Job Details

Job Description:

I. MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Social Services 55%
1. Long Term Care
a) Complete an intake evaluation interview with patient and/or family members within seven days after admission to obtain information about home environment, family relationships, patient's personality traits, interests, social economic situation to be considered in treatment and discharge planning and to orient patient and family to facility procedures and regulations as well as their rights.
b) Make ward and bedside visits to patients when indicated for casework planning and treatment.
c) Counsel patient and/or family as needed to assist them with personal and environmental difficulties which predispose illness or interfere with patient's optimal use of available facility services and to help them understand, accept, and follow medical recommendations.
d) Assist patient and family in utilizing personal and community resources in providing for patient's personal needs; to aid in applying for Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income benefits, or State welfare assistance when indicated; to refer to other community agencies and resources for benefits and supportive services needed.
e) Purchase clothing, personal comfort need items, and appliances for patients unable to provide for themselves or who do not have families to do so and to involve relatives in providing for patients' needs whenever possible.
f) Determine source of payment for dentures, eyeglasses, and prosthesis when medically recommended (personal funds, family, Medicaid, Medicare, VA, etc.) and to coordinate purchases with appropriate staff.
g) Make transportation and travel arrangements to other medical facilities for treatment, to go out on passes, and for discharge locally, to outer island or out-of-state.
h) In planning for discharge, make visits with patient to family home, care homes, and/or other facilities to evaluate the appropriateness of placement, allow patient some choice about the placement, and give recommendations to caretaker regarding patient's continuing care needs. Also complete necessary paperwork, summaries in referring patient to other agencies for followup after discharge, e.g., Client, Home Health Service program, PMD, community mental health center, DVR, care home, PHN.
i) Notify patient's immediate relative when he is placed on critical list or at time of death in event ward nurse has been unsuccessful in locating family, or if family situation is complicated.
j) Assist family with pre-need burial plans and at the time of death assist with funeral and burial arrangements; help obtain death benefits from SSA, VA and/or CSA; release patient's personal effects to family; release valuables to appropriate person or agency; collaborate with Small Guardianship Division and/or Small estates Division of the First Circuit Court, when indicated, regarding disposal of personal effects and/or need for opening an estate of valuables; and consult with Client in case of need for State indigent burial.
k) Aid patients and their families in obtaining legal assistance needed to investigate matters of concern to draw up wills, to obtain power of attorney, etc.
l) Assist patients regarding voting in elections by absentee voter ballot, applying for Handivan bus pass, filing for State income tax credits, etc.
m) Obtain patients' or responsible family members; signatures on designated hospital forms to give consent for flu vaccine, to release information to other agencies, etc.
n) Participate in special individual case conferences with patient and/or family with doctor, nurse, and other staff when indicated.
o) Write letters periodically to geographically distant interested next of kin of patients to inform them of patient's condition and to encourage continued involvement.
2. Adult Day Health
a) Participates in the interdisciplinary team providing an initial assessment, care planning, and-on going re-assessment of clients.
b) Provides one to one and/or group counseling sessions for intervention, family crisis management, living wills, etc.
c) Maintains current records in client charts.
d) Provides assistance to the client and/or family in completing necessary forms to obtain financial or medical assistance.
e) Makes independent decisions pertaining to social work related areas but consults with interdisciplinary team members whenever necessary.
f) Interacts with participants on a regular basis and provides supporting documentation in chart records.
g) Attends and participates in team or family meetings as requested.
h) Assists in developing policies and procedures relating to social services in the facility.
i) Composes and types simple memos and correspondence to families and agencies.
B. Supportive Services 40%
1. Participate in interdisciplinary patient care planning team conferences regarding admissions, reviews, and discharges. Also to attend intra-sectional meetings with the Social Service Section manager and staff.
2. Interpret social and emotional factors to all who are in direct contact with patient.
3. Keep a current social case record for each patient, including nature of social problems and treatment interventions; record on medical chart problem, plan, goals, significant progress notes; prepare an assessment and quarterly review summaries on all assigned patients.
4. Collaborate with community agencies regarding financial an medical benefits and services to meet patients' needs by completion of miscellaneous forms, e.g., Client Medicaid annual eligibility review, SSA annual report by payee, etc., verbal contact by telephone to provide and obtain information and personal contact when representative visits the facility.
5. Consult with Section managers, Hospital Administration and State Office of the Attorney General when necessary to obtain advice regarding handling difficult cases with legal ramifications, e.g., patient's incompetence in handling financial affairs or personal decision-making.
6. Provide general information and pre-admission tours of the facility to prospective patients and their families.
7. Assist in the education of social work students assigned to Maluhia for practicum experience.
8. Provides information and assistance to callers seeking information about the program.
9. Screens incoming referrals for appropriateness for day
health services.
10. May represent the facility in contact with human service,
health care, community organization groups, and individuals.
May make outreach presentations to professionals and
community groups.
11. Provide support to caregivers which may include facilitating a support group or collaboration and/or referral to community resources.
C. Other duties 5%
1. Attends and participates in required in-service classes and on-the-job training as scheduled by the facility.
2. Performs other related duties as assigned.
II. EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE
A. Education: Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelor's Degree in social work from an accredited university. Master's Degree in social work from an accredited school of social work is preferred.
B. Experience: Must have, as a minimum, one (1) year of progressively responsible professional social work experience, preferably in a health care or community-based elderly care or care management services.
C. Licensure: Possession of a valid State of Hawaiimotor vehicle (Type 3).
III. DESIRED SKILLS
Knowledge of eligibility for Medicaid and other social services and benefits; of community resources, organizations and agencies.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally with good listening skills; to use computers and basic word processing software programs.
Possess cultural competence in working with clients and staff of all ethnic backgrounds.

Position Urgency:
Quick Start

State License Details:
Not Needed

Minimum Years of Experience:
1

Sub Specialty:
Social Worker-Clinical