Job Description
The Social Worker (LCSW) is responsible for assessment, treatment planning and provision of social work services to patients, families, groups and the interdisciplinary team. The LCSW social worker also provide supervision for graduate master level students as assigned and supervision of MSW employees requiring supervision for all clinical activities. Provides psychosocial services in individual, family, and group formats.
The Clinical Social Worker for Palliative Care is responsible for psychosocial support provided to patients receiving palliative care services. Families should also benefit from the services provided by the palliative care services consult team. The social worker will assist the team with the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and comprehensive assessment and treatment of distressing symptoms. The Palliative Care SW will play a prominent role in assisting patients in clarifying their goals of care simultaneously assisting family members and significant others when their goals are not aligned with the patient's. Takes into account cultural, religious and psychosocial domains for the purposes of developing and implementing appropriate treatment plans. Provides resources in the hospital and the community to help the patient and family to achieve these goals. Throughout the patients' stay, consults with the palliative care team, the unit / service assigned social worker and the multidisciplinary team. Educates staff, faculty, and the community on all aspects of palliative care and the services provided. Embodies and serves as an ambassador for the philosophy of evidence-based symptom management and whole patient assessment for patients with life limiting illness. Attends and participates in team meetings. Assists in development of clinical practice guidelines/standards in support of quality palliative care with the team. Demonstrates enthusiasm and willingness to pursue life-long learning, interest in and willingness to participate with the team in research related activities.
Essential Duties:
- Psychosocial Assessment â“ to be completed in a timely manner, using theoretical knowledge of human behavior, psychosocial factors having an impact on treatment outcome and an understanding of potential ethical/risk issues.
- Clinical intervention â“ to include supportive counseling with patients and families, linkage and referral to community agencies and services, facilitating family conferences, helping families to cope with difficult decisions, i.e. hospice, DNR, placement. Assist families with communicating their concerns to the patientâ™s physicians. Work collaboratively with Case Managers on discharge planning issues. Provide group facilitation and program development.
- Triage/ Management of clinical caseload â“ demonstrate the ability to identify high risk situations, effectively manage caseload, and balance referrals, high risk admissions and ongoing patient care, requesting assistance from colleagues or manager as needed.
- Cultural Competence â“ The Palliative Care SW will apply their specialized knowledge and understanding regarding history, traditions, values and family systems as they relate to palliative care and end of life support and care within different cultural and socio â“ economic groups. Awareness of distinct characteristics of ethnic groups and the patientâ™s socio-economic condition will be utilized to develop interventions and treatment plans that are considerate of the patientâ™s individual culture, traditions, values and family system also taking into account socio â“ economic barriers that may exist.
- Intervention / Treatment Planning â“ The Palliative Care SW will Incorporate the biopsychosocial factors identified in the Psychosocial Assessment into the development of and implementation of planned interventions that are intended to enhance the patientâ™s abilities and decisions in palliative and end of life care.
- Legal and ethical standards â“ Will be incorporated into all clinical assessments and interventions, i.e. suspected abuse or neglect, Tarasoff duty to warn, conservatorship, patient rights. Employee must adhere to all Tenet Policies, Procedure and Practices in the area of Social Services. Demonstrates the ability to consider questions related to religion, spirituality, and the meaning of life. The Palliative Care SW has knowledge of ethical principles needed for work in palliative care and include: Justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and respect for the person, universality, veracity, autonomy, confidentiality, equality and finality Employee adheres to all USC Policies, Procedure and Practices in the area of Social Services. Employee must also adhere to NASW Code of Ethics. The values, ethics and standards of both the profession and contemporary bioethics shall guide the Palliative Care SW.
- Attitude/Self-Awareness Demonstrates an attitude of compassion and sensitivity to clients, respecting clientâ™s rights to self-determination and dignity. Exhibits flexibility and adaptability with the patient and the team, ability to communicate and work collaboratively as an interdisciplinary team member to achieve care goals, willingness to advocate for holding the focus in palliative and end of life care on client/client system choices, preferences, values, and beliefs. Awareness of compassion fatigue and the ethical responsibility to mitigate this condition. Confidence and competence in professional identity
- Knowledge- Demonstrates a working knowledge of the theoretical and biopsychosocial factors essential to effectively practice with clients and professionals. This includes but is not limited to: the physical and multidimensional stages of the dying process, the range of psychosocial interventions that can alleviate discomfort, the range of setting for palliative and end of life care, the available community resources and how to gain access to them, the needs of special populations and their families.
- Documentation - Will be completed per policy i.e. Interdisciplinary Plan of Care, Education Form, Advance Health Care Directive follow up form and Social Services Progress Notes
- Interdisciplinary Teamworkâ”Strive to collaborate with team members and advocate for clientsâ™ needs with objectivity and respect, to reinforce relationships with providers who have cared for the patient along the continuum of illness.
- In service - given to other hospital staff regarding the psychosocial issues of patient care. i.e. Lunch and Learns
- Social Service reportsâ“ to be provided in a timely manner, i.e. PAS numbers, Case assignment by SW, Absence Approval requests, etc.
- Quality Improvement â“ participates in the development, monitoring and analysis of process and outcome indicators for the improvement of patient care
- Maintains competencies for hospital, age specific and job specific standards of care
- Other duties as assigned this can include Social Work Month activities, cancer specific support groups and educational programs for patients families, staff and volunteers
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Req Master's degree Social Work from an accredited graduate school of social work.
- Req 2 years Experience as an LCSW in an acute care setting
- Req Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
- Req Demonstrate excellent customer service behavior.
- Req Excellent analytical, problem-solving, planning and evaluation skills.
- Req Demonstrates ability to effectively work with physicians, staff, and patients.
- Req Able to function independently and as a member of a team.
- Req Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Req Committed to excellence in patient care and customer service.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Pref Palliative care social work experience preferred
Required Licenses/Certifications:
- Req Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW (CA DCA)
- Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
- Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)
The annual base salary range for this position is $81,120.00 - $133,010.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidateâ™s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
About University of Southern California (USC)
USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.
Connections working at University of Southern California (USC)
Job Tags
Part time, Work experience placement, Relief, Local area,