Title: Community Client Caseworker

Classification: Permanent Full-time

Regular Hours per week: 37.5 hours per week

Reporting to: Director, Community & Supportive Care

Position Summary:

St. Joseph's Hospice is a charitable, faith-based organization that offers compassionate holistic care and support to people living with a palliative illness. Support is extended to their family members and caregivers and to those grieving the loss of a loved one (Client*). Hospice programs and services are offered at no cost and are available irrespective of age, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, or economic status.

Whether in the community, our Wellness Centre or our 10-suite residence, St. Joseph's Hospice provides specialized programs and services with a person-centred approach. Individuals and families are intimately involved in creating their own plan of care which best addresses their unique needs. Our competent and committed Hospice staff and volunteers work together as a team, with other community partners and service providers, to provide full support and quality hospice palliative care.

Working within the Community & Supportive Care department, and in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values of St. Joseph's Hospice, the Community Client Caseworker is responsible for ensuring that Hospice Clients and family members receive exemplary care and support within the community. Support is provided for individuals who have a life altering illness, are anticipating death, or coping with the aftermath of death in order to assist them with processing grief.

St. Joseph's Hospice of London offers a comprehensive Benefits Plan and the Defined Pension Plan HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)

Key accountabilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Intake & Assessment:

• Screens referrals for Hospice community support criteria.
• Makes home visits to perform initial holistic assessments of client/family units and risk assessment for volunteer support.
• Assesses clients/family for psycho/social and spiritual needs and makes in-house referrals as appropriate.
• Develops, documents, and maintains clients' plan of care.
• Ensures regular assessment of client/family needs and adjusts plan of care accordingly.
• Communicates client/family needs to the Coordinator of Volunteer Services through referral for in-home volunteer visitors (including complementary therapists)

Client Education & Support:

• Educates clients/families about additional community resources and makes referrals as necessary.
• Provides individual and group programming for clients and caregivers who are anticipating death or coping with the aftermath of a death in order to assist them with processing grief. (This does not include the provision of professional grief counselling).
• Provides information, programs and groups to educate and assist clients with Advance Care Planning and Legacy work.
• Where necessary, can provide referrals to professional counselling services through Hospice or other resources as required.

Volunteer and Client Support:

• Reports volunteer concerns to Coordinator of Volunteer Services.
• Completes client incident reports as necessary.
• Monitors volunteer reports and provides volunteers with direction, advice and support.
• Maintains current and accurate client data and updates in InfoAnywhere.
• Provides input in the development of policies specific to community clients.
• Inputs monthly client surveys into HPCO database.
• Identify clients who could benefit from additional support and make referrals as necessary.

Advocacy and Public Awareness:

• Advocates on behalf of client/families with SWLHIN PCOT care coordinators
• Liaises with referral partners regarding client/family needs and current status
• Responds to direct public enquiries about Hospice Palliative care.
• Provides in-services about the Volunteer Visitor program to agencies, partners, students and funding partners, as requested.
• Works with community partners in London and Middlesex County in order to promote back and forth referrals, warm hand-offs, and ensure no duplication of services.
• Maintains ongoing relationships with Hospice staff including program coordinators, and grief and bereavement counsellors in order to facilitate smooth transition of services.
• Represents St. Joseph's Hospice in a positive and professional manner and promotes the best interest of the organization through attendance at community events, speaking engagements and participation in supportive care programs such as memorial services and community dinners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and /or abilities required.

This position requires travel throughout London and Middlesex County. The successful candidate must possess reliable personal transportation, valid drivers' license and appropriate vehicle insurance to perform this work.

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Social Work or post-secondary education in Nursing with current registration and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or the College of Nurses is required.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to build rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Sound Knowledge of social service systems, community support services sector and relevant resources.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in the hospice palliative care or community support services sector.

• Experience in facilitating and leading support groups.
• A certificate in the Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care, or the commitment to obtain.
• General knowledge of the Public Guardian and Trustee Act, Powers of Attorney and Advanced Care Directives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the palliative care-chronic disease continuum.
• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to the principles of patient and family centered care.
• Responsible for outreach and promoting Hospice awareness by providing Hospice in-services to partner agencies and delivering impact presentations at community speaking engagements.
• Identifies program development opportunities and consults with the Director of Community & Supportive Care and the appropriate program staff and volunteers to develop strategies to support community needs.
• Monitors referrals to identify trends and patterns that impact the effective and timely delivery of Hospice services.
• In collaboration with the Director of Community & Supportive Care, develop strategies to address improvements in service delivery.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively in a team environment, while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to the changing circumstances and priorities.
• Embodies a warm, caring, calm and genuine approach when interacting with others.
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, exercise tact and diplomacy, and exhibit good judgement and critical thinking.
• Reviews and evaluates, on a program-wide and case-by-case basis, the effective and seamless delivery of Hospice support to Hospice community clients.
• Supervises, mentors, and coaches program team, students, and visiting volunteers ensuring program delivery is consistent with Hospice's policies and align with HPCO accreditation standards.
• Initiates, designs, and delivers targeted volunteer education incorporating principles of adult learning.
• Develops, revises and implements and maintains program policies and procedures ensuring they are consistent with HPCO accreditation standards.
• Collaborates with Director of Supportive Care to develop and monitor program budget.
• Demonstrated relationship management skills consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Values of St. Joseph's Hospice
• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to the Health Ethics Guide of the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada (CHAC)

* Client: refers to anyone whom we provide service; whether in the community, our wellness centre or our 10-suite residence

St. Joseph's Hospice is an equal opportunity employer, and we will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Upon individual request, hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to fully and fairly participate in the application, interview or selection process, please contact Human Resources at (519) 941-3476 or [email protected] and we will endeavour to provide a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account your accessibility needs.