Palliative Care Social Worker

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Coordinates the management and operations of the hospital aspects of the Palliative Care program. The Palliative Care Social Worker provides care coordination, care plan development, and assessments. Anticipates and assists with symptom management, including pain control. The Palliative Care Social Worker's primary responsibilities include clinical outcomes, overseeing data management, patient, family and staff education, scheduling, educational development and educational materials.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Master’s degree in Social Work

2. Must possess current license as required by state board where services will be provided: 

3. Obtain certification in Basic Life Support within 30 days of hire date.

EXPERIENCE:

1. Five (5) years’ social work experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EXPERIENCE:

1. Five (5) years of experience in palliative/ICU care.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Promotes the continuum of care in inpatient and outpatient infrastructure.

2. Conducts social worker and palliative care consults in hospital

3. Prepares and performs annual review of the program.

4. Conducts ICU and floor consults for social work.

3. Coordinates the development and implementation of policies and procedures.

5. Supports the cancer center with social worker consults and needs.

4. Directs and oversees Performance Improvement initiatives related to Palliative Care and identifies trends.

5. Coordinates data collection. Performs analysis of data and identifies trends.

6. Identifies opportunities for improvement in patient outcomes and participates in plans to enhance clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

7. Acts as a liaison for community support for Palliative Care, establishes and maintains relationships with community agencies, hospitals, sponsors, and support group.

8. Assists in the provision of palliative care and the performance of palliative care consultations.

9. Evaluates and assesses patient medical condition through the use of histories, physical examinations, and review of previous medical records.

10. Works collaboratively with care management, chaplaincy, rehabilitative services, pharmacy, dieticians and house staff to promote comprehensive, coordinated palliative care for patients.

11. Works as a member of the multidisciplinary team providing specialist evidence based nursing care to patients and to support families and care givers.

12. Coordinates and implements the use of telemedicine via pallative on nursing floors.

13. Coordinates, develops, and implements the Ethics committee.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends minimizing the need for employees to manually lift patients, and limit safe patient handling to 35 pounds. All transfers, lifts and re-positioning will be completed utilizing the lift equipment and/or other patient handling aids as indicated by the patient’s profile and appropriate algorithms.

2. Heavy/Hard work: Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, and carrying of materials and equipment weighing 35+lbs

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Working closely with others.

2. Working protracted or irregular hours.

3. Working around biohazards.

4. Working with patients nearing the end of life.

5. Working with hands in water.

6. Working with electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of and appropriate application of the nursing process.

2. Knowledge of professional theory, practice and procedure.

3. Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, physicians, and other employees.

Additional Job Description:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Shift:

Exempt/Non-Exempt:

United States of America (Exempt)

Company:

UNTWN Uniontown Hospital

Cost Center:

403 UNTWN Care Management

Address:

500 W Berkeley Street

Uniontown

Pennsylvania

Equal Opportunity Employer

 

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.