Family Services Associate

Assists patients and families to resolve issues related to patients illness, injury , or hospitalization. Serves as liaison among patients/families, medical and nursing staff, and external agencies. Performs screening interviews, assists with planning and implementation of interventions, and ensures appropriate follow-up of services.

This Family Services Associate position partners with the social workers to support patients and families, linking them to community resources, assisting with discharge needs such as transportation and medications. Screening for social drivers of health on identified units and linking families to needed resources is also a primary responsibility.

• Complete screening interviews of patients and families utilizing hospital-approved screening tools.

• Research appropriate resources in the hospital and community to assist patients and families; help families to access and utilize those resources.

• Provide needed assistance, while respecting boundaries and setting appropriate limits.

• Make follow-up contact with families, when appropriate, to monitor the outcome of interventions and to promote continuity of care (e.g. assisting with new and follow up appointments, hospital and community-based referrals and applications).

• Manage requests from patients and families for hospital or community resources.

• Assist families with applications and manage referrals to outside agencies in coordination with medical team for financial assistance and other programs.

• Manage referrals to outside organizations as directed by social work and in coordination with medical team.

• Assist Family Services staff with special projects, such as patient/family newsletters, Sibling Day , support groups, etc.

• Communicate with social work and/or medical team about patient care needs.

• Share verbally and in writing, relevant patient/family information with members of the treatment team.

• Document activities according to Departmental guidelines in electronic medical record.

• Participate in team meetings to address general and specific patient care issues.

• Develop and maintain resource information for the department.

• Promote positive working relationships with community agencies.

• Serve as liaison between hospital and agency staff assisting families with resources.

• Identify gaps in services and research alternatives.

• Meet with T eam Leader for supervision to discuss case material, professional role, and projects to complete.

• Meet with social work or child life partner to review work performed for individual patients and families.

• Participate in Family Service Team meetings and departmental staff meetings.

• Meet departmental requirements for chart recording, statistics, and other documentation and submits documents in a timely manner.

• Ensure that chart documentation is co-signed by licensed Family Services staff member .

• Participate in departmental performance improvement activities.