Overview: The Palliative Medicine LCSW position is responsible for interventions with patients who have complex psychosocial needs, require assistance with determining goals of care, communicating patient and family psychosocial issues, require assistance with eligibility determination for social programs and funding sources and qualify for community assistance form a variety of special funds and agencies. The position offers therapeutic counseling and crisis intervention to patients and families with psychosocial needs and coordinates/ facilitates the development of a discharge plan of care for palliative care patients. Responsibilities:
Identifying the patient/family unique psychosocial needs
Assessing patient/family risk for psychosocial distress or complicated grief
Assessing and enhancing patient/family strengths and coping skills
Assessing and enhancing the responsiveness of the environment and connecting the patient, family , and caregiver with community resources as needed
Identifying psychosocial interventions to be offered as part of the evolving comprehensive plan of care developed in accordance with the patient/family wishes and interdisciplinary team
Providing intervention for specific symptom relief and to reduce risk for distress
Assessing and managing psychosocial aspects of pain
Screening for psychopathology and abuse and educating / intervening accordingly
Evaluation the efficacy of treatment interventions
Advocating for organizational policies/ procedures that ensure access to quality care for all patients/families facing serious and life-limiting illness
•Assessing patients and families psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of prior functioning levels, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness, and ability to cope. •Counsels patients/families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness or disability; access and mobilizes family/community resources to meet identified needs. •Shows respect for patient/family dignity and privacy in all patient/family interactions. Establishes and maintains trust within the social worker- patient/family relationship •Listens and acknowledges patients/family knowledge of self and engages their participation in care •Interprets and communicates complex patient/family needs and role models caring practices to other caregivers •Drives and coordinates meaningful patient/family and professional communication to ensure positive psychological and psychosocial outcome for patients/families •Collaborates with others (patients/families/healthcare providers/community) to promote and encourage each person’s contributions toward achieving optimal and realistic patient goals •Participate in goals of care conversations. •May participate in discharge planning rounds, care conferences, and communicates with physicians as appropriate. physician/LCSW working in concert to ensure patients are being seen and cared for Qualifications: License/Certifications:

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