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Job Summary:

This position is accountable for psycho-social assessments and provision of medical social services for the patient and family, in accordance with the interdisciplinary plan of care. The primary responsibilities of this role are to provide direct services to patients and their families including: individual counseling; group and family counseling; crisis intervention; patient advocacy and information and referral. Mary Washington Hospice utilizes a collaborative interdisciplinary group care delivery model which assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates options and services to meet an individual's health needs with focus on symptom management, comfort and quality of life treatment/care decision through communication and available resources to promote quality. The incumbent in this position will be responsible for compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations governing the privacy of patients' protected health information.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Completes initial and ongoing psychosocial assessments of the patient's/family's response to the terminal illness. Comprehensively interviews patients and family members to assess the patient's health status, risk factors, lifestyle choices, functional status, psychosocial status, personal and community support system, financial resources, goals of care, home environmental conditions, veteran status, and spiritual distress concerns.
• Coordinates involvement of the patient, family and health team members in patient care, including patient/family teaching and discharge planning. Assists patients and their family members in acquiring additional community resources, including Medicaid.
• Fosters communication between patients and family members.
• Identifies safety concerns, appropriately opening up cases with the Department of Social Services; serves as a liaison with social service agencies if necessary.
• Participates in hospice admission processes as a CMS core hospice discipline. Consults and educates involved care team members regarding status, placement, payor requirements, and utilization of resources for hospice care.
• Initiates process improvement efforts utilizing a team approach to promote clinical effectiveness through the identification of barriers to care.
• Understands bereavement risk factors, assigns appropriate bereavement levels, and communicates needs of survivors to the bereavement counselors.
• Evaluates coping skills and mediates crisis situations. Educates facility staff and family members of appropriate coping skills and available support groups.
• Coordinates care and counsels the patient/family as they work through their acceptance of the death and dying process, as well as the grief and bereavement process. Provides counseling to patient/family/caregivers/facility staff related to acceptance of hospice care, anticipatory grief due to loss.
• Assists patients/family members in preparation for impending death, including such items as wills and funeral arrangements.
• Facilitates care team meetings with facility partners. Serves as a liaison between the patient/family and the facility/caregiving staff in the facility setting.
• Participates in coverage for holidays and weekends on a rotational basis.
• Assists with volunteer training on relevant subjects. Partners with Volunteer Services to honor veteran's service.
• Performs other duties as assigns.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work from an accredited program, with LBSW licensure required; OR Master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• AHA BLS Provider CPR required at hire.
• Two years experience in an acute care hospital setting is preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in Palliative care, end-of-life and Hospice care.
• Experience with computer technology preferred - experience with Windows based programs, e-mail, Microsoft Word, keyboarding.
• Demonstrated abilities for self-management, critical thinking, problem resolution, interdisciplinary communication and proven ability to work with diverse personalities and situations.
• Valid driver's license and must meet MWHC Driver's Suitability criteria.

As an EOE/AA employer, the organization will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.