Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Northwest Kidney Centers seeks a Social Worker to support the Social Work department in a part-time, variable hours position (Port Angeles, WA).

Shift:  Part-time (0.6FTE), Monday-Friday, Variable hours (Eg. 8am - 4:30pm, 12pm - 8pm), On-Site.

Purpose

The Social Worker is responsible to the Social Services Manager for social work intake and patient advocacy services and for coordinating social services with physicians, NKC employees, patients, families, and other organizations. The social worker supports the patient voice and promotes communication through interpreter services for the non-English fluent and educates the patient on rights and the NKC grievance process. This position provides patient education and counseling, serves as a resource to NKC employees, and performs relief and/or project duties, when required.

The Social Worker is part of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) and is responsible for providing each patient with an individualized comprehensive assessment of his or her social service needs and developing a plan of care in accordance with the ESRD Conditions of Coverage. The Social Worker evaluates the patient’s status, and uses the comprehensive assessment, depression screening, and KDQOL-36 tool to develop and implement the patient’s treatment plan and appropriate quality care. The Social Worker is a part of the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement Team, (QA/PI), and participates in evaluating trends, making recommendations and action plans as well as following through to achieve improved patient care.

Duties

• Is a member of the IDT and independently conducts the Comprehensive Assessments and unstable care plans, when needed, and develops Plans of Care. Participates with other members of the IDT in the comprehensive assessment/plan of care phone calls.
• Administers the KDQOL-36 tool with patients to identify areas of focus to improve the patients’ quality of life.
• Conducts depression screening and monitors patients’ mental health needs. Offers emotional support, brief therapy and/or referral to outside agencies.
• Screens patients for palliative care and refers to an appropriate provider, including the NKC Renal Supportive Care team.
• Coordinates and performs social services casework duties; psychosocial assessments; counseling, education, suicide assessments and management and documents related activities.
• Serves as resource to patients and staff regarding transportation to dialysis and dialysis related appointments. May advocate for patients with transportation providers.
• Problem solves with patients how they can continue or resume employment. Coordinates with vocational rehabilitation agencies.
• Coordinates social services between patients and patient families, physicians, NKC chaplain, NKC employees, and representatives of nursing homes, area hospitals and other organizations.
• The Social Worker is a member of the interdisciplinary team for the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement (QA/PI) process and reports response rates of KDQOL survey as well as below average scores. Social Worker analyzes trends and develops action plans as needed to address worsening trends.
• Participates in unit huddles and assists in developing plans to improve patient outcomes.
• In conjunction with IDT, implements unit quality initiatives to improve patient outcomes around such issues as transplant, hemodialysis access placement and hospitalizations.
• Serves as the point person on the IDT for tracking transplant status. Works with Project Access Northwest to help eligible patients receive dental clearance for transplant.
• Provides education to NKC employees around topics within social work domain such as suicide management.
• Serves as a community resource person to the treatment teams regarding social services, acts as a patient advocate, and serves as an educational resource to other NKC employees.

15. Performs relief, project and committee assignments. This includes coordinating and performing special project duties and responsibilities such as developing new teaching materials to aid NKC employees in working with challenging patient behaviors.

16. Represents Social Services. Leads and/or participates in discussions and meetings with other NKC employees and performs ad hoc, standing, and other committee responsibilities.

17. Keeps informed of current professional standards and practices involving the social services field and helps to keep department policies and practices up to date.

18. Performs other duties and responsibilities as may be required including teaching of classes related to existing and pre-dialysis patients such as Next Step and Choices classes.

Requirements

The Social Worker must have a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. Social Workers should have a Washington State Independent Clinical (LICSW) or Advanced Social Worker (LASW) license or should have an Independent Clinical Associate or Advanced Associate license. No previous experience is required. The equivalent of one year of previous progressively responsible clinical responsibilities in a medical setting is preferred. Must have a valid Washington State Driver's License and car insurance.

Benefit offerings for eligible employees (.6-1.0 FTE)  

• Choice of 3 medical insurance plans through Kaiser Permanente (PPO, HMO & HDHP)
• Delta Dental
• Vision Services Plan
• 401 Retirement match and discretionary match
• Disability benefits such as Short-term & Long-term Plans
• Life & AD&D Plans
• Educational Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement of up to $4,000 annually
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Transit Subsidy
• Paid Time Off includes personal time off and 8 Holidays. PTO will accrue bi-weekly and will be pro-rated based on the FTE. The accrual rate will be 7.39 hours each bi-weekly pay period for staff.

About Northwest Kidney Centers

Founded in 1962 as the world’s first outpatient dialysis provider , Northwest Kidney Centers operates 19 dialysis clinics across the Puget Sound region in addition to hospital-based services and a large home-based dialysis program. We are a not-for-profit, community-based organization and consistently rank among the top dialysis providers in the United States in quality of care, patient outcomes and transplant rates.

At Northwest Kidney Centers, teamwork, integrity, respect, excellence and stewardship guide our approach to how we work. We differentiate ourselves by our patient centered approach and active commitment to advancing kidney research and dialysis innovation. Key to our success is the compassion and expertise of our dedicated team of staff that care for those we serve. 

Equal Employment Opportunity
Northwest Kidney Center is an equal employment opportunity employer. Every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. NKC will not engage in or tolerate any discrimination in the workplace prohibited by local, state, or federal law. Specifically, no employee will be discriminated against on the basis of their race (including physical characteristics historically associated with race, such as hairstyle or hair type), sex/gender, religion/creed, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, genetics/genetic markers, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.  

Preboarding Requirements

At Northwest Kidney Centers, we are committed to maintaining a safe work environment for all employees and patients. As part of our hiring process, we conduct pre-employment background checks, drug screenings (we do not test for THC), employment verification and references, which are contingent to be hired on with NKC. These checks ensure we are in compliance with regulatory requirements and to uphold our standards of safety, excellence, stewardship, and integrity. We value transparency and respect your privacy; any information obtained during these screenings will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. Should you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to reach out to our People Team.  

Please note: To protect our vulnerable patient population and our workforce, NKC strongly encourages all staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  

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