Hospice Clinical Social Worker

Under general supervision, provides supportive services to the patient/family unit of care. Provides assistance in adjustment to illness and grief, addressing personal, financial and environmental difficulties, which occur with end of life.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Licensures/Certifications:

• Licensed in the State of Maryland as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (LCSW-C). Advanced licensure for LMSWs is required within 3 years of the start date, supervision provided.

Experience:
One year of social work experience in a health care setting

Skills:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to effectively collaborate with interdisciplinary team in providing patient care

• Ability to manage time well and perform assigned duties with attention to detail

• Must possess professional image, positive attitude, enthusiasm, and self-motivation

• Comfortable in maintaining professional boundaries

• Strong self-awareness

• Culturally humble, curious and open to learning about diverse backgrounds

• Proficient computer skills

• Knowledgeable about community resources as well as diligent in researching a wide array of resources including those related to financial benefits

• Demonstrates empathy and compassion

• Effective time management

• Highly organized

• Knowledge of self-care, personal boundaries; abilities, limits and inner resources

• Analytical skills necessary to assess client needs, to establish a plan of care and to implement appropriate interventions

• Ability to function independently and effectively anticipate needs and problems

Patient & Workplace Safety: 

• Employee has knowledge and understanding of patient and workforce safety as it relates to job duties. 

Patient Population: 

• Demonstrates competency in the delivery of care and applies the knowledge to meet age-specific needs if applicable. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervises social work interns as assigned

• LCSW-C Social Workers may supervise social workers with a LMSW as assigned

• Conducts biopsychosocial assessments of the patient and family as the basis for care planning

• Develops and maintains therapeutic relationships

• Addresses the emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs of the patient and family related to the patient’s illness, need for care, response to treatment and adjustment to care.

• Provides individual and family counseling specific to the disease process, coping, and planning.

• Provides psychosocial education to patients and their family members regarding coping strategies and techniques to manage stress, pain, and other symptoms of illness

• Conducts a comprehensive needs assessment and assists patients and family members with referrals and linkage to services in the community

• Supports the patient and their family through dying process

• Assures that a patient’s end of life wishes are met through education and helps to capture their wishes in legal documents such as MOLST and advanced directives

• Assesses and addresses caregiving resources and needs

• Conducts crisis intervention including suicide assessment and prevention

• Conducts bereavement care and grief counseling, including anticipatory responses to and processing grief

• Facilitates smooth transition from care environments

• Assists with discharge planning

• Participates in interdisciplinary group meetings

• Participates on committees as appropriate or assigned

• Educates staff during IDTs about mental health issues, family dynamics, or psychosocial factors impacting care.

• Advises IDT members of the maintenance of appropriate and therapeutic boundaries

• Debriefs difficult cases or deaths within the IDT

• Participates in monthly or bimonthly structured peer case conferences or group therapy

• Participates in supervision as dictated by the Board of Social Work Examiners regulations

• Assists with orientation of