Social Worker I, Acute Care (Surgical/General Medicine/Palliative/Geriatrics)

The salary range for this position is CAD $39.14 - $48.88 / hour

Why Fraser Health?

Are you someone who has a real passion for serving others? Are you a registered Social Worker looking to highlight your knowledge, skills, and abilities in a new and dynamic environment? If you have answered yes, then we want you to keep reading.

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

We currently have an exciting Casual opportunity for you to bring your excellent work ethic as a dedicated Social Worker to Langley Memorial Hospital located in Langley, BC.

Effective October 26th, 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

Take the next step and apply so we can continue the conversation with you.

Come work with dedicated health care providers who are enthusiastic and committed to provide quality healthcare to our clients/patients/residents. We invite you to find out why more than 95% of new employees recommend Fraser Health as an excellent place to work. Work hard and have fun while you do it.

Curious to learn what it’s like to work here? Like us on Facebook (@fraserhealthcareers), follow us on Twitter & Instagram (@FHCareer), or connect with us on LinkedIn (fraserhealthcareers) for first-hand employee insights.

Detailed Overview

Reporting to the Program Manager, with accountability for clinical Social Work Practice to the Professional Practice Chief of Social Work, provides therapeutic clinical counselling services to patients and families in the assigned clinical area within Acute Care including the surgical, general medicine, palliative and geriatric programs. Conducts social work assessments of patients and families using a variety of modalities and in accordance with professional standards and clinical policies and practices and provides consultation to patient, families and healthcare professionals. Provides leadership within 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. Participates in in-services, presentations, psycho-educational and support groups, and provides education to patients/family/interdisciplinary team as needed regarding Social Work practice.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• Provides leadership in the discharge planning process, 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 family meetings 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.
• Conducts psychosocial 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.
• 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.
• Maintains 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.
• Attends and/or leads meetings, in-services, develops/coordinates psycho-educational and support groups
• 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 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.
• 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.
• Provides direct social work services to patients and families in the assigned clinical area within Acute Care by methods such as exploring the emotional 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, and community supports and interdisciplinary treatment teams to coordinate services, manage cases and facilitate meetings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Participates in 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 service, conducting literature searches, administering surveys and collecting research data for further analysis. Ensures that clinical practices and protocols are consistent with research findings.
• Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics by methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, preparing reports and recommending an action plan to the Program Manager/Professional Practice Chief as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelors Degree of Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work, plus one years recent, related experience in a hospital setting and/or public agency. Current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.

Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of community, social, health and welfare programs, Acts/Policies.
• Basic counselling skills including crisis counselling, brief therapeutic interventions and loss and grief applicable to families, young adults and seniors.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload in a complex environment.
• Ability to develop, coordinate and deliver in-services, presentations, and support groups.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Ability to make effective referrals, reflecting in-depth knowledge of community resources and strong collaborative skills in working with community health and social agency personnel.
• Physical ability, emotional stability, and flexibility to carry out the duties of the position.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of emotional and mental health issues related to illness and injury, and patient/family cultural dynamics.
• Ability to work effectively with others, including working effectively in a multicultural environment, independently, as part of an interdisciplinary team understanding the frameworks of other disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with patients, families, staff and community agency personnel.
• Ability to provide leadership to the interdisciplinary team in care planning for the effective utilization of patient resources.
• Ability to provide consultation to patients, families and healthcare professionals.