Facility: Cobb Hospital

Overview
The LCSW Social Worker will provide psychosocial services to assist the patient/family with resources, information and counseling services to benefit their adjustment to illness, hospitalization, anticipatory grief, death and bereavement. Work as a part of an interdisciplinary team to provide care and support to the patient and family as a whole and serve as an expert for issues related to psychosocial issues in end of life care, documentation, and health care standards. Maintain a caseload of patients/families in the inpatient unit and/or home team, assist with the admission process and initiate the conversation about funeral planning and advanced directives. Communicate with department teams the changes in patient status. The LCSW will participate in the training of new social work hires, and may assist other LMSWs in case reviews and discussion of difficult situations, to include, but not limited to assessing suicide ideation, bereavement risk, etc.

Responsibilities
Core Responsibilites and Essential Functions

Provides direct service to patients and their families by providing the following care:
* Conduct pre-assessments and psychosocial assessments.
* Present information on department philosophy, program and reimbursement.
* Complete psychosocial assessment in consultation with patient and family.
* Develop psychosocial component of care plan.
* Establish appropriate frequency of visits with patient/family.

Provides emotional support/counseling to patients/families.
* Maintain on-going contact with patients/families (phone calls, visits).
* Provide instruction in coping skills, grief, bereavement, etc.
* Assist family in mobilizing support system.
* Facilitate bereavement support groups throughout the year for continued family support.

Facilitates problem solving with patients/families.
* Assist in the identification of options.
* Conduct family conferences as needed.
* Facilitate conflict resolution within families as needed.
* Provide community resources as appropriate to assist in problem solving.

Implements clinical standards by the following processes.
* Observe/interpret non-verbal behavior.
* Utilize personality theory.
* Utilize family systems theory.
* Facilitate conflictual situations.
* Utilize trust/rapport/building techniques.
* Utilize oral/written communication skills.
* Provide education about the impact of illness on the family system.
* Provide information about psychosocial needs of the dying patient.
* Assess psychosocial needs of caregivers.
* Provide education about concepts of illness (based on developmental stage and cultural background).
* Provide information about coping skills.
* Teach problem solving skills.
* Allow for autonomy of the patient and family and meets them where they are.
* Allow for patient and family right to self-determination.
* Refer to Adult Protective Services when necessary.

Collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary team.
* Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings.
* Interpret psychosocial/cultural needs of patient/family for the team to understand.
* Maintain on-going communication with other members of the interdisciplinary team.
* Attend social work meetings and work as an active part of the social work team.
* Rotate on call for weekends and holidays as directed by leadership.

Assists in identifying community resources.
Assist family in securing DME.
Provide information about financial resources and assist in application process.
Assist with funeral planning when needed.

Assists in implementing state and federal licensure requirements and JCAHO standards.
* Complete assigned portion(s) of patient chart.
* Meet required standards for timely completion of assigned portion(s) of patient charts (within 24 hours of patient/family contact).
* Participate in ongoing Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities
* Assist in training new social workers and orienting them to WellStar social work services.

Required for All Jobs

Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Qualifications
Required Minimum Education

Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited School of social work. Required

Required Minimum Experience

Minimum 3 years experience in a health related field, mental health, behavioral health, counseling or social services agency. Required

Required Minimum Skills

Possesses emotional maturity. Demonstrates ability to work with patients with a life limiting illness.

Demonstrates ability to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team.

Possesses individual counseling skills, group therapy, family therapy, discharge planning, assess bereavement risk and interviewing skills.

Possesses knowledge of developmental characteristics (physical, psychosocial, intellectual) of people of all ages, economic backgrounds and cultural backgrounds.

Demonstrate basic use of computer: Windows, Outlook and Microsoft Office.

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)

Lic Clinical Social Worker GA Required

Basic Life Support Required

BLS - Instructor Required

BLS - Provisional Required

Additional Licenses and Certifications