Medical Social Worker (MSW)

Reports To: Director of Clinical Services About Luminary Hospice: At Luminary Hospice, we are a mission-driven organization that empowers our team members to shape our culture in order to allow them to provide the highest quality support to patients and families throughout their entire end-of-life journey. Our mission is to deliver personalized care that radiates compassion and preserves dignity for all that we are honored to serve on their end-of-life journey. We are centered on caring for the whole person – with expert medical care, pain management as well as emotional and spiritual support along with resources, information, and emotional support for families and caregivers.

About The Role

: The Masters of S ocial W orker contracted or employed through the organization is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for medical social work services and for adherence to all conditions in the Service or Employment Agreement.

Responsibilities

: Assesses the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment and communicates findings to the registered nurse and other members of the interdisciplinary group. Provides an assessment in the patient's identified residence and assistance when this is not safe, and another plan is required . Carries out social evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, high risks for suicide, neglect, or abuse, and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.

Counsels patient and family/caregivers as needed in relationship to stress, and other identified coping difficulties. Provides crisis intervention when necessary. Assesses for, and educates interdisciplinary groups, on any special needs related to the culture of the patient and family.

Includes communication, role of family, space, and any special traditions or taboos. Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work. Educates patients and families on, and assists in, the preparation of advanced directives.

Provides information and referral services for organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs. Provides information to patients and families/caregivers and community agencies. Serves as liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies.

Maintains collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care. Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patients and personnel. Participates in the development of the individualized plan of care, involving the patient and family, and attends regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings, assisting the team in recognizing the effects of the psychosocial stresses on the symptoms of the terminal illness.

Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems and death/dying issues. Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.

Other duties as delegated by the Clinical Supervisor.

performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Qualifications

: A graduate of a master’s program in social work (MSW) accredited by the Council on Social Work Education OR A graduate of a bachelor’s program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

114(b)(3). Minimum of one (1) years of experience in health care, hospice experience preferred. Understands hospice philosophy, and issues of death/dying.

Experience in hospice care preferred.