Medical Social Worker

Job Detail

The Medical Social Worker plays a vital role in providing counselling and psychosocial support to patients and their families. This includes case management, conducting in-depth assessments of family dynamics, and coordinating with social service agencies to support care and discharge planning for both inpatients and outpatients. Additionally, the role contributes to the broader community by supporting colleagues in needs assessments, program development, implementation, and evaluation. In terms of clinical and case management responsibilities, the Medical Social Worker engages and builds professional relationships with clients and their significant others, applying specialized theories where appropriate. They gather relevant information through intake assessments to evaluate the psychosocial status and needs of clients and families, develop and implement care plans, and manage resistance to change. Financial assessments are conducted when necessary, and psychoeducation is provided to support clients and families dealing with illness-related challenges. Home visits may be carried out when appropriate, and collaboration with the multidisciplinary team is maintained through regular conferences. The role also involves networking and liaising with service providers to ensure continuity of care, supporting data collection, and adhering to clinical protocols and guidelines. For professional development, the Medical Social Worker is expected to engage in continuous learning through case discussions, supervision, and training. They may also orient and guide new staff, provide sharing sessions for students and professionals, and supervise social work interns. In program development, the Medical Social Worker assists in needs assessments and contributes to the planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of programs. They support psycho-educational groups for patients and caregivers, lead support groups, facilitate therapeutic group work, and deliver public education talks and training sessions. They are also responsible for identifying service gaps and recommending improvements to enhance service delivery. Administrative duties include ensuring proper and timely documentation of case notes and referrals, submitting regular statistics, and carrying out other administrative tasks as assigned by the supervisor.