Social Worker – Acute Medical

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To function effectively within the standards of professional competence and professional knowledge in social work and to participate as a member of the discipline.
• To function as a member of the multidisciplinary team in planning for the care of patients according to best practice.
• To initiate and maintain Social Work programs and to continually evaluate their effectiveness and make recommendations for improvement.
• To assess the patients’ current and former psychosocial situation and to make recommendations to the multidisciplinary care team.
• To promote the implementation of processes which facilitate early identification, and assessment of the patient’s needs.
• In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, to implement timely discharge plans that enhance continuity of care and efficient use of hospital and community resources.
• To liaise with community and regional agencies in planning for continuity of care post discharge.
• To meet with patients and their families and empower them to be involved in informed decision-making regarding the care of the patient.
• To counsel the patient and his family in acceptance of an adaptation to changing health conditions.
• To interview the patient and family and communicate their expectations to the health care team.
• To balance the interests of the patient with institutional policies surrounding hospitalization and discharge.
• To assist patients to return home safely with necessary support and/or facilitate admission to the most appropriate level of care within the community.
• To provide services in the areas of high-risk assessment, community referral processes, palliative care services, bereavement counseling and support, placement coordination and discharge planning.
• Collect stats and submit reports reflecting attainment of and/or compliance with performance indicators.
• To establish effective working relationships with program and medical staff and collectively provide quality patient-focused care.