Medical Social Worker

Job Detail

Position Title Medical Social Worker Role Purpose To provide counselling and psychosocial support for patients and families through case management, in- depth assessment of family dynamics, linking up with various social service agencies to facilitate care and discharge planning. To contribute to the community via supporting colleagues in needs assessment, program development, implementation and/or evaluation of programs. Expanded Job Description: Medical Social Worker Unit: Care & Counselling Location: Thye Hua Kwan Hospital Key Responsibilities Areas 1. Casework • Engagement and assessment i. Engage patient and significant others in a therapeutic manner to understand their needs, by establishing rapport and build professional relationship. ii. Identify and clarify key issues to the problem situation and engage patients, families, multidisciplinary team and relevant stakeholders to gather holistic and relevant information. iii. Manage and overcome reluctance and resistance to change. iv. Apply theoretical and professional knowledge to formulate biopsychosocial and spiritual assessment. v. Use different modes of engagement for the purposes of assessment, intervention and monitoring. • Goal setting and intervention plan i. Conceptualise and identify appropriate approaches to develop care plan for patients. ii. Help patients to develop and choose strategies and formulate viable plans. iii. Apply appropriate assistance schemes. iv. Provide illness-related psychoeducation and counselling. v. Represent case in case conference. vi. Represent team in inter-department or inter-agencies workgroups to discuss common and / or complex cases and formulate professionally endorsed treatment intervention plans. vii. Collaborate and negotiate with stakeholders to mobilise community resources. viii. Adhere to protocols in accordance with clinical practice guidelines and integrated care pathways. • Case review and documentation i. Implement and follow-up on care plans and interventions to determine the suitability of care plans in addressing patient’s needs, and modify them where necessary. ii. Provide documentation and timely updates of psychosocial assessments and intervention in the medical records to be used by the multi-disciplinary profession. iii. Provide social reports with proper consent to relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity of care. 2. Group Work / Community Work • Plan, implement, monitor, evaluate and modify therapeutic group work to address issues of target groups. • Co-facilitate support and psychoeducational support groups for patients and/or caregivers within organisation. • Conduct environmental scanning and assess community needs. 3. Professional Development and Education • Engage in learning opportunities to develop skills and capabilities. • Attend professional development courses to acquire professional knowledge and skills. 4. Programme Development and Implementation • Assist in development of programmes through data collection and basic analysis. • Assist in the implementation of programmes. • Participate in in-house programme/project work to improve the quality of care and services to patients. 5. Research • Keep abreast of current research and trends. • Assist in data collection and support action research activities. Key Competencies Needed 1. Casework [Knowledge and ability to assess psychosocial needs and provide intervention for individuals] a. Knowledge and ability to engage, assess, provide intervention and evaluate practice. b. Knowledge and ability to assess patients’ level of functioning. c. Ability to assess patients’ needs for social functioning. d. Ability to assess system intervention for patients. e. Ability to draw and apply relevant theories in direct case work for appropriate care plans. f. Ability to demonstrate reflective / reflexive practice. g. Theoretical knowledge in psychopathology, loss, grief and bereavement, individual and family life cycle, family system, biopsychosocial-spiritual framework, mental health and wellbeing etc. h. Case management of illnesses. i. Knowledge of medical conditions, terminologies, trajectory and impact of illnesses on individuals, families and social system. j. Assessment of risks and management of crisis/emergency cases. k. Behavioural health counselling aligned with patient care plan. l. Knowledge of the following: i. Culturally sensitive practices. ii. Healthcare system, health and social assistance schemes. iii. Management of end-of-life care, palliative care, advance care planning, and caregiver support programmes and services, and its application iv. Roles and function of multi-disciplinary team, and ability to work collaboratively in patient care to achieve positive outcome. m. Ability to conduct psychoeducation for patients and families. n. Ability to provide counselling for adjustment to illness. o. Ability to write social reports that have biopsychosocial insights that contribute to holistic patient care; being cognizant of medico-legal implications. p. Ability to do history taking, contribute to diagnosis, support medical team in breaking bad news and follow-up, guide caregivers to talk to medical providers, and represent patient in communicating interests to teams and external agencies. 2. Group work / Community work [Knowledge and ability to assess group processes and specialised intervention strategies to bring about successful therapeutic outcomes. / Knowledge and ability to identify issues and mobilize community resources (e.g. volunteer management, funding, donors, community resources) to address community issues.] a. Knowledge of underlying theories that inform group work practice. b. Knowledge and ability in the formation of groups. c. Knowledge of basic facilitation skills and ability to co-facilitate with senior or experienced workers. d. Ability to conduct support groups. e. Ability to articulate outcomes and social work interventions to deliver, monitor and evaluate group work. f. Ability to conduct needs assessment and environmental scanning for users at the community level. 3. Research and Programme Evaluation [Knowledge and ability to use applied research, theoretical framework and client profiling techniques to evaluate current or develop new programmes.] a. Knowledge of research protocols for supervision and collaboration. b. Ability to identify available social programmes and social gaps, and conduct relevant analyses based on domain knowledge. 4. Ethics, Values and Legislation [Knowledge and ability to apply social work ethics and values, legislation and international conventions to practice.] a. Knowledge of the following: i. Professional values and ethics, and its applications. ii. Legislations relevant to social work and its applications. iii. Ethics governing medical practices. iv. Maintenance of Parents Act. v. Women’s Charter vi. Mental Health vii. Destitute Persons Act viii. Mental Capacity Act ix. Infectious Disease Act b. Ability to apply policies, legislations and conventions to Direct Practice. c. Ability to understand and apply ethical decision-making processes/model in social work. 5. System Linkage, Analysis and Development [Knowledge and ability to apply strategies and instrumentation to advocate for beneficiaries.] a. Knowledge of systems and availability of resources with a view to represent patients’ needs. b. Knowledge and ability to empower patients to access needed resources. c. Knowledge and ability to apply social justice frameworks in the client system. 6. Environmental Systems and Social Policies a. Knowledge of the following: i. Local community, context, political and larger system that impact patients/families and community. ii. Interpret relevant policies/schemes that impact patients, and its applications. iii. Healthcare service and delivery model. iv. Enabling Masterplan pertaining to health and social care. v. Local housing policies. vi. Healthcare financing policies and CPF policies. Who You’ll Work With Multidisciplinary team – Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals Community Partners Ideal Candidate Profile Qualifications: Degree in Social Work / Graduate Diploma in Social Work / Masters in Social Work Strong interpersonal, communication and writing skills with emotional maturity. Empathetic, organized, and comfortable working in emotionally sensitive environments. Proficient in MS office. Preferably Registered Social Worker with Singapore Association of Social Workers. Good and effective team player. Growth Opportunities Exposure to multidisciplinary care teams. Supervision and mentorship from Senior Medical Social Workers. Pathways to further training for skills development and specialisation, such as counselling, other modalities / theoretical framework of intervention. Comprehensive Skill Set for Medical Social Worker Medical Social Workers play a pivotal role in bridging healthcare and social support systems to ensure holistic care for patients and their families. Their effectiveness depends on a diverse and well-integrated skill set that spans emotional intelligence, technical proficiency, and ethical knowledge. Below is a breakdown of the essential skill categories and their significance: 1. Soft Skills Soft skills are crucial for building trust and fostering meaningful relationships with patients from diverse backgrounds. These include: Empathy, active listening, and compassion Emotional intelligence and resilience Communication and interpersonal skills Cultural sensitivity Team collaboration Language proficiency Adaptability Patience These skills enable Medical Social Workers to effectively support patients and families, enhancing engagement and care outcomes across varied populations. 2. Hard Skills Hard skills ensure operational efficiency and accurate documentation, which are vital in healthcare settings. Key competencies include: Documentation and case note writing Discharge planning Administrative and referral coordination Data entry and form handling Digital literacy Good organisational skills These skills help maintain accurate records, facilitate smooth transitions, and ensure appropriate linkage to services and resources. 3. Transferable Skills Transferable skills allow Medical Social Workers to adapt and function effectively across departments and complex cases. Important skills in this category are: Time management Conflict resolution Problem solving and resourcefulness Resource mobilisation These abilities support multitasking and navigating the challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration. 4. Knowledge-Based Skills A strong foundation in ethical and psychosocial knowledge empowers Medical Social Workers to make informed decisions and uphold professional standards. These include: Basic understanding of social work ethics and principles Understanding of psychosocial care and support These skills ensure ethical practice and informed care coordination within healthcare environments.