Medical Social Worker

Medical Social Worker (MSW) collaborates with other healthcare professionals to assess and support clients’ biopsychosocial-spiritual needs.

Essential Functions

1. Intake and Screening
   • Partner Registered Nurse to conduct intake screening for clients
   • Complete social assessment for general understanding of family situation
   • Pick up cases which require further psychosocial-spiritual support
2. Admission
   • Touch base with new clients to check in on transition coping
3. Respite Care
   • Receive urgent/planned respite cases
   • Work with team to ensure admission and work with relevant agencies and families on long term plan e.g. permanent placement in NH or discharge arrangements
4. Day-to-Day
   • Counselling and emotional support for clients and families identified
   • Case management e.g. referral families to other resources if necessary
   • Update documentation necessary to aid team’s understanding while abiding with PDPA principles
   • Facilitate household committee meetings as check-in sessions
   • Group activities/group work
   • Work with team to plan for birthdays, festivals, and outings
   • Ensure general Advanced Care Planning/Preferred Plan of Care are done for long term clients.
   • Directing LPA deemed necessary
   • Follow with families who defaulted payment and expressed financial constraints
   • Attend Multidisciplinary Meetings for clients, advocate and contribute
   • Attend to enquiries/walk-ins from the public
   • Keep updated of government policies/schemes/services to provide Information and Referral
5. Discharge Care Planning
   • Work with medical, nursing, and other allied health professionals, clients, and their families to develop and implement the post-discharge care plan
     • Work with team to look into suitable placements based on the needs of clients
     • Right-siting and referrals of clients to other institutions and pacing with clients for discharge
     • Liaison with referred agency to ensure smooth transition
6. Crisis intervention
   • Conduct risk assessment for crisis situations e.g. ASIST suicide assessment, family violence assessment and work with team on necessary intervention
   • Check in and support team’s emotional coping
   • Family education and mediation with families
7. Palliative and bereavement
   • Initiate End-of-Life conversations with clients and families
     • Preferences on last rites
     • Wishes/Hope/Regrets
     • Life review and Legacy
     • Closures (thank you, I love you, goodbyes, sorry and I forgive)
     • Information providing on wills & nomination
   • Coordination of funeral arrangements for those without NOK, pro-bono/Attend wake if necessary
   • Bereavement support e.g. checking in after death to follow-up (2 weeks, 3 months), short-term counselling support and look into referral for longer-term support if necessary
8. Others
   • Perform other related duties as assigned by the Reporting Officer

Job Requirements

1. BA (Major in Social Work) or Bachelor Degree in Social Work OR Graduate Diploma in Social Work.
2. Experience working with Older Adults and People with Dementia
3. 3 – 5 years’ relevant experience preferably in hospital or community hospital setting.
4. Microsoft Office, internet savvy
5. Accreditation with Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board (SWAAB) - Registered Social Worker
6. Certification for Advanced Care Plan Facilitator (preferably)
7. Possess good communication skills and knowledge