Hospice Social Worker

Advocate Aurora Health; Green Bay (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Wisconsin seeks a licensed MSW to provide psychosocial care for terminally ill patients and families. You will deliver evaluations, counseling, and bereavement services within hospice protocols.

You will develop social work plans of care with the interdisciplinary team, participate in QA/CQI, and support patients across Manitowoc and Green Bay territories, including end-of-life planning conversations.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited school.
• One year experience in a medical clinical setting or hospice/palliative care preferred.
• Social Worker license issued by the state of employment.
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Provides initial psychosocial evaluations, ongoing counseling, bereavement services, and community referrals.
• Assesses psychosocial needs of patients and families and develops a social work plan of care.
• Evaluates hospice level of care with the interdisciplinary team and ensures smooth transitions.
• Facilitates end-of-life planning conversations including goals of care, funeral arrangements, caregiving, guardianship, and legacy work.
• Participates in the QA/CQI process for Advocate Hospice.
• Aims to achieve agency, department, and personal goals and objectives.
• Supports patients and families across Manitowoc and Green Bay territories.

Skills

Family systems therapy

Narrative therapy

Crisis intervention

Grief counseling

Cultural awareness

Time management

EMR proficiency

Education

MSW (Master of Social Work)

Tools

EMR software

Job description

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides initial psychosocial evaluations, ongoing counseling, bereavement services, and community referrals that are appropriate to meet the specialized needs of the terminally ill.
• Responsible for the assessment of psychosocial needs of patients and families as well as development of a social work plan of care reflecting problems, interventions, and outcome goals. Implements the plan of care in conjunction with the hospice interdisciplinary team and according to hospice specific protocols and measures.
• Continually evaluate appropriate hospice level of care with the interdisciplinary group. Assures a smooth transition between hospice levels of care: GIP, Routine, Continuous Care.
• Facilitates conversations specific to end-of-life planning including goals of care, funeral arrangements, caregiving, guardianship and legacy work.
• Participates in the QA/CQI process for Advocate Hospice.
• Responsible for achievement of agency, department and personal goals and objectives.
• Responsibilities include supporting patients and families throughout our Manitowoc and Green Bay territories.

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required:

• Social Worker license issued by the state of employment
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Education/Experience Required:

• Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work.
• One year experience in a medical clinical setting or hospice/palliative care preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of evidence-based counseling models such as family systems, strengths-based and narrative therapy, to provide short-term counseling to patients and their families;
• Understanding of family dynamics and psychosocial issues related to terminal illness;
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations and provide crisis intervention when necessary;
• Ability to identify risk factors of complicated grief, suicide, neglect, and abuse;
• Ability to recognize the effects of the psychosocial stresses on the symptoms of the terminal illness including trauma and PTSD.
• Knowledge of issues related to anticipatory grief, death, and bereavement;
• Knowledge of community resources, advanced directives, funeral planning, and facility placement;
• Exceptional collaboration skills, advocacy abilities and ability to perform as part of an interdisciplinary team;
• Ability to identify client needs with consideration to cultural, ethnic, religious, economic, and other diverse backgrounds;
• Excellent time management, prioritizing and documentation skills;
• Intermediate computer skills including EMR, presentation applications and electronic mail.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must be able to travel to all areas within the Advocate Aurora service area in all extremes of weather on all types of roads.
• Exposed to widely varying social and environmental conditions in patient’s neighborhoods and homes.
• Must be willing to work occasional overtime if needed.
• Required to make visits to private residences which may not be accessible to people with disabilities.
• Will be exposed to the following hazards on a frequent basis: mechanical, electrical, chemical, blood and body fluids.
• Will be required to wear PPE, protective clothing and equipment as needed.
• 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.