Social Worker I, Acute Care (MSW) (RCH) Casual

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations, and is home to six Métis Chartered Communities.

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Under the general direction of the Health Services Manager, Allied Health Discipline and reporting to the Professional Practice Chief, Social Work, provides comprehensive therapeutic clinical counselling services to patients and families in the assigned clinical specialty area within Acute Care including Oncology, Cardiology and the Intensive/Critical Care Unit. Conducts comprehensive social work and psycho-social assessments of patients and families using a variety of modalities and in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices and educates and provides consultation to patient, families and healthcare professionals. Provides leadership to the interdisciplinary team in care planning for the effective utilization of patient resources and participates as a member of local committees and planning bodies to identify areas for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance patient care services and reduce gaps in the community. Develops, coordinates and delivers in-services, presentations, psycho-educational and support groups and initiates, develops and carries out research activities in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

1. Provides comprehensive therapeutic clinical counselling services including grief and bereavement to patients and families in the assigned clinical specialty area within Acute Care by methods such as exploring the emotional psycho-social response to identify problems, personal concerns and treatment objectives and facilitating change in coping style, behaviour, attitude and feelings as it relates to the illness and other system issues. Participates with patient, families, community supports and interdisciplinary treatment teams to coordinate services, manages cases and facilitates meetings.
2. Conducts comprehensive social work and psycho-social assessments of patients and families by methods such as interviewing the patient and/or family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the patient and/or family and interpreting the data using a variety of modalities and in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices.
3. Educates and provides consultation to patients, families and healthcare professionals on issues related to high risk factors, recovery and current community practice relevant to the assigned clinical specialty area in the fields of adaptation to illness and disability, trauma and bereavement, critical incident stress management, protection of vulnerable adults, chemical dependency and community living and support services.
4. Maintains patient records by methods such as documenting patient assessments, charting patient information, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements and documenting for future reference.
5. Provides leadership to the interdisciplinary team in care planning which includes discharge planning and hospital stay by methods such as interviewing the patient and/or family to assess and determine care plan and type of service required and articulating analysis and decision to members of the interdisciplinary team. Arranges meetings on admissions to assist in developing and coordinating care plan and community services for patients requiring facility placement and/or home support and collaborates with hospital and community services to determine alternate level of care and the effective utilization of patient resources.
6. Communicates with community health and social agencies including government Ministries, Continuing Care personnel and family physicians by performing duties such as collaborating in the assessment and management of individuals at risk, making referrals to appropriate resources when longer term treatment or follow-up is required and exchanging relevant information.
7. Acts as a resource to patients and their families by performing duties such as providing information for patients and families regarding community resources and access to these resources, suggesting contacts to facilitate optimal planning, arranging referrals and facilitating the development of community resources to support the health of families.
8. Participates as a member of local committees and planning bodies by methods such as engaging in program/practice evaluation, identifying opportunities for change, assessing available resources, initiating solutions, analyzing outcomes and identifying areas for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance patient care services and reduce service gaps in the community.
9. Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics by methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, analyzing trends, preparing reports as required and recommending an action plan to the Professional Practice Chief, Social Work.
10. Develops, coordinates and delivers in-services, presentations, psycho-educational and support groups and/or training related to the assigned clinical specialty area by methods such as collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team, determining relevant content and required audiovisual/handout aids, conducting literature searches and planning and coordinating seminars.
11. Initiates, develops and carries out research activities and program planning and development relevant to the needs of the patient, families, hospital and community in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team by methods such as identifying current trends/gaps in literature, writing research proposals and developing and monitoring budgets. Follows through with research methodology, disseminates research findings and ensures clinical practices and protocols are consistent with research findings.
12. Maintains broad development in the Social Work profession by methods such as reviewing literature in the assigned clinical specialty area, consulting with clinical and community experts within the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities in order to improve care through new practices.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Masters Degree of Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work plus two (2) years' recent related experience. Current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to initiate, develop and carry out research activities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with patients, families, staff and community agency personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload in a complex environment.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.