Location: Washington,DC, USA
The Family Services Associate (FSA) will partner with the families of young children, birth - three years, who are experiencing the adverse effects of various social factors that influence health with a goal of minimizing the impact these conditions have on family wellness. Under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker the FSA will:
1. Initiate appropriate referrals in response to positive social determinants of health (SDOH) screeners
2. Facilitate connections to community-based resources (including early intervention), to address patient and family needs
3. Follow up with families to determine if connections were made and needs met
Responsibilities may include initiatives pertaining to the birth-three population and building relationships with various community agencies. There is a potential opportunity for longitudinal work with families around their financial health. Experience assisting families in community settings is highly desirable.
Position Summary
Assists patients and families to resolve issues related to patient's illness, injury, or hospitalization. Serves as liaison among patients/families, medical and nursing staff, and external agencies. Performs screening interviews, assists with planning and implementation of interventions, and ensures appropriate follow-up of services.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree (Required)
Minimum Work Experience
1-year working with individuals in crisis situations. (Required)
Required Skills/Knowledge
Bilingual ability preferred.
Functional Accountabilities
Delivers Patient/Family Focused Services
* Complete screening interviews of patients and families utilizing hospital-approved screening tools.
* Research appropriate resources in the hospital and community to assist patients and families; help families to access and utilize those resources.
* Provide needed assistance, while respecting boundaries and setting appropriate limits.
* Make follow-up contact with families, when appropriate, to monitor the outcome of interventions and to promote continuity of care (e.g. assisting with new and follow up appointments, hospital and community-based referrals and applications).
Coordinates Patient Care Responsibilities with Other Family Services Staff
* Manage requests from patients and families for hospital or community resources.
* Assist families with applications and manage referrals to outside agencies in coordination with medical team for financial assistance and other programs.
* Manage referrals to outside organizations as directed by social work and in coordination with medical team.
* Assist Family Services staff with special projects, such as patient/family newsletters, Sibling Day , support groups, etc.
Contributes to Effective Multidisciplinary Communication
* Communicate with social work and/or medical team about patient care needs.
* Share verbally and in writing, relevant patient/family information with members of the treatment team.
* Document activities according to Departmental guidelines in electronic medical record.
* Participate in team meetings to address general and specific patient care issues.
Optimizes the Use of Available Resources
* Develop and maintain resource information for the department.
* Promote positive working relationships with community agencies.
* Serve as liaison between hospital and agency staff assisting families with resources.
* Identify gaps in services and research alternatives.
Organizational Accountabilities
Contributes to Furthering Professional Environment & Standards
* Meet with Team Leader for supervision to discuss case material, professional role, and projects to complete.
* Meet with social work or child life partner to review work performed for individual patients and families.
* Participate in Family Service Team meetings and departmental staff meetings.
* Meet departmental requirements for chart recording, statistics, and other documentation and submits documents in a timely manner.
* Ensure that chart documentation is co-signed by licensed Family Services staff member.
* Participate in departmental performance improvement activities.
Organizational Commitment/Identification
* Partner in the mission and upholds the core principles of the organization
* Committed to diversity and recognizes value of cultural ethnic differences
* Demonstrate personal and professional integrity
* Maintain confidentiality at all times
Customer Service
* Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
Teamwork/Communication
* Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
* Partner with all team members to achieve goals
* Receptive to others' ideas and opinions
Performance Improvement/Problem-solving
* Contribute to a positive work environment
* Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
* Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
* Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment
Cost Management/Financial Responsibility
* Use resources efficiently
* Search for less costly ways of doing things
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification
* Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
Teamwork/Communication
* Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
* Partner with all team members to achieve goals
* Receptive to others' ideas and opinions
Performance Improvement/Problem-solving
* Contribute to a positive work environment
* Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
* Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
* Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment
Cost Management/Financial Responsibility
* Use resources efficiently
* Search for less costly ways of doing things
Safety
* Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
* Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
* Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
* Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
* Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
* Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance