Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical & Patient Care Oversight
- Oversees psychosocial assessments, care planning, interventions, and documentation for hospice patients and families.
- Ensures social work services address emotional, social, financial, cultural, and caregiver needs.
- Participates in IDG meetings and contributes to development and review of individualized plans of care.
- Provides consultation to clinical staff on complex family dynamics, grief, mental health, and resource needs.
- Assists with crisis intervention, abuse/neglect reporting, and safety planning when indicated.
Supervision & Staff Development
- Provides clinical supervision to social workers in accordance with state licensure requirements and agency policy.
- Conducts orientation, ongoing training, mentorship, and performance evaluations for social work staff.
- Supports staff with caseload management, professional boundaries, and self-care practices.
- Participates in hiring recommendations and corrective action processes when needed.
Compliance & Quality Improvement
- Ensures social work services comply with CMS Hospice Conditions of Participation and Virginia regulations.
- Participates in QAPI activities, including audits, performance improvement projects, and corrective actions.
- Reviews documentation for completeness, timeliness, and regulatory compliance.
- Contributes to policy development and revision related to psychosocial services.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Community Engagement
- Collaborates with nursing, medical director, chaplain, bereavement, volunteers, and administrative staff.
- Supports coordination with community agencies for benefits, housing, legal, and social services.
- Assists in community education and outreach as appropriate.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintains accurate records, reports, and supervisory documentation.
- Participates in agency committees, including Ethics Committee when applicable.
- Assists leadership with service development and program planning related to psychosocial care.
Qualifications
Education
- Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited school of social work.
Licensure
- Current, unrestricted Virginia social work license (LMSW or LCSW; supervisory eligibility preferred or required based on agency structure).
Experience
- Minimum of two (2) years of hospice, palliative care, or healthcare social work experience preferred.
- Prior supervisory or leadership experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with interdisciplinary team models and end-of-life care highly desirable.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of hospice philosophy, grief and loss, family systems, and community resources.
- Ability to provide effective clinical supervision and professional mentorship.
- Excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a rural, community-based service area.
- Cultural humility and sensitivity to diverse populations and family structures.
- Proficiency with electronic medical records and Microsoft Office applications.
Physical and Mental Demands
- Ability to travel throughout the service area for home visits, meetings, and supervision.
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 25 pounds as needed.
- Emotional resilience when working with patients and families facing serious illness and loss.
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in patient homes, assisted living facilities, nursing facilities, office settings, and community locations.
- May be exposed to emotional stress related to patient death and family grief.
- Requires flexibility in scheduling to meet patient and staff needs.
Core Values Alignment
Employees of Solace Hospice of Southwest Virginia are expected to uphold and model the organization’s core values:
Compassion, Excellence, Community, Integrity, Dignity, and Choice, honoring the right of patients and families to direct their care and voice what matters most to them.