South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA)
San Fernando
Job Description
<p>An employee in this class is responsible for assisting individual patients and immediate relatives in overcoming social, emotional and financial obstacles.&nbsp;</p><p></p><div>Work involves the study, evaluation and interpretation of the social, economic and environmental backgrounds of patients for the use in the preparation of plans for their adjustment and&nbsp;<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">rehabilitation; in addition to the facilitation of response to the treatment and easing of financial and social burdens caused by illness which necessitated confinement in the hospital or at home or treatment at a health centre.&nbsp;</span></div><div><br></div><div>Employees will work under the supervision of a Medical Social Worker II who will assign work, review and check reports or work that may be received from the Health Team and reviewed by the relevant personnel.</div><div><br></div><div>The Authority reserves the right to assign the officer to any Facility under its management.</div><div><br></div><p></p>
Key and Critical Responsibilities
<ul><li>Interviews patients, members of their families and social contacts.</li><li>Visits and observes home conditions, prepares comprehensive background reports on relevant social, economic, emotional and environmental factors affecting illness, treatment or rehabilitation.</li><li>Collaborates with members of the health team to interpret relevant social and environmental factors and develop treatment programmes consistent with patients needs.</li><li>Counsels and assists patients through individual, family and group therapy to resolve emotional and relationship problems caused by illness.</li><li>Educates them in avoidance of causal and contributory factors to original illness and provides supportive help in lifestyle change.</li><li>Liaises with community based organizations, non-governmental and governmental social service agencies (such as National Insurance Board, Social Welfare Division and Probation Departments) to link clients to services and information.</li><li>Facilitates rehabilitation of patients by supporting their efforts at exploring of more appropriate employment opportunities and skills training or retraining options.</li><li>Liaises with patients employers and social and insurance agency personnel, regarding rehabilitation of patients and payment of sick pay, insurance benefits and other allowances.</li><li>Administers, in conjunction with Hospitals Finance Department (SWRHA), appropriate votes for granting funds to needy clients.</li><li>Facilitates applications on clients behalf for services not available in the public health facilities.</li><li>Maintains comprehensive records of all case work undertaken and collects relevant statistics as a guide to future action.</li><li>Engages in group work sessions with special needs clients (e.g. diabetics, pregnant teenagers).</li><li>Training which includes the following:&nbsp;</li></ul><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; i. Practice teaching of University Social Work students:</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Supportive counseling.</p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Preparation of teaching objectives.</span></p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- On-going instruction.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Preparation of evaluation reports.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Liaison with other agencies.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Liaison with the Coordinator of the Social Work Practicum Programme.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Other related tasks.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;ii. Orientation of Interns and training of Nursing Students.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - The Medical Social Worker I at the primary healthcare level performs all the duties of the Medical Social Worker I in addition to Community Work.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Outreach/ Education lectures to various categories of medical personnel and related community groups and resources on the methodology and role of the Medical Social&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Worker, psychosocial aspects of illness, needs of patients and resources available to assist them.</li></ul><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Designs and implements healthy lifestyle programmes geared towards prevention and rehabilitation in collaboration with the health team.&nbsp;</p>
Key Competencies
<ul><li>The incumbent is required to possess a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work.<ul></ul></li><li>The incumbent must be registered with the Medical and Psychiatric Social Workers Board, which is governed by the Council of Professions Related to the Medicine Act of 1985.</li><li>Experience obtained during the period of field practicum in the field of Medical Social Work.</li></ul>