Job Description

Employment Status: Full-Time
Hours/Pay Period: 80



Job Summary:

The Social Worker coordinates many aspects of the Home Health, Palliative and Hospice programs with goals of quality patient care, a family supportive environment, appropriate resource utilization and financial soundness. Position requires collaboration with internal and community resources, interdisciplinary team, and strong knowledge of hospice policies and regulations.

Essential Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree from school of social work accredited by Council on Social Work Education preferred or a Bachelor’s degree from a school accredited or approved by the Council on Social Work Education or has a baccalaureate degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or other field related to social work, and has had at least 1 year of social work experience in a health care setting.
  • Minimum of two years' experience with families/caregivers and patients through death/dying issues required.
  • Bereavement Certification preferred.
  • Must have advanced communication, counseling, and interpersonal skills with all levels of internal and external customers including medical staff, patients and families, clinical personnel, support and technical staff, outside agencies, and members of the community.
  • Requires a high degree of sensitivity and skill in assessment, communication, flexibility, counseling and documentation.
  • Knowledge and commitment to the Hospice Philosophy of care.
  • Current BLS Certification required.
  • Basic computer skills required.
  • Valid driver’s license, good driving record and maintain personal auto liability coverage, as specified in our policy.
Essential Responsibilities:
  • Completes a psychosocial assessment at each Hospice patient’s admission.
  • Delivers age-appropriate social work care to patients and their caregivers.
  • Assesses the social and emotional factors related to the patient’s illness, need for care, response to treatment and adjustment to care for hospice patients.
  • Serves as an integral member of the healthcare team providing assessment, coordination, treatment planning, information and referral to community resources and other social services to meet the complex needs of patients and families in the home setting.
  • Provides advocacy to client and/or family for assistance in obtaining entitlements and community services.
  • Coordinates Hospice Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings.
  • Uses professional background and skills to assist the team and facilitate patient-family meetings and assists team, attending physicians, staff, and patient and family in the clarification of palliative care goals and the plan of care.
  • Identify a need for Hospice volunteer services with the patient/family/caregiver.
  • Completes a bereavement assessment at each Hospice patient’s admission.
  • Provides timely and appropriate family support when notified of patients actively dying and eminent death approaching.
  • Provides ongoing bereavement support for Hospice families for a period of at least 12 months after the death of the patient.
  • Plans for Bereavement Program development, expansion & refinement through ongoing evaluation of services.
  • Coordinates the assessment and delivery of grief counseling needs and services (one-to-one, groups, and ongoing follow-up) to ensure timely and appropriate services are provided to family/caregivers.
  • Provides bereavement support and educational programs for Northwoods Home Health & Hospice employees and volunteers based on assessment of need for cumulative loss, grief and related topics.
  • Facilitates and / or coordinates bimonthly Grief Group.
  • Develops, plans, and coordinates community education regarding end-of-life issues.
  • Participates in the development and implementation of appropriate measures of patient care quality and satisfaction.
  • Participates in data collection for performance improvement.
  • Performs all other duties as assigned.

About NCH:

North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency (NCHHHA), based in Littleton, NH, serves residents of Coos and Grafton Counties. Compassionate, patient-focused services include Home Care, Palliative Care, and Hospice Care. Home care offerings include, but may not be limited to, skilled observation and assessment, nursing care management, disease management, surgical aftercare, wound care, injections and IV therapy, maternal and baby health, pediatric care, rehabilitative services, and therapeutic assessment and rehabilitation planning specific to home. Palliative care services include in-home consultation with a provider and/or Medical Social Worker, advanced care planning, symptom management recommendations, social and spiritual support, and bereavement and grief support. Hospice care includes a certified hospice nursing assessment, 24/7 clinical support, in-home provider visits for pain and symptom management, medical supplies, equipment and hospice medications, volunteer support and companionship, social and spiritual support, and bereavement and grief support. A proud partner of North Country Healthcare (NCH), NCHHHA is a Medicare certified, non-profit organization and a member agency of the Home Care Association of NH.



About North Country Healthcare (NCH):

North Country Healthcare is a non-profit affiliation of four medical facilities, Androscoggin Valley Hospital, North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency, Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, and Weeks Medical Center, located in the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire. NCH includes numerous physicians and medical providers at multiple locations. This leading comprehensive healthcare network which employs hundreds of highly-trained individuals delivers integrated patient care through three community hospitals, specialty clinics, and home health and hospice services. NCH remains committed to the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

North Country Healthcare is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to the Human Resources department at the affiliate to which you are applying.

Application Instructions

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