VNA BSW HOSPICE

Covenant HealthCare

Summary:

• 
  Assess social, emotional, financial, spiritual and support system status for hospice, palliative care and home care patients and families.
• Assess special needs related to cultural diversity and communication patterns.
• Assess potential risks including suicide, fraud, and abuse.
• Assess for spiritual need.
• Assess environmental resources for safety.
• Assess need for counseling related to pathological grief.
• Identify obstacles to compliance.
• Evaluate for and assist with placement into long-term care when appropriate.
• Interprets patient response and collaboratively identifies interventions to maximize positive outcomes.
• Actively prepares and participates in accrediting agency surveys.
• Provide social casework for hospice, palliative care and home care patient and families.
• Assist with provision of bereavement services.
• Able to assume role of Bereavement Coordinator supervising bereavement program and working with Hospice/Palliative Care Manager to maintain compliance with regulations as directed.
• Provide support to other VNA departments where social work support is needed.
• Serve as a patient and family advocate.
• Ensure continuity, timeliness, and appropriateness of care for designated caseload.
• Ensure timely completion of plan of care and communication with IDT.
• Involved in the process for delivering the Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Non-Coverage. Builds relationship within the organization and serves as a resource to the healthcare team related to community resources.
• Ensures timely completion and reporting of all documentation.
• Reviews cases for risk management issues and intervenes when indicated.
• Facilitate community grief support group.
• Provide assistance with Advance-Directives and funeral planning.
• Assist other caregivers (RN’s, MSW) in explaining available community, hospice, palliative care or home care services.
• Participate in area social service groups as indicated.
• Provide presentations to local community groups and staff on a variety of topics.
• Demonstrates age specific competency in all age groups: Infant, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult and Geriatric Represents agency in a professional manner.
• Completes annual education and compliance per VNA Policy and agency accreditation guidelines. Maintain patient confidentiality according to all applicable laws, policies and regulations.
• Prepares social histories to augment existing services on request.
• Assists in the identification of unmet needs in the community and makes recommendations to Home Care Nursing Manager and Hospice/Palliative Care Manager.
• Communicates status, problems, referrals, or assistance provided to the nurse on a regular basis.
• Assesses a patient’s and family’s situation and refers financial concerns to community social service agencies.
• Serves as a liaison to interpret available social services resources to agency staff or available health care services to social services agencies.
• Maintains chart records and completes documentation in accordance with agency requirements and procedures.
• Participates in bereavement follow-up, as a member of the hospice and palliative care team.

• 
  Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited institution.
• Current State of Michigan license required.
• Two years’ experience in a medical/health care related setting.

• Knowledge of hospice, palliative care and home care philosophy and services.
• Knowledge of existing community agencies and their functions.
• Ability to teach and provide support to family, patients, coworkers.
• Ability to provide community services to patients and families.
• Ability to work independently and in-group settings.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to the patient population served.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills Demonstrates clinical competence.
• Demonstrates good computer skills.
• Epic experience preferred.
• Has a professional approach to work, including a strong sense of responsibility for assigned duties.
• Has a working understanding of the disease process and treatment regimens associated with designated patient populations.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service and communication skills. Ability to work independently as well as part of an interdisciplinary team and exercise sound judgement in interactions with patients, families and members of the community.

• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Frequent standing, walking, sitting, lifting, reaching, handling, finger dexterity, feeling, talking, hearing, tasting/smelling, near vision, midrange vision, far vision, depth perception, visual accommodation, color vision, field of vision.
• Frequent lifting up to 10 lbs.
• Occasional carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, squatting, twisting.
• Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.