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POSITION DETAILS

Full-time, benefited; 72 hours per 2-week pay period; shifts are Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm; Master-level Social Worker required for this posting; includes competitive experience-based pay and benefits package.

JOB SUMMARY

The Certified Social Worker participates as a member of the Hospice and Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Group (Physician, Nurse, Family Support Coordinator, and Chaplain) to provide holistic care to patients and to their families. The Certified Social Worker completes a psychosocial and caregiver assessment on admission. This assessment, assessments from the other Group members, and input from the patient and family are used to formulate a Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Plan of Care to address problems and meet identified needs and goals of the patient and family. The Hospice and Palliative Care Certified Social Worker provides direct social work support and continues to help the patient and family identify and resolve any problems with psychosocial, economic, family dynamics, bereavement or coping issues.

MAJOR JOB FUNCTION

+ Participates as a member of the Hospice and Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Group to plan and provide holistic care to the patient and family.

+ Provides family support input towards the initial and updated interdisciplinary plans of care for clients and families.

+ Monitors progress toward goals and updates the plan of care as needed.

+ Is committed to the team concept of care and participates in bi-weekly care conferences providing applicable social work expertise to the meeting.

+ Maintains contact as indicated with hospice Nursing, Physician, Chaplain, and Volunteers for collaboration to provide holistic care. Asks for assistance and utilizes the team for optimum patient care and economic use of resource.

+ Provides family support input and collaborates to determine the need for special care (continuous care, inpatient respite or acute care).

+ Provides direct family support care and support to meet the special care and bereavement needs of the child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric hospice patient and family.

+ Makes family support visits to clients on a regular basis to provide ongoing assessment of the client’s condition and ability to cope and the caregiver’s ability to give care and cope.

+ Is proficient in all aspects of the certified social worker role and can identify interventions to assist with complex emotional and coping needs of the patient and caregiver. Is aware of community resources and can assist with financial issues as needed. Advocates the patient’s right to be as comfortable as possible with consistent management of physical, emotional, and spiritual discomfort.

c. Teaches primary caregiver and family palliative care and comfort measures. Sensitively explains the dying process and prepares the patient and family as they indicate a readiness and willingness to learn.

d. Interacts effectively with patients through both oral and written communication and therapeutic presence. Respects patients need for privacy, and to deal with emotional pain, grief, and the dying process as he/she chooses.

+ Is proficient and knowledgeable in all aspects of the grief process.

+ Documents and maintains data on the patient record.

+ Continuously assesses and evaluates the patients’ and families’ satisfaction and acceptance of Hospice and Palliative Care services and staff’s performance. Promptly notifies Hospice Coordinator or Director of any patient or customer complaint and attempts to correct the problem.

+ Is committed to practice of the profession of Certified Social Worker.

+ Keeps current on professional social work practice and care of the terminally ill by reading journals and attending inservices on aspects of palliative care.

+ Attends 100% of mandatory meetings and 80% of Hospice QI/Staff meetings. Views videos/reads minutes of meetings not attended. Documents all education completed in education record.

+ Assures adherence to ethical and legal standards of the agency. Is aware of and practice is congruent with, the Hospice Touch Mission Statement and Tomah Health Mission and Values.

Is aware of and follows Tomah Health/ Hospice Touch policy and procedure.

+ Works with the Hospice Coordinator or Director to develop and review policies, procedures, and protocols for the Hospice and Palliative Care program.

+ Assists in the orientation and education of others.

+ Displays behaviors, by actions and verbalization that reflect an acceptance of the hospice/palliative work standards. Maintains appropriate boundaries with patients and families and seeks direction when boundaries become blurred or questionable. Is open to change and a positive change agent. Takes ownership and responsibility for their actions, how they impact others and the provision of patient care, and respects the right of the entire team to have a welcoming, safe, and positive work environment.

+ Acts as a resource and provides assistance to staff members in counseling regarding areas of personal or work stress or grief work.

+ Recognizes personal need for support and demonstrates self care behavior.

+ Demonstrates proficiency in regards to the computer documentation of patient cares and any other related computerized patient information/documentation.

+ Performs all other duties as assigned.

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR

+ WORK ETHICS STANDARD: Affirm a commitment to making the Tomah Health work environment better through: patient advocacy, continuing education, and valuation of each individual person.

+ COMMUNICATION STANDARD: Affirm a commitment to use open and honest communication with all Tomah Health customers (in-house & community-wide) through: basic customer courtesy (phone, written, face to face) and active listening.

+ TEAMWORK STANDARD: Affirm a commitment to be a proud, dependable Tomah Health TEAM member through: basic customer courtesy, patient advocacy, flexibility, and valuation of each individual person.

+ QUALITY STANDARD: Affirm a commitment to provide respectful, compassionate, quality care with integrity to all Tomah Health customers (in-house & community-wide) through: job excellence, patient advocacy, and self-dignity.

+ PROFESSIONALISM STANDARD: Affirm a commitment to professional conduct towards all Tomah Health customers (in-house & community-wide) through: collaboration, teamwork, appearance, environment, and valuation of each individual person.

+ ATTITUDE STANDARD: Affirm a commitment to maintain a positive, professional perspective towards all Tomah Health customers (in-house & community-wide) through: honest feedback, confidentiality, basic customer courtesy, and valuation of each individual person.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

+ MSW from an accredited school of Social Work.

+ Certificate from the State of Wisconsin, Department of Regulations and Licensing Examination Board of Family Support Coordinators.

+ 1 year of clinical experience preferred

+ Successful completion or agreement to complete hospice/volunteer training.

+ Must have access to insured vehicle and have current and valid WI Driver’s License.

+ Previous experience preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

+ Excellent human relation skills as demonstrated by the ability to interface positively with all customers and employees.

+ Must acquire the knowledge and maintain established competency levels to perform essential job functions.

+ Must have proficient computer skills with the ability to operate within a Windows environment.

+ Must have the ability to work with frequent interruptions, under stress and with minimal supervision.

+ Needs to possess a high level of intelligence, integrity, sense of responsibility and ability to comprehend and analyze details.

+ Ability to demonstrate clinical competence and maintain current knowledge in caring for the different age populations served.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

+ Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, and talk and hear.

+ The Certified Social Worker is frequently required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The Certified Social Worker is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch.

+ The Certified Social Worker must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

+ Good hearing is necessary to receive detailed information through oral communication.

+ Computer/keyboard skills required. Must have the ability to operate in a Windows environment.

+ May on rare occasions be required to work from home with duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Must understand and accept the possibility of exposure to inside environmental conditions, such as infectious/communicable diseases, noise, blood and bloodborne diseases, chemicals and/or chemical fumes, odors, gases, dusts, and physical injury/verbal abuse from an out-of-control patient. Frequent exposure to distressed patients, families or visitors. Must be able to function effectively under stressful situations. Position may involve driving to patient homes in various types of weather and road conditions.