Pediatric Social Worker: Family Advocate & Crisis Support

Nicklaus Children's Hospital; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, FL seeks a pediatric hospital social worker to provide psychosocial support to patients and families, enhancing transitions to home and community. You will advocate for families and coordinate resources to support diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and adjustment.

The role involves crisis response, discharge planning, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to ensure culturally competent care and patient-centered outcomes for diverse pediatric

Qualifications

• 1 year internship or work experience in an acute health care related field; social work setting highly preferred.
• 1 year of experience in a pediatric health care setting preferred. Direct work experience with families preferred.
• Previous training focusing on end of life decisions, grief, and bereavement preferred.
• Expertise in crisis intervention and risk assessment preferred.
• Expertise in pediatric growth and development preferred as well as regarding issues related to adolescence.
• Expertise in coordinating and facilitating support groups preferred.
• Ability to adapt and react calmly in stressful situations.
• Able to perform and complete thorough initial assessments.
• Ability to demonstrate strong patient and family advocacy skills.
• Knowledge of diverse cultural and spiritual perspectives regarding death and bereavement.
• Knowledge of community resource systems, Florida state laws regarding child abuse and domestic violence, Baker Act procedures, HIV/AIDS related guidelines, and Social Work theories/practices.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive, protected health information.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Able to assume on-call, holiday, and weekend back-up responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Completes in-depth psychosocial assessment interviews and formulates treatment plans that include impressions, establishing supportive relationships with families and providing therapeutic interventions.
• Conducts comprehensive pre-discharge screenings within 24 hours of admission to identify diverse needs. Collaborates closely with multidisciplinary team members such as case managers to implement safe, timely, cost effective discharge plans or transfers.
• Documents in the patient’s electronic health record within 24 hours of communicating with patient/family; regularly enters team-oriented follow-up notes; when requested, generates Social Work activity reports.
• Makes decisions in a self-directed manner, consults with supervisor or director regarding complex cases and discusses pertinent cases with fellow social workers.
• Effectively manages assigned caseload while prioritizing cases based on urgency, acuity and overall impact on families.
• Responds promptly to crisis situations. Provides patients/families with appropriate support as they face difficult decisions.
• Accountable to take the lead on trauma, child abuse/neglect, human trafficking and domestic violence situations.
• Responds to requests for information and referrals. Serves as a resource figure to families and team members regarding available Social Work services.
• Participates in diverse departmental or hospital projects/activities, committees, initiatives, leadership councils and other supportive/educational endeavors.
• Participates in the orientation process of new social workers, interns and multidisciplinary team members.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Family advocacy

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Cultural sensitivity

English/Spanish bilingual

Education

Master's Degree Social Work

Job description

Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, FL seeks a pediatric hospital social worker to provide psychosocial support to patients and families, enhancing transitions to home and community. You will advocate for families and coordinate resources to support diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and adjustment.

The role involves crisis response, discharge planning, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to ensure culturally competent care and patient-centered outcomes for diverse pediatric