Pediatric Social Worker en None

The Pediatric Hospice Social Worker provides emotional, psychosocial, and resource support to children living with life limiting illnesses and their families. This role works collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team to deliver compassionate, family-centered end-of-life care, ensuring that the unique developmental, cultural, and spiritual needs of children and their caregivers are met with dignity and empathy.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a Council of Social Work Education accredited institution

• Minimum 2 years of experience in hospice, palliative care, or pediatric healthcare settings; pediatric experience required. Experience with grief counseling and end-of-life issues preferred.
• Strong clinical assessment and counseling skills
• Knowledge of child development and family systems
• Trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and within a team
• Familiarity with grief, loss, and bereavement support

Expectations

Provide program development strategies for Treasure Coast Hospice, in an organized, routine capacity that will enable the cohesion of team developments.  Work collaboratively with other departments, demonstrate and encourage leadership for a comprehensive approach to program development.  Inspire staff to live the Treasure Coast Hospice’s Mission, to achieve its Vision, and demonstrate our Values and Commitment.  Be current in legal and compliance hospice issues.   

Key Result Areas

• Conduct psychosocial assessments for hospice patients and families to determine needs, strengths, and support systems.
• Develop individualized care plans in coordination with the hospice team, including medical, nursing, spiritual, and bereavement staff.
• Provide counseling and crisis intervention for patients and families dealing with grief, loss, anxiety, and family dynamics.
• Assist with advance care planning, including completion of advance directives and DNR orders.
• Educate patients and families about hospice philosophy and services.
• Advocate for patient and family wishes and facilitate communication with the care team.
• Identify and connect families with community resources (e.g., financial assistance, housing, legal services, transportation).
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and contribute to holistic care planning.
• Maintain timely, accurate documentation in accordance with Medicare, Medicaid, and agency standards.
• Provide bereavement follow-up, as necessary.
• Frequent travel to patient homes, nursing facilities, or hospitals.
• May require flexible hours including evenings
• Requires on-call responsibilities
• Ability to manage emotional demands of working with terminally ill individuals.
• Other duties as assigned

OSHA Category

Position will be categorized as category II (involves no routine exposure to blood, body fluids/tissues but may occasionally require performing unplanned category I tasks).

Working Conditions

• This position involves home visits, prescribed pediatric day cares, hospital consultations, and travel within a designated service area.
• Requires flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Exposure to emotionally challenging situations related to pediatric illness and death.
• Walks or stands 50-60% of the time.
• Must be able to lift 10 to 20 lbs.
• May be subjected to offensive odors.
• May be required to travel as needed to fulfill the job duties.
• During emergency situations may be exposed to heat, rain wind and/or cold.
• During emergency situations may be subjected to long work hours.

Additional Information

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Incumbent may be required to perform emergency duty before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency, crisis situation or disaster (man-made or natural) including evacuation sites. The person in the position will work in a smoke-free location, and is expected to adhere to all smoking restrictions

EEO/Drug Free Workplace