Hospice Medical Social Worker II / PT 24 hours a week

Job Details
Job Location
BHH Valley Street - Bristol, CT
Position Type
Part Time
Job Shift
1st Shift (Days)
Description
At Bristol Health, we begin each day caring today for your tomorrow. We have been an integral part of our community for the past 100 years. We are dedicated to providing the best possible care and service to our patients, residents and families. We are committed to provide compassionate, quality care at all times and to uphold our values of Communication, Accountability, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.). We are Magnet ® and received the 2020 Press Ganey Leading Innovator award for our rapid adoption and implementation of healthcare solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Use your expertise, compassion, and kindness to transform the patient experience. Make a difference. Make Bristol Health your choice.
Bristol Home Care and Hospice Agency, Inc is currently seeking a 24-hour Hospice Social Worker to provide support and guidance to the Hospice team and patients.
Under the direction of the Manager of Hospice, the Hospice Social Worker provides services to patients and families geared to enhancing functioning and to addressing psychosocial needs for patients and families enrolled in hospice services. Provides consultation to other health care providers to help them deal with psychosocial problems interfering with compliance with treatment regimen and end-of-life concerns. Participates in community activities to insure resource availability for patients/families. Provides bereavement follow up to those identified as high risk.
Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: Participation in weekly IDG meetings, documentation of patient/ family interaction, bereavement committee meetings, provide supportive care to team members and patients/families.
Utilizes social work skills.

• Identifies "high risk" patients with a wide variety of psychosocial problems that may inhibit patients recovery or well-being.
• Utilizes appropriate clinical techniques to establish rapport and effective relationships to facilitate work with patients and families on a timely basis.
• Obtains pertinent data including social history, living arrangements, relationships and support systems, occupational and financial and other information.
• Evaluates data, assessment, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and problems areas with regards to treatment plans and keeps health care team aware of information.
• Utilizes assessment to make appropriate interventions to enable patient/family to cope with problems including, but not limited to grieving over loss of limb or other body part; adjustments necessitating changes in lifestyle due to sudden and/or chronic illness; guilt of adult child placing aged parents in ECF, abandonment feelings of patient being placed; financial burdens, etc.
• Involves patient/families in understanding alternatives and planning and deciding about post-hospitalization care and facilitating their adjustment to and motivation for participating in plan.
• Advocates on patient's/family's behalf for recognition of their individual needs and for necessary services to address needs.
• (+) Provides crisis intervention services for patients undergoing emotional, social distress.

Coordinates discharge planning needs and policies.

• Identifies and responds to patients in need of discharge planning within 24 working hours of referral.
• Completes psychosocial and environmental assessment including key social supports available, patient situation and strengths and weaknesses.
• Provides counseling to patient/families to enable adaptation to impact of illness.
• Involves patient/family in all aspects and decisions in discharge planning process.
• Carries out case management services to assure appropriate linkage and coordination with patient/family and available hospital departments, agencies, services and facilities on a timely basis.
• Interprets entitlement program policies, criteria and limitations to others involved in planning.
• Locates the least restrictive post-hospital environment based on assessment of patient's needs, capabilities and preferences.
• Provides technical assistance, completion of ECF or Title XIX applications, etc. to facilitate discharge plan. Initiates, attends and participates in interdisciplinary case conferences.
• Facilitates patient transitions to new environment, helping patient/family cope emotionally and assuring necessary information and coordination of transportation, etc.
• Adheres to hospital policy and regulatory requirements that impact on planning.

Provides assistance in resource utilization.

• Provides accurate information on resource availability and criteria for utilization. Seeks out resources when availability not known and shares information with other department members.
• Explores entitlement program eligibility with patient/families. Matches resource to need. Identifies and utilizes informal support networks. Identifies and communicates gaps in resources.
• Develops and maintains liaisons with local, state and federal resources. Notifies/reports statute mandated situations to appropriate agencies. Provides consultation cooperation and assistance to outside agencies and staff serving mutual clients.

Renders community social work services.

• Complies with agency policies and procedures in preparing psychosocial assessment, identifying problem areas, establishing Social Work plan of care and goals.
• Utilizes social work skills in provision of medical social work.
• Responds to referrals promptly.
• (+) Coordinates with other providers.
• Completes necessary reports/billing on a timely basis.

Maintains appropriate documentation.

• Documents timely, concise, accurate and pertinent information in patient records per department policy.
• Maintains and submits monthly reports and statistics and quality assurance data on a timely basis.
• Keeps case files accurate and up-to-date.

Provides for own professional growth and development.

• Self identifies areas for training and development.
• Attends relevant and required workshops, training programs, in-services.
• Seeks out opportunities for learning and skill development independently.
• Participates in departmental in-services by identifying topics for presentations; being responsible for presentations.

Functions as an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.

• Ensures interdisciplinary team is kept informed of patient and family treatment issues and progress through the team meeting, documentation and related conferences.
• Uses positive communication and negotiation skills in communicating with other members of the interdisciplinary team as reflected in satisfactory feedback.
• Represents social work role and perspective in the interdisciplinary team and community as indicated by the formulated goals being incorporated throughout the treatment plan.

Contributes to the efficient operation of the Department.

• Prioritizes schedules and assigns to ensure issues are handled first and work is completed.
• Demonstrates effective time management by completing commitments within agreed timeframes.
• Maintains documentation and records according to established procedures and timeframes.
• Completes administrative statistical reports and projects within requested timeframes.
• Demonstrates dependability in job performance by keeping office informed of schedules and by completing time sheets as required.
• Demonstrates respect for patients and colleagues by being punctual at scheduled clinical appointments and administrative meetings.
• Demonstrates initiative through autonomous efforts/projects.
• Spends a minimum of 70% of scheduled work time in direct patient care.

Qualifications
Educational / Minimum Requirements:
MSW - Two-three years in health care setting.
State/Federal Mandated Licensure or Certification Requirements:
LCSW eligible.
Bristol Hospital Mandated Educational Requirements:
General orientation at time of hire. Fire/Safety/Infection Control annually. Other programs as mandated by Hospital. Clinically relevant educational programs as appropriate; all other mandated programs as they occur.
Special Requirements:
Acute care hospital experience strongly preferred for inpatient Medical Social Worker. Knowledge of entitlement and pre-admission screening programs preferred. Knowledge of DSM-IV, excellent written and verbal communication, knowledge of community resources, social work theory and practice. High degree of empathy/sensitivity, patience and stress tolerance. Demonstrated casework skills.
For Home Care Agency: Must have a car to drive to home visits and a valid Connecticut driver's license in good standing; $100,000-$300,000 automobile liability insurance.
Home Care experience preferred for Home Care Medical Social Worker.
Physical Requirements:
Position requires ability to frequently lift light objects, perform moderately difficult manipulative and hand-eye coordination skills; walk, stand and sit for prolonged periods; see objects closely and hear normal sounds with some background noises. Deals with emotionally stressed patients, families and other health care providers in pressured crisis situations. Makes independent decisions in confusing situations.
Work Environment:
Inpatient Areas: Works in areas throughout hospital including but not limited to nursing floors, patient rooms, Emergency Department, clinics and less frequently in patient homes. Environment is often stressful including frequent exposure to background noise, a variety of people, telephone contact. Shares office space with others. Has high level of contact with all levels of customers. May have contact with highly emotional or out-of-control patient/families. Home Care Agency: Work in patient's homes; exposed to a variety of elements in home setting.
Cognitive Requirements:
Position requires ability to concentrate on fine detail with interruption and attend to tasks for more than 60 minutes at a time. Individual must be able to understand and relate to theories behind several related concepts and remember multiple tasks given over long periods of time. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Excellent listening skills and understanding of ethnic and cultural differences.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.