SOCIAL WORKER-PALLIATIVE CARE

The Social Worker – Palliative Care is responsible for providing comprehensive social work services which assist providers, patients and their families to find practical ways of overcoming social, emotional, and environmental barriers to optimum functioning and quality of life. This position initiates social service plans for patients/clients through professional collaboration with medical, nursing and health care personnel utilizing screening questionnaires, diagnostic assessment and individualized therapeutic care plans, with particular expertise in goals-of-care conversations, advance care planning, and end-of-life support.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

•Responsible for providing comprehensive social work services which assist providers, patients and their families to find practical ways of overcoming social, emotional, and environmental barriers to optimum functioning and quality of life.
•Initiates individualized social service plans through professional collaboration with interdisciplinary palliative care and oncology teams, utilizing psychosocial screening, diagnostic assessment, and therapeutic care planning aligned with patient goals and values.
•Provides direction in the selection, analysis, summarization and presentation of patient/client information for service delivery planning, case conferences and professional consultation.
•Provides specialized therapeutic social work intervention to individuals, families and groups facing serious illness, including psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, grief and bereavement support, goals-of-care facilitation, advance care planning, community resource referrals, patient advocacy, and intra-/inter-agency consultation.
•Facilitates goals-of-care conversations and advance care planning discussions, supporting patients and families in understanding and communicating treatment preferences, hospice eligibility, and end-of-life wishes.
•Provides education, training, and coaching to introduce or improve coping skills of individuals and families managing serious, life-limiting, or terminal illness, including oncology diagnoses.
•Documents services rendered in clinical records.
•Conducts social service orientation for Eskenazi Health personnel and students as appropriate.
•Utilizes communication and problem-solving skills to identify and facilitate resolution of problems in team functioning.
•Participates in staff meetings and education programs for staff and community agencies.
•Alters activities/behaviors to reflect and ensure adequate care and services appropriate to the age of patients served, with sensitivity to the unique psychosocial needs across the serious illness trajectory.
•Assumes responsibility for continuous professional self-development, including training in palliative care, hospice, oncology social work, and end-of-life care best practices.
•Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to facilitate coordination and delivery of services that assure appropriate treatment plans, continuity of care, and alignment with patient and family values and goals.
•Initiates advocacy/liaison role for patients in referrals to and from community agencies; collaborates with agency and hospital personnel in referral activities; cultivates referral network of needed resources.

Job Requirements

• Graduation with MSW from an accredited school of social work
• Active Indiana Social Work license
• Social work experience in a palliative care or hospice setting is strongly preferred; oncology experience is desirable but not required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to navigate sensitive conversations around serious illness, prognosis, and end-of-life care.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide social work services appropriate to the age of patients served. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the unique psychosocial needs at each stage of serious illness.
• Advanced analytical, psychosocial assessment, and counseling skills, with particular emphasis on grief, bereavement, and family systems.
• Knowledge of pertinent State/Federal laws and regulations, community systems and resources.
• Ability to work cooperatively with multi-discipline teams in situations requiring a high degree of flexibility, creativity, and initiative.
• Ability to apply social work techniques/principles including evaluation, intervention, and counseling.
• Ability to perform duties independently.
• Ability to recognize own limitations and seek assistance/guidance from appropriate resources as needed.