Volunteer Social Worker

                                                                                 
GENERAL STATEMENT OF POSITION:   Providing social work services to patients and families.

	**Volunteers with any of the following experience or skills are encouraged to apply and discuss how he/she can best assist the clinic.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports to the Medical Director.

NEEDED FUNCTIONS:

1.	Displays the love of Christ in all settings.
2.	Assesses patient and family psychosocial needs and develops a plan of care in concert with physicians, nurses and therapists.
3.	Links patient/ family to appropriate community resources including information/ referral to sources of financial assistance, transportation, food, housing, support groups.
4.	Provides short-term counseling to identify problems and facilitate needed referrals. 
5.	Serves as patient advocate and liaison with physicians, families and community to ensure continuity of care.
6.	Documents patient/family status and history, diagnosis, treatment plan, evaluation results, observations and progress in medical record.
7.	Serves as a resource to other staff on community resources and in area of specialty.

The job holder must demonstrate current competencies applicable to job position.

EDUCATION:  Master's degree in social work. 

EXPERIENCE:  Minimum of two years experience in social work with broad background with diverse patient populations, preferably in medical setting.

REQUIREMENTS:   LCSW or LMSW working towards LCSW. 

KNOWLEDGE:

1.	Knowledge of social work principles and practices. Will stay abreast of current trends in field of expertise.
2.	Knowledge of how to use variety of diagnostic tools and techniques, including DSM IV-R.
3.	Knowledge of the development and maintenance of information/referral systems.

SKILLS:

1.	Skill in assessment, diagnosis, treatment, counseling and care management. 
2.	Skill in proper use of tools such as the DSM IV-R for identifying clinical symptoms. 
3.	Skill in building and maintaining community resource database by establishing effective liaisons with key sources of assistance for patients and families.

ABILITIES:

1.	Ability to interact effectively as member of an interdisciplinary health care team. 
2.	Ability to use community resource database computer software effectively.
3.	Ability to communicate appropriately with a diverse patient population and conduct effective community outreach activities.
4.	Ability to demonstrate compassion and caring in dealing with others in a way that supports the center’s mission to share the love of Christ through quality healthcare to those in need.

ENVIRONMENTAL/WORKING CONDITIONS: Office and exam room settings. Minimal exposure to communicable diseases. Some interactions in community resource settings.  OSHA Category 3 – Involves no regular exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, and tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues are not a condition of employment.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS: Combination of sitting, standing and walking. Occasional stress in balancing multiple demands and in dealing with patients/families experiencing tension.

This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.