Social Worker II, Mercy Home Care

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing our patients and their families support and resources to manage the many psychosocial aspects of illness. A social worker works with patients and their identified support system to access the needed resources to cope with illness and life changes triggered by illness. This may include referral to needed community resources, assistance in applying for financial assistance programs or the provision of counseling in coping with illness and the life changes resulting from illness.

Job Duties

• Maintains current knowledge of community and other resource networks for planning/provision to meet patients' needs.
• Provides education and consultation to health care staff on patient behaviors, communication, conflict resolution, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Demonstrates skills in advocacy for all populations served.
• Demonstrates an understanding and an ability to work effectively with the community professionals/agencies providing patient services throughout the continuum of care.
• Documents in the medical record accurately, timely and in accordance with professional and department-specific standards.
• Actively participates in multidisciplinary team meetings advocating for the patient and educating team regarding psychosocial issues impacting ability to cope with health care concerns and safely preparing for care transitions/discharge planning.
• Serves as a resource to the patient/family assisting them with accessing appropriate resources to address concerns/needs.
• Assesses patient/family social, emotional and economic factors through initial admission assessment and ongoing evaluation/assessment and reassessment.
• Provide counseling and ongoing therapeutic relationship to assist patients/families in coping with the effect of serious illness, death and grief and/or mental illness.
• Ensure that all accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families and co-workers at hand-offs and other times as needed. Take all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information in order to allow for the best possible patient outcome.

Department Specific Duties

• Assist in transfer, change in level of care and discharge planning by implementing and coordinating services required for discharge. (Hospice; Home Care; N/A)
• Demonstrates an ability to de-escalate patient situation utilizing CPI techniques.
• Assist with Bereavement Support Groups and outreach activities. (Hospice; N/A)
• Assists with determining patient's appropriateness for hospice services consistent with Hospice of Mercy policies and admission criteria and in conjunction with patient's physician. (Hospice; N/A)
• Provides information regarding Hospice's program of care and services to patients, physicians and other sources of referrals. (Hospice; N/A)
• Uses group work as appropriate mode of intervention with assigned caseload. (Dialysis; Behavioral; N/A)
• Makes scheduled home visits in accordance with department specific guidelines to assist patients/families with psychosocial concerns related to health care condition. (Home Care; Hospice; N/A)
• Educates patients and family members on their rights and responsibilities, disaster preparedness, travel and transplant and other subjects as identified. (Dialysis; N/A)
• Manages the transplant referral and coordination program, including educating patients and families on transplant and mentoring them through the process. (Dialysis; N/A)
• Provided substance abuse assessments on both the medical and behavioral units as assigned. (Behavioral; N/A)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates critical thinking when assessing and assisting patients and their families in managing health care needs.
• Upholds the required legal standards for reporting situations, including child/dependent adult abuse, and domestic violence.
• Proficient at planning, implementing and leading a therapeutic group.
• Keyboarding and able to work with multiple computer software programs

Professional Experience

• 3 years of social work experience preferred specific to area of assignment, i.e. Hospice, Dialysis, Home Care, Behavioral Health.
• One year experience in health care setting is required

Education

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) required.

Licensure, Certification, Registration

• Proof of valid driver's license and insurance required
• Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse/Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required. Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.