Palliative Social Worker

Major Responsibilities:

• Assesses and creates a plan of care based on the psychosocial needs of the patient and family.
• Performs a comprehensive patient and family biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment and initiates interventions as needed.
• Acts as a liaison to promote discussion between the patient, family, and medical team, to facilitate understanding of the patient’s medical condition and treatment options, and to establish clear, patient-centered goals of care and care plans.
• Provides education and guidance to the patient, family, and care team pertaining to advance care planning, palliative care and end-of-life care.
• Provides counseling and emotional support for patients and families cared for by palliative team at site.
• Recommends referral for the patient and family to appropriate supports and resources.
• Provide continuity of care for psychosocial needs for palliative care patients at site in both inpatient and clinic settings.
• Assists patients, families and the care team with discharge planning decisions in the palliative program.
• Coordinates interdisciplinary team services, including team development and education.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Social Worker license issued by the state(s) in which the teammate practices.

Education Required:

• Master's Degree in Social Work.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 2 years of social work experiences in oncology, internal medicine, geriatrics, critical care and/or hospice.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication (written and oral) skills.
• Intermediate computer skills with electronic medical record systems, Microsoft office products, and electronic mail.
• Demonstrated time management, organization, and documentation skills.
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge and skills in area of specialty practice.
   

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must be able to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and twist continuously through the workday.
• Will be exposed to the following hazards on a continuous basis; mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, protective clothing (i.e., goggles, lead apron, gloves, gowns, etc) must be worn as necessary.
• Exposed to a normal office environment.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.