Medical Social Worker

1. Performs comprehensive initial psychosocial and bereavement evaluations and assists in the development and implementation of goal-directed patient/family care plan per CMS regulations.
2. Conducts ongoing reassessments of patient/family needs and counseling as required.
3. Provides short term crisis intervention and individual or family counseling when indicated.
4. Assist patient/families in utilizing community resources.
5. Assess patient/family ability to meet financial obligations and offer appropriate resources and assist them as indicated.
6. Assist in discharge planning from hospice service when care is no longer appropriate.
7. Assist team members in understanding the significant social and emotional factors related to care of the terminally ill patient and family.
8. Assesses the strengths of patient and/or family, what social and internal stresses they face, what their coping capabilities are, what goals they seek.
9. Interprets agency services and policies to patient and family.
10. Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary team and attends team meetings and case conferences. Assists the team in understanding the significant social and emotional factors related to the patient's plan of care.
11. Manages caseload in assigned area in accordance with Agency policy.
12. Participates as a member of the Bereavement Team as assigned.
13. Observes, evaluates, and brings to team conferences information regarding psychosocial, spiritual, physical and financial affecting the patient and family.
14. Assumes the active role as advocate for the patient/family unit.
15. Develops and maintains contact with appropriate community agencies and services in order to promote inter-agency cooperation and to facilitate related referrals.
16. Documents comprehensive psychosocial information clearly and concisely in a timely manner in accordance with agency policy.
17. Participates in Social Services department programs as assigned by departmental director (i.e., Art Therapy, Crisis Intervention/School Programs, Bereavement Groups, Volunteer Training and additional new programs).
18. Provides/participates in information/educational programs for community groups and agency sponsored community activities.
19. Participates in the hospice volunteer orientation program as assigned.
20. Other duties as assigned.

Consistently provides service excellence to all patients, family members, visitors, volunteers and co-workers in a manner that reflects VNA’s commitment to CARES: compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and service.

• Master's Degree from an accredited school of social work with field experience in casework, plus one year social work experience, preferably in a health care setting, and is licensed by the Board of Registration in Social Work.
• The Medical Social Worker must be in possession of Level I or II licensure by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Level I: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) -requires M.S.W with two years clinical experience under supervision of an LICSW. Level II: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) requires M.S.W.