Supportive Care & Guided, Social Worker (MSW) – Full Time

Willamette Vital Health, your local nonprofit that helps families through one of the most difficult times in life — losing a loved one — is searching for an experienced MSW with a passion for empathetic care with a focus on quality of life. If that’s you, we would love to meet you.

1:1 patient care with a focus. 

Competitive salary and generous benefits in a collaborative environment.

Flexibility to plan your day based on scheduled patient visits and their needs.

Employee Assistance Program that includes short term counseling and mental health assistance.

The Role:

Supportive Care and Guided Care is a service offered to our patients that focuses on quality of life and comfort when living with a serious illness. As a Social Worker on our Supportive Care team, you will provide medical social services to palliative care patients, families, caregivers as indicated by the plan of care developed by the interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in planning and coordinating patient care in collaboration with patient/family and other members of the health care team to maximize patient outcomes and use of resources.
• Perform a comprehensive patient and family biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment.
• Utilize a variety of techniques to identify and assess the psychological, emotional, and social factors affecting the patient and family with the goal of minimizing disease symptoms and patient/ family distress.
• Develop plans of care based on the initial assessment, advance care planning, educational components as needed.
• Engage with patient and family to facilitate trust, rapport, and communication. PCSW will provide brief supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and/or appropriate therapeutic supports as needed to the patient, family group or individual family members.
• Provide initial bereavement screening; assessment and referral of all palliative care patients who die while on our service to bereavement team.
• Act as liaison to promote discussion between the patient, family, and health care team, in order to facilitate understanding of the patient’s medical condition and treatment options, and to establish clear, patient-centered goals of care and care plans.
• Provide education and guidance to the patient, family and care team members pertaining to palliative and end-of-life care.
• Refer patients and families to appropriate supports and resources, including community-based services such as substance abuse treatment clinics, mental health resources, placement options, financial resources, bereavement counseling, family services, and related legal services.
• Advocate for the patient and family to ensure respect for patient autonomy and to maximize the safety of the patient’s care plan.
• Participate as a member of the larger Palliative Care Team, communicating clearly and effectively with other team members to provide quality patient and family care, meet individual patient and family members care needs, and achieve appropriate palliative care plans.
• Documents in a systematic, concise, legible, and timely manner according to established agency guidelines.
• Convey a supportive attitude and establish and maintain open lines of communication that are clear, concise, and informative.
• Demonstrate sound knowledge and skill base in support of palliative and hospice philosophies.
• Provide quality services to meet internal/external customer needs.

Requirements:

• Masters in social work (MSW) required, LCSW preferred
• Two (2) years of demonstrated experience working with multigenerational family systems in a clinical capacity
• Two (2) years demonstrated experience working with life-threatening conditions, chronic disease, hospice and / or end-of-life care, and related situations
• Demonstrated experience working with family systems
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and proof of auto insurance in order to travel to and from patients’ homes
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
• Tuberculosis screening after hire required

About Willamette Vital Health

Willamette Vital Health, previously known as Willamette Valley Hospice, is a community owned, non-for-profit organization providing innovative, personalized, and compassionate care since 1978. We provide comprehensive hospice care, palliative care, and grief care services for patients and families facing serious or life-limiting illness. Through our mission Willamette Vital Health supports adults and children living with a serious or life-limiting illness throughout Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Clackamas, Benton and Linn counties. Why work for us? Our employees say it best: "Teamwork! I've worked many places where it was hard to find help. Not here. There is always someone willing to give a helping hand." Carlene G. " It’s not just a job, it’s a calling. We are not just employees, we are family." Arlene B. " I have been working for WVH for 7 years now. This is more than just a job, it is a calling. The working environment is a fast paced, challenging and very rewarding. Teamwork players are a must! Planning on retiring here!" Horacio G. Willamette Valley Hospice is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Connections working at Willamette Vital Health