Hospice & Home-Based Palliative Care Social Worker

Reports to the Director of Hospice and Home-Based Palliative Care, all patient visits occur in the patient home across 9 counties.

32 hours/week, T-F (off Mondays).

Valid Ohio driver’s license and proof of auto insurance is required by hospital policy. Must pass a motor vehicle background inspection, insurance eligibility, driving qualifications and training set forth by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and must maintain qualification of insurance guidelines.

Essential Functions:

• Provide appropriate and comprehensive assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients and families in the Hospice, Home-Based Palliative Care and Homecare programs. Interventions may include, but are not limited to, crisis intervention, bereavement counseling for two years post-death, and focused treatment interventions to facilitate patient and family adaptation and coping.
• Provides clinical social work consultation to interdisciplinary team and to other Homecare & Hospice staff.
• Identifies issues in practice that warrant increased investigation in order to better serve the needs of the Hospice, Home-Based Palliative Care and Homecare clients and participates in relevant research activities that will provide information necessary for more effective, efficient, collaborative delivery systems.
• Participates in community health and social work networks that facilitate the provision of coordinated, interagency services for families of children receiving hospice, palliative care or other home health services.
• Contributes to or provides professional educational programs regarding psychosocial issues involved in home care of children and their families, especially as they relate to issues of palliative care and terminal illness.
• Balances cost, quality and mission in all decision making.
• Participates in marketing and community education of Hospice, Palliative Care and Homecare services.
• Supports agency-wide patient care and case management activities as appropriate to the role.
• Shares “call” with chaplain for psychosocial needs. This is not a formal on-call responsibility.
• Responsible for the Hospice Volunteer and Hospice Bereavement programs.
• Participates in hospital, homecare, and social work staff in-services.
• Provides direction and support to Homecare and Hospice staff in dealing and coping with their feelings about illness, loss, and death to facilitate optimum team functioning.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and the family in the development of appropriate family centered case plans following the Medicare Condition of Participation Guidelines.
• Identifies and, when necessary, coordinates community resources that support optimal family function for patients receiving Hospice/Home health services.
• Appropriately documents interventions in accordance with JCAHO standards, Medicare Conditions of Participation, and Clinical Social Work standards.
• Attends scheduled interdisciplinary team meetings and provides clinical input as warranted.
• Acts as Hospice, Palliative Care and Homecare liaison with various Ohio counties’ Children’s Services Programs as warranted.
• Pursues educational endeavors that will support continued professional growth for self and team.

Education Requirement:

Master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work.

Licensure Requirement:

• Licensed with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist Board.
• Valid Ohio driver’s license and proof of auto insurance as required by hospital policy and position-specific requirements. Must pass motor vehicle background inspection, insurance eligibility, driving qualifications, and training set forth by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and maintain qualification of insurance guidelines.

Certifications:

Hospice and Palliative Care certification preferred.

Skills:

Possess well-developed coping skills. Strong ability to problem-solve with families, staff and other community agencies.

Experience:

Two years of previous hospice, home health or medical social work experience preferred. Experience and skill in working with children, adolescents and families affected by chronic and/or life-threatening illness specifically in counseling and connection to resources.

Physical Requirements:

OCCASIONALLY: Bend/twist, Biohazard waste, Blood and/or Bodily Fluids, Chemicals/Medications, Cold Temperatures, Communicable Diseases and/or Pathogens, Electricity, Flexing/extending of neck, Fume /Gases /Vapors, Hot Temperatures, Lifting / Carrying: 61-100 lbs, Loud Noises, Machinery, Patient Equipment, Power Tools, Pushing / Pulling: 100 lbs or greater with assistance, Reaching above shoulder, Repetitive hand/arm use, Squat/kneel, Standing, Walking, Working at Heights, Working Outdoors

FREQUENTLY: Hand use: grasping, gripping, turning, Interpreting Data

CONTINUOUSLY: Audible speech, Color vision, Computer skills, Decision Making, Depth perception, Driving motor vehicles (work required) *additional testing may be required, Hearing acuity, Peripheral vision, Problem solving, Seeing – Far/near, Sitting

"The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the individuals so classified, nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under their supervision. EOE M/F/Disability/Vet"