Hospice Medical Social Worker

Key Responsibilities

Optimal Care Hospice Medical Social Workers are trained professional Social Workers who assist patients and families living with terminal illnesses. The Medical Social Worker coordinates care to enhance the patient's quality of life by handling the day-to-day details of the client's medical care, establishing, implementing, and evaluating goals, and counseling the patient and their family/caregiver as they journey through the end stage of life.

In this role you will be responsible for:

• Completing the patient's initial evaluation within 5 days of hospice admission and re-evaluating the patient's social work needs during each subsequent visit
• Assisting patients and caregivers in planning for funeral arrangements, financial, legal, and health care decisions
• Educating and assisting patients and caregivers in the preparation of advanced directives
• Providing information to patients and caregivers regarding community agencies and referral services
• Carrying out social evaluations, including family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, high risks for suicide, neglect, or abuse, and planning intervention based on evaluation findings
• Assessing the psychosocial status of patients and caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness
• Counseling patients and caregivers as needed concerning stress, and other identified coping difficulties
• Assessing for and educating staff on any special needs related to the culture of patients and their caregivers. This includes communication, the role of family, space, and any special traditions
• Providing bereavement support to patients, caregivers, and hospice personnel

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university
• Current state licensing in social work
• Current and valid driver's license
• Reliable transportation and valid automobile insurance coverage
• Minimum of one year experience in healthcare
• Medical Social Work skills are as defined by accepted MSW standards
• Understands the hospice philosophy, and issues of death/dying
• Experience and or education in grief or loss counseling
• Demonstrates ability to assess and respond to the needs of patient's families and caregivers in varied settings and to function effectively in the home or nursing facility environment
• Demonstrates skill in Social Work practice, ability to cope with ill, disabled, terminal patients, family emotional stress, and tolerance of individual lifestyles
• Ability to handle multiple priorities, documentation requirements, and deadlines

Desired Qualifications

• Hospice experience is preferred
• Familiarity with Home Care Home Base (HCHB)

Location

• Office Location: 600 E. Carmel Dr, Suite 144, Carmel, IN 46032
• Main Service Area: Carmel and surrounding

Hours

• Office Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
• Weekend rotation