Home Health Social Worker Description
Health Professionals Offer Safety for Home Bound Patients
Aug 6, 2009
Home health social workers can be very beneficial to patients needing care at home. These social workers have information and resources to help the patient remain safe and cared for in their own homes. The social worker provides education and linkage to community resources to assist with any medical, psychological or social assistance that may be needed.
Social Work Education
A home health social worker must have a bachelor of social work or bachelors in a related field such as psychology or sociology. The bachelor’s level social worker is referred to as a BSW (bachelors of social work) or SWA (social work assistant). However, because of federal regulations, a bachelor’s level social worker must be supervised by a social worker with a master’s degree. In addition licensure must be obtained by the MSW and, in some cases, by the BSW in the state that they are working in.
Personality Traits
Many home health social workers are individuals with great empathy and compassion for others. They have to be flexible, willing to work long hours and may even be called upon for advice during off hours. They must also have a positive attitude in the face of serious and trying situations. They must be willing to work as part of a larger medical team led by a physician. They also must be able to work alone and innovative when trying to find resolutions and resources for their patients.
Training & Continuing Education
The Department of Labor website reports that medical social workers often advise caregivers, do discharge planning and counsel patients. This training is very important for a home health social worker because it helps to understand the process of how patients are admitted, cared for and then discharged. This experience helps the social worker understand where gaps in services may lie. In addition, social workers have access to frequent education programs called continuing education units (CEU’s). These education programs help the social workers stay up on important topics.
Responsibilities
A home health social worker can have a lot of responsibilities. The Department of Labor website points out that many social workers work on large interdisciplinary teams. This team may involve the physician, nurse, therapy staff and a home health aide. Outside agencies such as Department of Social Services or Protective Services may also be contacted. The social worker is responsible for ensuring the patient has the resources they need to remain safely at home and to evaluate any psychological, social and/or medical needs. The social worker is often called in when nursing home or assisted living placements are needed so that a bed can be found for the patient.
Communication
The social worker in a home health agency must be a good communicator. Like other members of the home care team, the social worker must communicate with physicians, nurses, therapy and administration about what the patient’s needs are. Through this communication the social worker helps the patient get the treatment that they need. Also, the physician gets a better idea of what life is like for the patient at home.
Staff Support
A home health agency without a social worker is at a definite disadvantage. Home health staff often have concerns for a patient’s safety at home. Some patients come home from the hospital and do not have transportation to their upcoming medical appointments. Even worse, some patients cannot afford or physically cannot obtain their medications.
Home health social workers can be a valuable asset for the agency as well as the patients that they serve. Utilizing a social workers knowledge can help many patients and families deal with difficult and challenging times. Social workers can also offer the staff that they work with a place to come and report concerns and problems. The staff are more comforted by the fact that the social worker will be assisting them in caring for the patients more complex psychosocial needs.
United States Department of Labor, Social Worker Occupational Outlook 2009.
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