Job Description

Social Worker I

Job Description
The Social Worker I, under the supervision of the Supervisor – Social Work, competently provides safe and professional family centered services to Women, Children and Families within Sidra Medicine. The position assesses and provides interventions aimed at addressing the identified psychosocial needs of women, children and families to cope with both acute and chronic illnesses. The Social Worker I is responsible for assessment of biopsychosocial and spiritual functioning and capacities. Under the direction of mentors and Social Work Leadership, the Social Work I provides social work treatment planning, interventions, supportive counseling; as well as community resource planning and access. The Social Worker I works in collaboration with other members of the health care, to provide evidence-based care by promoting continuous improvement and helping to generate innovative ideas within Social Work specialty practice. The Social Work I maintains a commitment to life-long learning and creates and/ or utilizes new knowledge to patients and their families, the public and other internal /external health professionals.

The Social Worker I is an active member of the Social Work team and is supported in practice through the use of supervision, mentorship, specific skills based training on wide range of subjects within the clinical field. The incumbent is expected to be learning while practicing, seeking assistance and enhancing foundational competencies of Social Work Practice.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Social Work Supervisor, or advisement of the Social Worker II:
Makes day to day decisions regarding assessment and interventions that impact patients and families and collaborating staff/colleagues
Makes decisions related to the plans of care for patients and their families
Maintains confidentiality of patient and family as professionally appropriate.

Essential Function 1

Under the supervision of the Social Worker II and Social Work Supervisor, assesses psychosocial needs, risk, capacity, and designs treatment plan to support patient care while promoting patient engagement.

Completes, in supported practice, biopsychosocial, spiritual, and financial assessments by methods such as interviewing the patient and family, obtaining relevant information, and gathering social data.
With support, identifies child abuse and neglect signs and symptoms and responds with sensitivity in practice.
With consultation, creates a case formulation to inform intervention planning in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies to provide excellent patient care.
Works collaboratively with family’s involvement to create mutually agreed intervention goals and objectives that demonstrates patient / family strengths and limitations.
Supports the patient and their family to understand the nature of treatment by providing education, supportive counseling and conducting crisis mediation.
Educates the patient/family and other members of the health care team regarding the social work intervention plan.
Monitors and evaluates intervention while maintaining family’s involvement.
Assumes accountability for evaluating biopsychosocial needs as well as discharge planning for each patient, while assessing for current and potential problems.
Provides therapeutic support to patients and families by focusing on social, emotional and cultural needs, to promote adjustment to diagnosis and treatment decisions.
In collaboration with Social Work II, assists in planning and facilitating psycho-educational and counseling groups.
Acts as an advocate by empowering women/children and their families to make informed choices by providing them with information and support and directing to the relevant support services when appropriate.
Participates in interdisciplinary care conferences, psychosocial rounds, and nursing report to plan interventions and monitor the progress of the Social Work patient list.
Identifies and alerts members of the medical team to changes in medical, emotional, and/or mental status of the patient/family.
Utilizes a professional practice framework and evidence based care, to identify improvements to minimize risks and produce optimal care for patients and families.
In line with the departmental procedures and professional standards; produces concise, accurate, informative, and timely documentation of all assessments, interventions, and consultations.
Utilizes effective communication skills in the process of supporting children and families.
Demonstrates ability to contend with multiple workload priorities.

Essential Function 2

Supports initiatives that promotes timely discharges, quality outcomes, and program development while maintaining professional behaviors associated with Social Work practice.

Works in collaboration with the Social Work division and medical teams to decrease the length of stay/waiting time as per unit specific goal.
Supports hospital discharges by providing referrals to community resources and liaises to provide transfer/discharge information; communication with government, police or other medical services.
Advocates for the child and their family or caregiver for resources within the hospital, the community and coordinates community resources to meet these needs.
Participates in community outreach activities to establish community linkage and collaboration e.g. school-based services, homecare, mental wellbeing services, etc.
Participates in discharge planning with multidisciplinary teams, patients, families and community agencies to represent the biopsychosocial needs of the patient/family follow-up.
In partnership with Social Work II, facilitates the evaluation of patient resource needs and assists in application to immigration and repatriation needs.
Coordinates the submission of charitable applications and associated documentation.
Maintains statistical information and clinical reports in accordance with Social Work and Sidra Medicine policy.
Promotes a safe environment and safe patient care by embracing a culture of safety and identifying areas of risk to Supervisor – Social Work
Under guidance, support and direction of senior staff, participates in service based performance improvement activities (as assigned) that contribute to excellence in quality clinical outcome indicators, a positive patient experience/ satisfaction and a healthy professional environment
Complies with policies for personal and patient safety and for the prevention of healthcare associated infections.
Participates in the continued development, implementation, and evaluation of Sidra Policy and Procedures to align with international best practices.
Supports the development of the Social Work department by promoting and maintaining effective communication, teamwork, and respecting for the viewpoints of others.
Treats colleagues, patients, and visitors with dignity and respect at all times.
Demonstrates transcultural principles in social work practice while maintain a professional demeanor at all times.

Essential Function 3

Maintains a commitment to life-long learning while representing and teaching Social Work services collaboratively and appropriately to other professionals, students, and the community.

Able to accept supervision, guidance and directions in relation to the role, assigned tasks, and professionalism.
Takes part in clinical rotations through wards to ensure exposure to a variety of patient needs and knowledge acquisition.
Able and willing to cross support all areas of the hospital including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department services, in order to enhance holistic learning.
Complete assigned learning modules and mentorship meetings with peers and supervisors to support professional practice development.
Maintains own knowledge, clinical skills (mandatory training), and professional (portfolio) awareness.
Maintain documented evidence of performance and skills consistent with position.
Obligated to fulfil all requirements to remain eligible for licensing in Qatar.
Participates in new staff/student orientation and competence development as assigned.
Assists in maintaining a suitable learning environment and contribute to the teaching of Social Work students and new staff to develop their competence.
Responsible for maintaining up to date mandatory Life Support Training requirements as directed by MoPH and Sidra (e.g. BLS, AED etc).
Adheres to Sidra’s standards as they appear in the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies
Adheres to and promotes Sidra’s Values

In view of the evolving needs and opportunities within Sidra, this position may be required to perform other duties as assigned and reporting relationships may vary.

Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS – SELECTION CRITERIA

ESSENTIAL

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Social work

Experience

2+ years of relevant clinical experience
Qatari Nationals, Qatar Universities graduates, offspring of Qatari Women or offspring of residents are exempt from experience provided they complete internship period as per educational program requirement, per DHP circular No 24/2020 or the updated version of the circular, if any.
Certification and Licensure

Current registration and license from Country of Origin

Meets licensing requirements of the State of Qatar

Job Specific Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated thorough knowledge of Social Work principles, practices and Code of Ethics.

Demonstrated ability to apply and integrate social work knowledge and skills into practice.

Knowledge of the biopsychosocial needs of children/families with medical, disabilities, and/or mental health conditions.

Demonstrated ability to conduct and document biopsychosocial assessment.

Knowledge of interventions with individuals/families and groups and psycho-education/life skills program delivery.

Knowledge of issues surrounding child protection, assessment of abuse and relevant legislation concerning children.

Knowledge of mental health issues, including DSM, and mental health assessment of depression, suicide, and anxiety.

Knowledge of grief and loss issues.

Willingness to learn and work with patients presenting with complete needs including mental health, child protections, and grief and loss.

Ability to design and implement interventions to meet individual patient and family needs.

Ability to function as a collaborative member of the interdisciplinary team and communicate and advocate for patient/family needs within this team.

Strong interpersonal, organizational and presentation skills, as well as an ability to communicate effectively within a team, across disciplines, and with patients and families.

Demonstrated ability to problem solve and provide conflict resolution.

Knowledge of community resources.

Evidence of effective communication skills.

Experience in organizing data and generating thorough, accurate, timely reports.

Ability to work shift work and on call hours as necessary.

Motivated and enthusiastic

Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite

Fluency in written and spoken English