Medical Social Worker - Stratford, United States - Lighthouse Home Health Care

Description

Lighthouse Home Health Care is a Family-Owned Continuum Care Company providing Home Care Rehabilitation Services on the Shoreline since 2012. We are currently hiring a Medical Social Worker. Come join our team.

The primary purpose of your job position is to assist in planning, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the overall operation of the Social Services Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Director of Social Services and/or Administrator, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the resident are met/maintained on an individual basis.

As a Medical Social Worker, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the social service programs available to the home care patient.

· Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Director or Administrator.

· Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required.

· Involve the resident/family in planning social service programs when possible.

· Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.

· Provide information to resident/families as to medicare/medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the patient.

· Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the patient through the development of social service programs.

· Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical professionals and other health related organizations.

· Assist in providing solutions for social and practical environmental problems including seeking financial assistance, discharge planning (including collaboration with community agencies), and referrals to other community agencies when specialized assistance is required.

· Evaluate social and family information and assist in determining plans for social treatment.

· Interpret social, psychological, and emotional needs of the resident/family to the medical staff, attending physician, and other resident care team members.

· Assist in obtaining resources from community social, health and welfare agencies to meet the needs of the patient.

· Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the patient through the development of social service programs.

· Ensure that all charted progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the patient's response to the service.

· Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the patient.

· Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and activities.

· Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Administrator.

Personnel Functions

· Assist in standardizing the methods in which social services tasks will be performed.

· Maintain an excellent working relationship with other departments and coordinate social services to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption.

· Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

· Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment.

· Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.

· Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.

Safety and Sanitation

· Follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes.

· Follow established procedures governing the use of labels and MSDSs.

· Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.

· Attend appropriate in-service training classes prior to performing such tasks that may involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious diseases, etc.

· Follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.

· Follow proper procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

· Assist in developing preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each patient.

· Assist in developing a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each patient that identifies the problems/needs of the patient and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified.

· Encourage the patient/family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care.

· Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.

· Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least quarterly.

· Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care.

Patient Rights Functions

· Maintain the confidentiality of all patient care information.

· Ensure that all social services personnel are knowledgeable of the patient's rights, and responsibilities, including the right of refusal.

· Review complaints and grievances made by the patient and make a written/oral report to the Administrator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow fthe company's established procedures.

· Maintain a written record of the patient's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.

· Provide patients with information concerning patient rights, living wills, etc. Explain as necessary.

· Participate in patient/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council.

Education

·Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors Degree from an approved school of Social Work or a bachelor's degree in a human services field including but not limited to sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology.

Experience

Specific Requirements

· Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

· Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

· Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.

· Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.

· Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level in which they are currently functioning.

· Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing social services.

· Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.

· Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.