Hospice Social Worker (LMSW, CMSW, LCSW, LCSWA)

•           Provides professional counseling, assessment of psychosocial needs, assessments for financial needs and services including providing written explanation of Medicare, Medicaid and Insurance benefits to prospective patients/families when necessary, and provides guidance with regards to the grief and loss process.

•           Completes psychosocial history and assessment, assessing the needs of the patient and family systems’ psychosocial needs, within the guidelines of the policies and procedures.

•           Provides crisis intervention and suicide assessment.

•           Participates in the development of the plan of care with the interdisciplinary team, collaborates with other team members, and participates in updates to the plan of care.

•           Provides services to the patient and family consistent with the plan of care.

•           Assists the patient and family to cope with the psychosocial changes and stresses related to the terminal illness.

•           Locates and obtains resources necessary to the financial, social, and emotional well-being of the patient.

•           Provides counseling to family/caregivers to assist in coping with approaching death of the patient.

•           Documents in the medical record all services.

•           Provides bereavement services to families of patients and refers families to other resources as needed.

•           Provides training in psycho-social needs of patients/families to hospice staff/nursing home staff.

•           Recruit, train, and supervises hospice and home care volunteers, including assignments to families and patients.

•           Assist with the physician and other health care team member’s in understanding the significant social and emotional factors related to the health problems of the patient.

•           Supervise/advise assigned BSW or baccalaureate degree person working in capacity of a social worker.  

•           Prepares clinical and progress notes according to policy and procedures.

•           Uses appropriate community resources.

•           Participates in discharge planning.

•           Participates in ongoing inservice education.

•           Acts as a consultant to agency personnel.

•           Coordinates care provided to patients and families under the direction of the Director of Health Services.

•           Other duties as assigned by Administrator.

•           Demonstrate knowledge of hospice services, progression of terminal illness, DNR/advance directives, financial resources, cultural diversity, family life cycle, grieving process, and burial planning.

•           Employ skilled social work interventions (e.g. assessment, counseling, education, referral to community resources, crisis intervention).

•           Continually reassess psychosocial needs of patient/resident and family (including bereavement risk).