HMC - Medical Social Worker - Cates House - Empath Payroll Services LLC

Responsible for the Initial Bereavement Assessment of  families and care givers.  Assists in the development of the Bereavement Plan of Care.  Assists patients and their families with issues which predispose illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical care.  Provides counseling services to families as needed by performing the following duties:

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

            Include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Maintains effective communication with Hospice Admissions Team, Volunteer Department staff, and primary team staff with regard to referrals.

• Interviews family unit/significant others to assess situation and potential psychosocial  needs.

• Develops bereavement component of the family plan of care within 24 hours following the assessment.
• Carries out responsibilities consistent with the standards and guidelines of Hospice of  Marion County, the hospitals and the profession.

• Maintains confidentiality of patient/family information in accordance with agency and professional standards.

• Adheres to professional standards of practice for Social Workers.
• Maintains current knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid programs in relation to admission procedures and qualifications for skilled nursing facilities (SNF's).

• Identifies Social Services needs of the family unit and sets goals to meet those needs.
• Reviews financial status of bereaved as needed, in finding financial support.

• Works in close collaboration with physicians and other health care personnel as appropriate to evaluate and further bereaved’s understanding of significant social and emotional factors related to their loss and grief.
• Helps family through individual or group support to understand the impact of loss and grief.
• Utilizes community resources to assist bereaved to resume life in the community.

• Prepares histories, assessments, service plans, and reports in a thorough, accurate, and timely fashion.
• Makes  professional evaluations and responds with appropriate intervention including crisis intervention.
• Possesses awareness and acceptance of various life styles without imposing personal values on the family unit.

• Maintains a high level of understanding of Medicare, Medicaid, insurance, AIDS waiver, and alternate reimbursement programs. 
• Facilitates bereavement support groups ensuring positive outcome for Hospice and for community organizations.
• Completes bereavement risk assessment or initial bereavement assessment.
• Provides pre-bereavement counseling.
• Covers Clinical Coordinator in their absence.
• Participates in On-Call rotation and provides on- call coverage as needed on a 7 day, 24 hours a day basis.
• Provides basic counseling (up to 6 sessions) for bereaved families.
• Provides staff and community in-services relating to social services/bereavement education.

 STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:

• Participates proactively in improving performance at the individual, departmental and organizational levels.
• Actively sets goals related to the Strategic Challenges and is accountable for meeting goals at annual evaluation.
• Reports to work and meetings at expected times, prepared to work, and adheres to scheduled hours.
• Utilizes work time effectively and completes quality work in prescribed time using appropriate time management skills and resources.
• Provides superior customer service to all internal and external customers.
• Cooperates and functions as a team member within the organization.
• Exhibits flexibility and demonstrates dependability within the organization.
• Demonstrates courtesy and respect when dealing with fellow staff members, volunteers, and customers.
• Demonstrates willingness to accept responsibility and accountability in assigned duties.
• Demonstrates ability to perform job under stressful situations.
• Exhibits exceptional communications skills.
• Complies with policies, procedures and standard practices.
• Represents Hospice of Marion County, Inc. professionally at all times through positive customer interactions, exceptional written and verbal communications and appropriate business attire/ personal appearance.
• Complies with all Federal, State, and local government regulations, maintaining a strong position against fraud and abuse.
• Adheres to all safety and security policies.
• Maintains the confidentiality of patients, families, colleagues, customers, other sensitive situations and adheres to all HIPAA policies.
• Uses resources in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Promotes Hospice of Marion County, Inc. through participation in community and professional organizations.
• Shares expertise with co-workers both formally and informally.
• Understands, adheres to and promotes the Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Participates in orienting new employees, volunteers and students.
• Meets or exceeds Quality Improvement Standards and Standards of Excellence in all areas of practice.
• Remains in the service area during emergencies, and as appropriate and/or as scheduled, to work up to, during, and after the emergency to assist in providing quality care to all patients/clients. If you reside in a mandatory evacuation area and so must evacuate, or if there are any special family needs that need to be accommodated, management must be notified. Management will be sensitive to those needs but must be kept apprised of your location and a source of contact during an emergency so that, if required, they are able to reach you.  (See Policy A/HR-510)

 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a school accredited by the American Council on Social Work Education is required. Licensed Clinical Social Worker by the State of Florida required. 
• Three (3) years experience in social work required. Hospice experience preferred.
• Follows all safety precautions when lifting/moving heavy items and properly utilizes necessary lifting/moving equipment.
• Must have a Valid Florida drivers License, maintain current auto insurance coverage and have access to a reliable automobile. Knowledge of Marion County. Good driving skills, including defensive driving.  I understand that if I drive a company vehicle in the course of my primary job responsibilities, I am required to have no more than six (6) points for speeding or traffic violations for the past two years and that I am required to report any traffic citations received by me and to report any suspension or revocation of my driving privilege by the State of Florida to my supervisor immediately.  Further, I understand that I may be disciplined and/or my employment may be terminated if I am found guilty of DUI, reckless driving or other negligence.
• Ability to work unsupervised in the field, exercising discretion and independent judgment.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations, as well as documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers, patients/families or employees.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and ability to demonstrate essential usage.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to operate a facsimile, copy machines, computers and other common office machines, with working knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, Excel and other software appropriate to positions.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; stand and reach with hands and arms; to talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.

• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move a bed bound patient who is unable to assist his/her own care, using the appropriate equipment and/or techniques. Weight may vary 25-250+pounds.
• Physical ability to access any home, hospital, Nursing Home, Doctor’s Office, or Assisted Living Facility.
• Ability to communicate with customers and provide feedback.
• Frequent mobility in and out of offices and buildings.
• Frequent use of hands and arms to reach, lift, carry and move objects.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
• Possible contact with communicable diseases.
• Frequently works in outside weather conditions.
• Noise level in work environment is usually moderate.