
2. Assesses health status, level of functional independence, medical needs, and rehabilitation potential for all patients.*
3. Develops a supportive psycho-emotional climate for the patient and family, recognizing and acknowledging the individual needs of both patient and family.*
4. Provides information necessary for the patient and family to understand the specific illness as well as its treatment demands and available community resources.*
5. Assists the patient and family in improving its problem solving capacities in coping with the illness or disability.*
6. Develops awareness of the patient and family’s own resources and provides access to essential external resources, including the patient and family's social network and the community's health and welfare resources.*
7. Assists patient in identifying current roles, change in these roles, interpersonal strengths and assists in identifying a support system.*
8. Assists patient in identifying stressors, potential support systems, and past coping mechanisms as it pertains to current disability/illness. Alleviate such feelings as anxiety, guilt, low self-esteem, negative identity, helplessness, and hopelessness.*
9. 3. Identifies real and potential problems requiring interventions prior to moving the patient to the next level of care.*
10. Serves as key patient/caregiver liaison, facilitating resolution with patient/family and rehabilitation team.*
11. Educates the patient to care alternatives and outcomes and facilitates the planning process.*
12. Develops, coordinates and implements discharge plans in collaboration with patient and family.*
13. Schedules patient/family education sessions with the rehabilitation team.*
14. Monitors progress of patient towards expected outcomes in relation to goals by conducting team conferences, facilitating weekly rounds and gathering data from pertinent sources.*
15. Records in Midas necessary information to keep health care team apprised of goals, progress and outcomes.*
16. Coordinates communications both internally within the rehab team and externally with other involved hospital/medical professionals.*
17. Assists with managing care and resources according to clinical and fiscal objectives and regulatory requirements.*
18. Communicates with Weiss’ case managers in confirmation of insurance certification and authorization of services with third-party payers, external case managers or other insurance liaisons to effectively manage use of resources.*

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Environment/Hazards: Infrequent exposure to diagnosed and undiagnosed infectious and communicable diseases. There is potential of exposure to inadequate ventilation and air conditioning and frequent exposure to multiple interruptions.

OSHA Category II: Normal routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluid or tissue, but exposure or potential for exposure may occur.

TB Exposure: There may be an occupational risk for exposure to TB and the incumbent is required to take TB control training, PPD skin tests and/or health screenings.

STATEMENT OF OTHER DUTIES

This document describes the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that incumbents may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described.

All employees are required to familiarize themselves and continually comply with all federal and state healthcare laws, regulations and rules (including Medicare and Medicaid billing requirements which are applicable to the employee’s job duties). Any employee who becomes aware of possible noncompliance with applicable laws is required to promptly report such possible noncompliance to his or her immediate manager or the compliance Resource Line. No adverse action or any form of retaliation shall be taken by the Hospital against any employee because of that person’s good faith report of possible noncompliance.

Weiss Memorial Hospital provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.