Current Career Opportunities at Oaklawn

Job Summary:  Responsible for assessing, planning, organizing, documenting and providing medical social work services in accordance with accepted social services practices and physician’s overall plan of care.

Essential Functions:

• Consistently uses an outward mindset and puts forth exemplary effort in accomplishing his/her goals and objectives in a manner that helps others to achieve their goals and objectives.
• Assesses patient and family issues and develops an appropriate treatment plan.
• Obtains appropriate physician orders, sets goals, and monitors progress.
• Provides direct social services to patients/clients and family members receiving homecare services.
• Makes appropriate referrals to community agencies, assists in the referral process, and generally serves as a social worker in the agency's total program under the direction of physician's orders.
• Provides guidance, counseling, instruction to patient/client and family, as well as to agency staff, regarding social, economic, psychological needs due to illness and/or motivation for increased independence.
• Provides education and support to patients and families as well as to other individuals involved in care of the patient.
• Services may include, but not be limited to:  a) family relationships; b) meaning of illness to the patient/client and his family; c) cultural attitudes in relationship to illness; d) meaning of the home situation to the patient/client; e) ability of the patient/client and his family to adjust to the patient/client at home; and f) financial impact of illness upon the family.
• Maintains and completes accurate documentation and reports for all assigned patients.
• Maintains effective communication with members of the team. Provides backup for hospice social work coverage.
• Works under the supervision of LMSW until hours and full licensure requirements fulfilled per state of Michigan requirements.  

Minimum Qualifications:  Master’s degree in Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Current license to practice as a social worker in the State of Michigan.   BCLS certification. One (1) year experience as a master’s level social worker preferred. LLMSW may be considered. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: One-year experience in a home health or hospice setting preferred. Knowledge of implementation of social work interventions as ordered by a physician. Understands patient assessment protocols.  Effective interpersonal skills in all areas of communication.  Strong oral communication skills.   Must be able to work independently and be capable of solving problems with theoretical and practical approaches. Ability to maintain patient confidentiality. Able to work in a self-directed and collaborative environment.  Must exhibit strong clinical, organizational, documentation and teaching skills.  Ability to support the homecare and hospice philosophies. Demonstrates cultural sensitivity to work with patients with varied cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.  Working knowledge of federal and state regulations for homecare.  Able to assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands.  Able to meet deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.  Demonstrates personal accountability for own continuous growth and development and seeks out appropriate learning opportunities to enhance competency and improve performance. Creates a caring experience for both internal and external customers, is courteous and respectful, anticipates and responds to customer needs. Is committed to continuous improvement for customers which includes safety, quality of care and excellent service, and gives high priority to customer satisfaction.

Working Conditions:  May work in unpredictable home environments that include variations in cleanliness, temperature, behaviors, smoke, animals, and other potential hazards. Required to drive a car in all types of weather.

Physical Requirements:  Constantly see/visual acuity, talk/hear.  Frequently stand, sit, walk, reach, push/pull, handle/grasp/feel, bend/twist, stoop/kneel/crouch, taste/smell, lift/carry 1 to 50+ lbs.