Hospice Social Worker – Medical Social Services – Full Time

Position Summary:

Identifies and analyzes the social and emotional factors underlying client illness and communicates as an active member of the Home Care/Hospice Interdisciplinary Team. Assists clients and their families in understanding emotional stress of terminal illness and to provide the supportive structure necessary to aid them in obtaining the maximum benefits from Hospice, Home Care and community resources.

Education, License & Cert:

Masters’ Degree in Social Work or other related field is required for this position.

Experience:

Minimum of one (1) year social work experience preferred. Previous Home Care/Hospice experience or similar work with patients/families experiencing terminal illness preferred. Dependable transportation is required.

Essential Functions:

Provides home visits to assess patients and families psychological, emotional and social needs. May delegate routine visits to per diem Medical Social Work employees. Provides counseling activity for all clients to include current client family. Intervenes appropriate in a crisis situation on behalf of Agencies.

Actively participates in appropriate committees for enhancing Home Care/Hospice services.

Works with Home Care/Hospice staff to provide appropriate social service casework including counseling to assist in resolving problems related to the individuals home environment, financial resources, community resource needs, pre‐grieving counseling and logistics of funeral arrangements.

Prepares reports, referrals, communication, and continuous quality improvement study data as requested by the Administrator.

Regularly attends the IDT meetings and Home Care/Hospice Case Conferences assisting staff members in understanding significant social and emotional factors in the development of plan of care.

Provides in‐service programs to volunteers, para‐professionals, nursing staff and others.

Works with other disciplines to identify program needs and secure various funding sources, facilitating submission of grants as appropriate. Also assists with program development within the agencies and with other Guthrie entities.

Assists with public relations activities for community organizations, physicians and area businesses. As well as participates in community and volunteer education programs.

Assists with the design of materials for distribution regarding bereavement services, develops educational programs for families, community and staff on loss, grief, and related topics.

Conducts ongoing continuous quality improvement processes, regarding services, family needs, and satisfaction, adapting programs as appropriate.

Other Duties:

Assists the team with identification, development and presentation of programs to address community needs for bereavement education and services.

Travel is required.

It is understood that this description is not intended to be all‐inclusive and that other duties may be assigned as necessary in the performance of this position.

Joining the Guthrie team allows you to become a part of a tradition of excellence in health care. In all areas and at all levels of Guthrie, you’ll find staff members who have committed themselves to serving the community.

The Guthrie Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace.

The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit, integrated, practicing physician-led organization in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania. Our multi-specialty group practice of more than 500 physicians and 302 advanced practice providers offers 47 specialties through a regional office network providing primary and specialty care in 22 communities. Guthrie Medical Education Programs include General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology and Orthopedic Surgery Residency, as well as Cardiovascular, Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship programs. Guthrie is also a clinical campus for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.