Social Worker MSW - Radiation Oncology (West Branch)

Summary

Responsible for the delivery of social work services inclusive of all patient populations across the continuum of care for MyMichigan Health System. Services will be in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. The social worker is responsible for assessing the patient’s psycho?social?spiritual needs, educating and counseling, along with planning, coordinating and implementing care across the continuum while contributing to patient outcomes and length of stay. Communicates teamwork, caring, and compassion with all internal and external healthcare team members.

Responsibilities

(30%) * Provide social work intervention as it relates to hospitalization including crisis management, health care decision?making, illness adjustment, ethical/legal concerns, discharge planning and transitional care needs, child or elder abuse, domestic violence, competency, financial problems, compliance issues, as well as other psychosocial barriers to maximizing health status.

(30%) * Actively participate in care coordination efforts to successfully identify high?risk factors and respond appropriately so that key information, next steps and avoidable days are captured and documented. Can co?lead, with case manager partner, daily care coordination meetings.

(20%) * Work with the healthcare team, patient, family and/or significant others to continually transition the patient to the appropriate level/place of care. Advocate, mediate and negotiate, with an emphasis on self?determination for the patient system, to formulate a cohesive plan for maintaining the patient’s health status, improving social supports, and moving the patient safely into less restrictive, less costly levels of care according to available resources.

(10%) * Facilitate extended care placements and other facility transfers in coordination with the healthcare team.

(10%) * Facilitate complex home care arrangements in collaboration with the healthcare team.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Complete and document a standard social work psycho social spiritual assessment to:

Eliminate barriers to treatment.

Increase patient/family satisfaction.

Improve appropriate utilization of resources.

Facilitate complex home care arrangements in collaboration with the healthcare team.

Serve as the lead in obtaining financial and other resources for patients and families in need.

Collaborate with the patient’s physician in competency/capacity determinations, obtaining legal guardianship, involuntary psychiatric admission, adoptions, ethical concerns, etc.

Complete and disseminate all necessary legal and clinical documentation as needed for resolution. Identify the need for and conduct family meetings, with or without the physician, that result in understanding, comfort, decision making, and other important outcomes.

Consciously integrate relevant theories of family dynamics, crisis intervention, strengths?based, solution?focused, and the meaning of illness into everyday casework.

Summarize a patient and family situation concisely, with helpful guidance to non–social work staff members about recommendations for actions to be taken and barriers to discharge.

Identify the contributions of key professionals to patient outcomes and length of stay.

Identify and provide for learning needs of patients, families, and healthcare team.

Participate in the department’s performance improvement/CQI processes.

Communicate teamwork, caring, and compassion.

Attend and actively participate in staff meetings; maintain positive working relationships with team and knowledge about community agencies and services.

Maintain timely, clear and concise documentation; compile monthly statistics and write reports as requested.

Participate in supervision and evaluation of BSW and/or MSW degree candidates as directed by department manager. Assume responsibility for professional development and educational requirements for maintenance of professional licensure.

Contribute to the development of and adhere to departmental and medical center policies and procedures to maintain a safe environment of care.

Provide for the age?specific needs of the populations served. MyMichigan Health is a technology driven organization and employees need to demonstrate competency in Microsoft® Windows. An employee may be required to participate in further learning opportunities offered by MyMichigan Health

Certifications and Licensures

MSW - Masters of Social Work

Required

Equivalent Experience - Licensure as a Master's Social Worker in the State of Michigan (or actively working towards).

Required Education

Education: Masters Degree

Comments: Knowledge of social work as acquired through completion of a master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university. Membership in at least one professional organization (i.e. NASW, SSWLHC MI Chapter, national SSWLHC, etc) is required.

Other Information

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Equivalent Experience and Other Comments (Education)

MSW - Masters of Social Work

Required Equivalent Experience - Licensure as a Master's Social Worker in the State of Michigan ( or actively working towards).

Other Comments

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND SKILLS

Training and experience, and/or demonstrated competency in casework principles, including diagnosis, assessment, crisis intervention, treatment and transition planning; techniques in individual, family and group therapy; awareness of community resources, public assistance and entitlement programs, ensuring transition to appropriate levels of care; and issues relating to age and stage of development, special needs and cultural patterns of the patient populations being served.

Knowledge of medical social work practices, processes and procedures as normally acquired through three years’ experience working in a hospital (preferred), social agency or community organization dealing with physical and/or mental health and/or welfare.

Interpersonal skills are needed to communicate successfully with individuals and groups and interact with people at all levels to communicate ideas and concepts in a clear and understandable manner. Adherence to the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics. Membership in at least one professional organization (i.e. NASW, SSWLHC?MI Chapter, national SSWLHC, etc.)

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Exposure to stressful situations, including those involving public contact, as well as trauma, grief and death.

Able to wear personal protective equipment that includes latex materials or appropriate substitute if required for your position.

Is able to move freely about facility with or without an assisted device and must be able to perform the functions of the job as outlined in the job description.

Overall vision and hearing are necessary with or without assisted device(s).

Frequently required to sit/stand/walk for long periods of time. May require frequent postural changes such as stooping, kneeling or crouching.

Some exposure to blood borne pathogens and other potentially infectious material. Must follow MyMichigan Health bloodborne pathogen and TB testing as required.

Ability to handle multiple tasks, get along with others, work independently, regular and predictable attendance and ability to stay awake.

Overall dexterity is required including handling, reaching, grasping, fingering and feeling. May require repetition of these movements on a regular to frequent basis.

Physical Demand Level: Light. Must be able to occasionally (0?33% of the workday) lift or carry 11?20 lbs., frequently (34?66% of the workday) 10 lbs. and or Walk/Stand/Push/Pull of Arm/Leg controls.

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