Location: North Denver Metro Area

Classification: Field-first

Reports to: Director of Psychosocial Services

Job Summary: The Hospice Social Worker is responsible for the provision, direction, and evaluation of medical social services to clients in home and long-term care environments, in accordance with agency policies and procedures, applicable health standards, and Medicare Conditions of Participation. Proactively meet the needs of and assist the clients and their families in the achievement of individualized and measurable outcomes.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements:

1. Must possess each of the following:

a. A baccalaureate degree in psychology, sociology, or other field related to social work

AND

b. Supervised by an individual with a Masters of Social Work degree from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education

OR

c. Masters of Social Work degree from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education

2. Minimum of one year social work experience in a healthcare setting.

3. Excellent organization and communication skills.

4. Excellent interpersonal and analytical skills.

Responsibilities/essential functions: The person in this position must be able to perform the following essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations:

1. Instruct, treat, observe and evaluate clients with significant social and emotional situations affecting their health status.

2. Use special skills and judgment to resolve adverse social and emotional responses connected with the illness.

3. Participate in the Admission process; ensure families understand the hospice benefit; assist in obtaining documentation for patient admission to Hospice.

4. Report any changes in client's condition and response to treatment to supervisor and RN Case Manager.

5. Participate in development and re-evaluation of POC for clients needing MSW services.

6. Instruct and counsel the client and family in treating and coping with the social and emotional responses to illness.

7. Provide ongoing assessment of needs.

8. Participate in discharge planning and relocation/transfer planning.

9. Participate in care coordination activities and act as resource to other team members in identification and resolution of client needs.

10. Use appropriate community resources.

11. Use discretion with patient information and act in a professional manner at all times.

12. Attend, participate in and/or conduct internal staff development programs, obtain CEU's as required by regulations.

13. Participate in staff meetings, in-service programs and Utilization reviews.

14. Make referrals to other team members as needed to support the patient and family (e.g., chaplain, RN, bereavement counselor, etc.)

15. Document communication, visits, and related clinical actions in EMR within 24 hours of activity.

Working Conditions: General offices, extended care facility, patient home setting, and exposure to infectious diseases, travel by automobile.

Physical Demands: Minimal physical exertion. Regularly required to use hands, talk or hear. Specific vision abilities include close, peripheral, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to travel to businesses, offices, or patient homes or where conditions may be adverse due to weather, environment, or patients’ lifestyles.

Continuing Education Requirements: Employee is expected to participate in continuing education as required by Medicare or ACHC standards. In addition, employee is expected to accept personal responsibility for other educational activities to enhance job-related skills and abilities. Employee must virtually attend mandatory education programs.

Scheduling & On-Call: PRN Staff are scheduled “as needed” by the organization, during times that the employee and company have mutually agreed upon need and availability. At minimum, PRN staff must work 1 shift per month. There is no requirement for weekend or holiday work for this position, but there is opportunity to work those shifts for premium pay.

Compensation: Not benefit eligible. Pay is $28-$35 per hour, DOE.

www.dignityco.com