Position title
Medical Social Worker
Description
Reporting to the Director of Nursing and Compliance, the Medical Social Worker will work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to provide quality palliative care to patients/families through appropriate psychosocial intervention within the framework of the GMCH Mission and the philosophy of pediatric palliative care. This is an 80%, exempt, benefited position with a flexible schedule that includes daytime, weekend and evening hours.
Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB
The Medical Social Worker will:
- In conjunction with the Inter-Disciplinary Team (IDT) develop, implement, evaluate and update annually the psychosocial plan of care for each patient/family.
- Actively participate in operations meetings which include presenting strategic ideas for the psychosocial betterment of inpatient care and bereavement services.
- Assist in making initial intake inquiries to assess for psychosocial needs and goals for patients and parents.
- Assessing the psychosocial needs of patients and families; identifying and presenting the changing psychosocial needs of the population served; creating and implementing plans and goals to meet those needs.
- Electronically and routinely update the psychosocial assessment for families, including financial screening, and add/modify new information throughout the year in order for the GMCH staff to fully serve and care for children and families.
- Timely (within 24 hours) document assessment, plan of care and clinical notes in the Medical Record System (NetSmart).
- Provide psychosocial clinical services back-up and on-call coverage as needed.
- Work in collaboration with Child Life Coordinator to plan, strategize, implement and execute House activities and events for GMCH children and families.
- Envision, collaborate, plan, and execute House memorialization events.
- Conduct home visits to GMCH children-patients and their families as needed and when approved in advance by the DON , and document visits electronically within 24 hours.
- Routinely attend and actively participate in weekly Inter-Disciplinary Team (IDT) meetings, and other meetings as needed.
- In collaboration with the Advancement team develop background for patient/family stories for Grants, solicitations, newsletter and reports.
- Assist in medical and community outreach efforts for GMCH as requested by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Nursing (DON).
- Maintain current knowledge of clinical social work and pediatric palliative care practices through ongoing education and attendance of in-service training sessions.
- Provide orientation on psychosocial issues as relates to new GMCH staff and volunteers.
- Provide in-service training and continuing education to staff, volunteers and students on psychosocial issues as needed.
- Provide grief and bereavement services and resources to GMCH families, along with ongoing support, in collaboration with the clinical team.
- Make appropriate referrals to other agencies as needed, provide GMCH families with comprehensive community resource list and advocacy, if appropriate, based on family needs.
- Assist as needed in end-of-life care decisions including cremation or burial arrangements, funeral or memorial services.
- Assist as needed to ensure death certificates are completed timely and accurately.
- Assist as needed in providing families information related to organ/tissue donation.
- Assess patient/family ability to meet financial obligations and offer appropriate resources as indicated.
- Assess potential risk for suicide, abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation and consult with staff psychologist.
- Coordinate with community clergy and spiritual care leaders as appropriate and requested by patients and/or families.
- Consult with other social workers and health care providers to coordinate continuity of care for patient and family members.
- Conduct House tours as requested.
- Facilitate, coordinate and work with Parent Resource Group.
- Perform other duties as assigned by Chief Executive Officer and/or Director of Nursing (DON).
Qualifications
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- Must have the ability to work comfortably in an alternative healthcare setting serving families and children whose children are seriously ill or dying.
- Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to discuss, plan and execute optimal plans of care to meet the psychosocial needs of each child and family on a case-by-case basis.
- This position requires a high degree of flexibility in terms of reporting to GMCH to meet the needs of children and families. Other members of the clinical team share this responsibility.
- Must demonstrate ability, willingness, and confidence to purposefully, compassionately, engage in challenging conversations with families during times of crisis in an objective and unbiased manner.
- Competence in performing thorough psychosocial assessments with respite, transitional, and end- of-life children in order to identify needs of each individual family.
- Confidence in advocating appropriately for children and families to meet psychosocial needs. Advocacy may include clinical/interdisciplinary team, primary and specialty care providers, spiritual and community resources, Regional Centers, DME companies, care teams from referring hospitals (i.e. Case Managers, Social Workers, and Child Life Specialists) and extended family/social groups of the child.
- Ability to think critically and creatively to address concerns within a unique, home-like, pediatric medical facility.
- This position requires a high level of leadership, initiative, attention to detail, solid judgement, and independent completion of assignments.
- Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively to GMCH children-patients, families, caregivers, staff and volunteers using both written and verbal skills.
- Interest in and ability to perform tasks in a culturally sensitive manner without regard to age, ethnicity, national origin or socioeconomic status.
- Fluency in English.
- Fluency in Spanish or other language preferred.
- Incumbent must show the basic skills and core competencies of a Medical Social Worker, including managing multiple, competing and varied tasks, time management, listening skills (clinical and interpersonal), problem solving (clinical and interpersonal), decision making, and successfully managing workflow.
- This position requires conduct of the highest professional and ethical standards with patients, families, staff and volunteers at all times.
- Demonstrate ability to effectively deal with personal psychosocial and bereavement issues related to job duties.
- Membership in recognized psychosocial organizations or networks.
- Current BLS/CPR certification
- Valid California Driver’s License with good driving record.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
- Computer skills required. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Board of Behavioral Science licensure in the State of California preferred (LCSW or MFT).
- Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling Psychology or equivalent, doctoral work preferred.
- A minimum of 2 years post masters employment history working with multi-cultural children and families with diverse social situations coping with serious illness and loss is preferred.
- Sufficient grief counseling experience required.
- Significant general experience working with children, teens, young adults and families.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Working conditions in the interior of GMCH are clean, well-lit and free from extremes of temperature and humidity. Ability to sit, climb, reach, stand and bend, have use of both legs and hands, possess the ability to have broad range of wrist/arm motion. Ability to grasp/hold objects and tools. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. alone and up to 75 lbs. with assistance. Hearing sufficient to understand conversations, both in person and on the telephone. Reasonable accommodations will be made for some physical demands and mental demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodations
Hiring organization
Employment Type
Full-time
Job Location
2121 George Mark Lane, San Leandro, CA
Base Salary
$80,000 annually
Date posted
March 25, 2022
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