Social Worker | FT Float

Awarded Best Quality of Care — Once Again! Behind every award is a story, and ours is written every day by more than 900 dedicated employees and hundreds of compassionate volunteers who walk alongside patients and families when they need us most. At Community Hospice \& Palliative Care, we’re honored to be recognized with the Hospice Honors Elite award, a testament not just to our clinical excellence, but to the compassion we bring to every bedside, every home, every conversation. Every day, we serve approximately 1,500 patients living with advanced illness, wherever they call home, be it a private residence, a long\-term care or assisted living facility, a hospital, or in one of our nine inpatient care centers. We’re here to improve quality of life, to ease pain and lift burdens, and to be the Compassionate Guide that families need when time matters most. And most importantly, as the only non\-profit hospice provider in the region, we never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Position Summary Under the direction and supervision of the Social Work Manager, this position, as a member of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), provides medical social services and support to patients and their families. The social worker will provide all psychosocial interventions and referrals, assessments, supportive counseling, networking, and resource procurement. Job duties are performed with awareness and respect of the patient’s developmental stage, patient rights, and patient and family personal, cultural, and spiritual beliefs, according to specific program guidelines. Contributes to the smooth functioning of services, attends IDG meetings and advocates for patient/family needs with the team and community at large. Essential Functions * In unpredictable and/or unknown environments assesses patient/family needs regarding psychosocial history including assessing emotional factors related to terminal illness, psychosocial needs, including risk factors such as mental health, suicidal and homicidal ideation, substance abuse, bereavement risk, and offers recommendations accordingly. Will also assess environmental resources and obstacles to maintaining safety. * Visits patients in various settings, to include but not be limited to: hospice inpatient units, private homes, long term care or assisted living facilities, group homes, shelters, or other locations where services to patients/families may need to occur. * Manages a caseload of patients including, but not limited to, assessing for and assisting with advance directives, funeral and memorial planning, assessment of care situation, and the provision of more complicated case management. * Assesses for financial needs or barriers, and facilitates referrals as needed to internal and external resources. * Provides patient/family education as appropriate and within the scope of practice. * Identify and utilize appropriate community resources and assess patient/family/caregiver ability to access them. * Evaluate patient/family/caregiver response to intervention(s) when referred to community agency and the satisfaction of the services(s) provided. * Provide clinical therapeutic services to patients and families such as, but not limited to: * Short\-term individual counseling (loss, anticipatory grief and bereavement, coping, transition) to patient and/or family * Goals of Care discussions * Crisis intervention * Assistance in addressing/supporting decision\-making, ensuring the best interest and rights of the patient. * Coordination and collaboration with ancillary therapeutic services, including but not limited to Child Life services and Music Therapy * Evaluate, intervene, and support the patient/family/caregivers throughout life transitions, regardless of disease trajectory and location on the continuum of the condition. * Participate in IDG meetings as a contributing member of the team in ongoing communication, coordination, and continuity of the patient and family care/service needs from the psychosocial perspective, including the development and revision of the patients POC. * Act as advocate for patient/families right to self\-determination. * Assist the physician and other team members in recognizing and understanding the social/mental stress and/or disorder that exacerbates the symptoms related to terminal illness. * Identify family dynamics and communication patterns; assess for special needs related to cultural diversity including communication, space, role of family members and special traditions. * Identify the developmental level of patient/family and obstacles to learning or ability to participate in care of patient; assesses caregiver’s ability to function. * Identify support systems available to reduce stress and facilitate coping with acute and end\-of\-life care. * Identify obstacles to compliance and assist in patient/family/caregiver understanding of goals and interventions; address patient/family/caregiver questions and issues. * Educate and evaluate patient/family understanding and acceptance to change in program/level of care; communicate psychosocial information to include goals of care to new care providers, to include hospital or Community Hospice inpatient facility when transferring to a different care setting. * Provide services to patient/family/caregivers within the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Standards of practice in Palliative and End of Life Care. * May attend patient funeral/memorial services as able and appropriate. * Ensure timely completion of all discipline\-specific and organizational documentation according to Community Hospice policies and procedures. * Participate in sharing information with other professionals through participation in organizations such as NASW. * Builds, develops, and maintains relationships with area social workers, discharge planners and community agency staff in order to network and facilitate referrals of patients. * Consult the Community Hospice Ethics Committee, when needed. * Participate in program, organizational, community in\-service programs or presentations, as appropriate. * Participates in the organization on call schedule as needed. * Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Knowledge and Critical Skills * Knowledge of principles, practices and methods of psychosocial services interventions, case management, individual assessment, counseling techniques including but not limited to grief, loss and bereavement, reporting and referral, and appropriate discipline documentation. * Skilled at verbal and written communication, assessment, supportive counseling, working within framework of interdisciplinary team, computer skills. Experience * Experience in supportive counseling in group and individual settings, and/or direct service with clients and their families in health care setting. * Experience in provision of case management services License / Certification * Current State of Florida driver’s license with driving record acceptable to Community Hospice insurance carrier. Education * Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work and three (3\) years’ direct service experience. * If employed prior to December 2008, may have a baccalaureate degree in social work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and a master’s degree in a related field of study such as Psychology, Sociology or Counseling. Other Requirements * Must have medical clearance for communicable diseases before direct patient contact. * Current immunizations including but not limited to TB, Hepatitis, and Flu. The knowledge, skills and abilities listed above are typically acquired through the levels of education and experience listed. However, any equivalent combination of education and/or experience, which provide an applicant with the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job, is acceptable. This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions required of employees in this position. The organization reserves the right to modify or amend the duties of the position or to require that additional tasks be performed as organizational needs change. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and employment with the organization is at\-will, meaning either the employee or the organization may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice. Community Hospice \& Palliative Care, including all of its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, is committed to complying with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access to employment opportunities and the ability to perform the essential functions of a position. If you require an accommodation to complete the application process, interview, or perform the essential functions of a role, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. We participate in E\-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Where applicable, and as required by law, employment with Community Hospice \& Palliative Care may be contingent upon successful completion of a background screening initiated by the organization through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Background Screening Clearinghouse. More information about the Clearinghouse, including positions that require screening, can be found here: https://info.flclearinghouse.com. Equal Opportunity Employer