Medical Social Worker - Hospice & Palliative Care - DC

It’s inspiring to work with a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they’re doing!

When you become part of the Chapters Health Team, you’ll realize it’s more than a job. It’s a mission. We’re committed to providing outstanding patient care and a high level of customer service in our communities every day. Our employees make all the difference in our success!

Role:
The Social Worker (SW) provides and coordinates a wide range of social services including psychosocial support to patients and their families.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or above in Social Work (CSWE accredited); SWs hired before 2009 who have degrees in other fields are grandfathered in; SWs hired before 4/21/2019 who have BSWs are grandfathered in; Bachelor’s degree may be considered depending on geographic area (Note: Home Health requires MSW)

• Employees working in Georgia require current Georgia LCSW

• Minimum of one (1) year of experience including social work/counseling internship in health care or hospital setting
• Familiarity with and working knowledge of the concepts and practices of both adult and pediatric patients:   Hospice: death and dying  Palliative: serious illness
• Previous experience working with an EMR/EHR (Electronic Medical/Health Record) system
• Experience in children, family, and group modalities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and effectively handle the emotional stress of the workload
• Able to remain calm, professional, trouble shoot and intervene with patient/family crisis situations.
• Able to demonstrate high ethical standards in areas of Hospice mission, confidentiality, sensitivity, and flexibility
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a team environment and intervene appropriately
• Mobile Driver - Valid driver's license and automobile insurance per Company policy
• Ability to travel to off-site locations
• Ability to physically access any home, hospital, clinic, nursing home, and assisted living facility (i.e., navigate stairs, narrow stairs, narrow spaces, lack of air conditioning, etc.)

Competencies:

• Satisfactorily complete competency requirements for this position.

Responsibilities of all employees:

• Represent Company professionally at all times through care delivered and/or services provided to all clients.
• Comply with all State, federal and local government regulations, maintaining a strong position against fraud and abuse.
• Comply with company policies, procedures and standard practices.
• Observe company's health, safety and security practices.
• Maintain the confidentiality of patients, families, colleagues and other sensitive situations within company.
• Use resources in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Promote company through participation in community and professional organizations.
• Participate proactively in improving performance at the micro and macro levels.
• Improve own professional knowledge and skill level.
• Advance electronic media skills.
• Support company research and educational activities.
• Share expertise with co-workers both formally and informally.
• Participate in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement activities as appropriate.

Job Responsibilities:

• Performs and documents psychosocial assessment.
• Empowers patient/families to negotiate with resource providers and make decisions on their own behalf.
• Assists other clinical staff in (1) understanding family dynamics as well as significant social and emotional factors related to health problems and (2) developing a plan to address issues in a nonjudgmental manner.
• Maintains documentation in a manner that reflects timeliness, completeness, accuracy, legibility, clarity of goals and interventions.
• Consults and collaborates with other professionals to promote quality care and continuity of patient/family care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Home Health Specific:

• Participates in the development of the individualized Plan of Care and participates in Case Conferences.
• Observes clinical symptoms, reaction to treatment regimen, and emotional status and reports to the appropriate staff along with pertinent changes.
• Anticipates barriers to pain and symptom management; identifies differences in goals of curative and palliative care; and provides appropriate education.
• Respects patient’s wishes and stated goals when planning and providing care.

Hospice Specific:

• Shares joint responsibility with other clinicians and volunteers to provid