Social Worker Jobs in Maine

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center

Department: Cancer Care - Pediatric

Position is located: Lafayette Building

Work Type: Full Time

Hours Per Week: 40.00

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Summary

This is a Social Work position for the Family Service and Support Team. While the FSST provides services to the women's and children's services patient population, the person selected to fill this position will primarily specialize in areas including Pediatric Oncology, Inpatient Pediatrics, and Pediatric Intensive Care.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a resource to hospital staff and physicians concerning social issues.
• Considers the unique needs of the patient/family (cultural, religious, age-specific, etc.), when planning interventions.
• Collaborates with Care Manager and multidisciplinary team to plan and implement complex patient discharge plans.
• Communicates effectively with the health care team to implement the plan of care in a maximally efficient and effective manner.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, care manager and other members of the health care team.
• Exhibits excellent interpersonal communication skills. Effectively collaborates with patients and families informed about social work interventions and plans.
• Informs other members of the health care team about interventions by entering accurate progress notes. Ongoing progress notes are documented per department policy.
• Works collaboratively with department team members to address and communicate their patient needs.
• Maintains effective working relationships with community agencies and nursing facilities.
• Provides patient advocacy by ensuring that the patient and family's needs and interests are represented in the care plan.
• Represents the patient/family's interest when collaborating with members of the health care team.
• Initiates multidisciplinary meetings with families and patients when requested or when the goals of the health care team members and the patient/family are not mutually acceptable.
• Recognizes and is able to comfortably address conflict.
• Maintains expert knowledge of patient rights, including advance directives and rights to self-determination.
• Maintains knowledge of State Regulation regarding child and adult abuse.
• Refers appropriately to domestic abuse advocate.
• Refers patients and family concerns to appropriate resources.
• Advocates for patient/family needs when necessary to external agencies.
• Communicates identified problems and potential solutions regarding delivery of services and Discharge Planning to the healthcare team.
• Openly and honestly reviews peers in an effort to positively influence change.
• Serves as a resource to hospital staff and physicians concerning social issues (i.e., APS, CPS, Domestic Violence, DPOA).

SERVICE

• Interfaces with other community agencies on behalf of the Patient.
• Provides appropriate counseling/support and concrete services to patients and families throughout hospitalization, as evidenced by entries in the medical record.
• Provides effective crisis intervention to patients and/or families when indicated.
• Provides identification of needs and complex discharge planning.
• Patients with complex discharge planning needs are identified prior to or at the time of admission or at anytime during the acute care stay.
• Gathers information necessary to identify the patient’s care needs and resources available to meet the needs.
• Coordinates patient/family education regarding discharge needs/plans.
• In collaboration with the healthcare team, will identify discharge planning barriers and coordinate with the interdisciplinary team to resolve the issues.
• Continuously assesses and re-evaluates as the patient’s plan of care progresses to identify changes in the patient’s needs and potential complications which may alter the discharge plan.
• The evolving discharge plan is communicated to physicians and the interdisciplinary team.
• Discharge occurs when interventions, education, and the discharge plan is completed.
• Provides identification of needs and complex discharge planning for the Acute Rehab Patient.
• Updates original assessment of patient's admission to Rehab as appropriate.
• Assists with patient's need for MaineCare or Social Security Disability benefits when indicated.
• Assists in resolving differences between patient and family's and rehab team's expectations.
• Documents progress notes in electronic medical record in a timely manner.
• Schedules and facilitates conferences as determined by the rehab team.
• Posts for rehab team the name and fax number of service providers receiving patient referrals.
• Documents discharge location for FIM.
• Provides information to patient and family regarding disability, its impact and coping strategies.
• Reinforces medical information provided by health care team to patient and family.
• Contacts family member about teaching if designated in team conference.
• Participates in weekly rehab team conferences.
• Effectively facilitates plans for continuing care services.

QUALITY

• Provides appropriate assessments and develops a social work plan of care for patients in his/her caseload.
• Plans, implements and evaluates interventions designed to assist patients with psychosocial and Care Management elements of healthcare.
• Performs accurate, age-appropriate and timely assessments within for caseload through chart review and interview with the patient and or caregiver.
• Assessments are holistic in nature and consistently address the patient's physical condition, psychosocial and emotional health, support systems, and financial resources and other environmental issues related to achieving desired outcomes.
• Accurately evaluates the progress of the patient/family as needed and with the health care team.
• Successfully and creatively employs negotiation skills to obtain the resources necessary to meet the established patient care needs.
• Constructively participates in EMMC committees, as appropriate.
• Recognize and intervene to address opportunities to improve delivery of services at EMMC as appropriate.
• Independently implements social work services in an accurate, safe and timely manner.
• Initiates or participates in development of proposals for new programs work processes, etc., designed to improve the delivery of services.
• Demonstrates accountability for job responsibilities and actions taken by being proactive and completing assignments thoroughly and in a timely manner.
• Seeks assistance/guidance and communicates directly with Supervisor when issues or needs for process changes are identified.
• Maintains knowledge of and participates in department and hospital wide performance improvement activities as requested.
• Utilizes available time to participate in QI, complete special projects as assigned.
• Uses work time in a professional and responsible manner.
• Completes annual I Care training per EMMC policy.
• Possesses knowledge of Social Work principles and practices.
• Possesses knowledge of community health, welfare, and social agencies.

FINANCE

• Works to avoid clinically unnecessary hospital days when facilitating discharges.
• Works with the healthcare team to promote continuous process improvement toward the goal of efficiency, cost effectiveness, and the highest level of clinical excellence.
• Maintains knowledge of and compliance with laws, regulations (federal and state).

GROWTH

• Seeks and engages in opportunities to advance own professional development (grand rounds, educational conferences, professional organization membership, committee participation, etc.).
• Keeps up-to-date with department activities by regularly reviewing posted communications and reviewing mail.
• Demonstrates flexibility/adaptability in work load and organizational changes.
• Attends all mandatory department and EMMC in-service training programs.
• Attends scheduled department meetings.
• Reads and Initials 100% of posted meeting minutes and/or mandatory memos.
• Obtains a minimum of 25 contact hours per/2 years. Four hours must be in the area of Social Work Ethics as required by Maine state licensing.

Competencies and Skills

• Behaves with Integrity and Builds Trust: Acts consistently in line with the core values, commitments and rules of conduct. Leads by example and tells the truth. Does what they say they will, when and how they say they will, or communicates an alternate plan.
• Cultivates Respect: Treats others fairly, embraces and values differences, and contributes to a culture of belonging, empowerment, and cooperation.
• Fosters Accountability: Creates and participates in a work environment where people hold themselves and others accountable for processes, results and behaviors. Takes appropriate ownership not only of successes but also mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. Demonstrates understanding that we all work as a team and the quality and timeliness of work impacts everyone involved.
• Practices Compassion: Exhibits genuine care for people and is available and ready to help; displays a deep awareness of and strong willingness to relieve the suffering of others.

Credentials

• Required Licensed Clinical Social Wkr

Education

• Required Bachelor's Degree

Working Conditions

• Potential exposure to abusive and/or aggressive people.
• Potential exposure to diseases or infections.
• Need to drive to perform responsible duties.
• Potential exposure to hazardous materials.
• Potential exposure to noise levels being uncomfortable.
• Potential exposure to noxious odors.
• Potential exposure to very hot or cold temperatures.
• Work with computers, typing, reading or writing.
• Lifting, moving and loading 20 to 30 pounds.
• Prolonged periods of sitting.
• Alternate shift schedules (day, evening, nights, weekends).
• Prolonged periods of standing.
• Prolonged periods of walking.

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center is a 411-bed, regional tertiary care hospital and an American College of Surgeons-verified Level II Trauma Center. Located in Bangor, Maine, it serves as the principal referral center for a patient population of 500,000 residents across the northern two-thirds of the state. The medical center provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, including advanced surgical care, neurosciences, cardiovascular medicine, oncology, and critical care.

Eastern Maine Medical Center is the base for LifeFlight of Maine, a critical care air medical transport program that conducts nearly 900 missions annually, ensuring timely access to specialized care for rural and remote communities. As a member of Northern Light Health, the medical center is part of an integrated statewide health system comprising nine hospitals, numerous primary and specialty care practices, long-term care facilities, home health and hospice agencies, and emergency ground and air transport services. This integrated model supports coordinated, patient-centered care across the continuum.

Eastern Maine Medical Center plays a central role in advancing clinical quality, operational efficiency, and health equity throughout the region. It is actively engaged in clinical education and serves as a training site for medical students, residents, and fellows through affiliations with academic and professional institutions.

Bangor, Maine offers a stable and supportive environment for healthcare professionals. The region is home to high-performing public and private schools, including the University of Maine’s flagship campus in Orono. Bangor International Airport provides convenient commercial air service with direct and connecting flights to major US hubs. The area also offers access to a wide range of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities, with outdoor activities available year-round in Maine’s forests, lakes, mountains, and coastal regions.

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center is a strategic hub for clinical excellence, innovation, and community health in northern New England.

Questions? Contact Talent Acquisition:

phone: 207-973-7100

email: talentacquisition@northernlight.org