Associate Director Psychosocial Services

Responsibilities:

• Contributes to the development of clinical programs and works collaboratively to achieve organizational objectives. The position reports directly to the Hospice Systems Director, working in support of meeting operational objectives. Supports Penn's mission of Patient and Family-centered care and ongoing professional development and expands beyond the traditional focus on medical/nursing needs to the needs of the whole person and their support network. Provides direction and leadership for the development and provision of high-quality psychosocial support to patients, families/caregivers by managing and providing effective, dynamic, and evolving psychosocial services. Supports Hospice Social Work, Chaplains, Bereavement, Music Therapy, and Volunteer programs and provides practice consult services to Penn Medicine Home Health and Palliative Care practice leadership. Informs and promotes interdisciplinary understanding of the psychological, social, spiritual, and bereavement needs of patients, families, and caregivers. Develops the psychosocial multi-professional team to be a point of reference for the wider team to differentiate psychosocial and welfare issues strategically. Identifies the needs of potential service users, is an effective agent of change, and works collaboratively within Penn and with community agencies in order to inform, plan, and prioritize a flexible multidisciplinary service to meet those needs. Provides direct supervision to the Senior Manager of Psychosocial Services to maximize the potential of chaplaincy services to ensure that the spiritual needs of patients, families, and caregivers are identified and addressed effectively Provides direct supervision as the manager, works with the Senior Manager Psychosocial Services, develops and adapts the volunteer training program; supervises and assists in volunteer recruitment, induction, and education/training to enhance and support psychosocial services provision. Oversees the administration of Camp Erin and the management of the David Bradley Child Bereavement Program and the Bereavement Coordinator working with grieving families Provides direct supervision to the Psychosocial Hospice Practice Specialist through direction, consultation, and overseeing the practice of the Practice Specialist. Evaluates staff performance through annual competency assessments and assist managers in providing practice assessments to support annual performance reviews. Develops the psychosocial skills of all staff, increases the skills of relevant clinical staff to offer an enhanced level of psychosocial care, and motivates staff to seek opportunities so that high standards of clinical care are achieved. Ensuring that standards of care reflect best practices in accordance with relevant statutory codes of conduct. Seeks financial opportunities of funding for specialty psychosocial programs (i.e. child bereavement, Camp Erin, music therapy, patient-specific programs) through grant applications and pursues opportunities through organizations and businesses to support psychosocial programs. Develop quality metrics and implement systems to provide the framework for continuous quality improvements in psychosocial services and contribute to efforts to improve and sustain patient/family satisfaction. Monitors program service evaluation and telephone and written correspondence and implements effective communication systems so that staff members are kept informed of current patient/family satisfaction and concerns; and promotes staff involvement in clinical and team activity. Monitors staff caseloads to ensure quality of services and provides assistance to staff in developing effective caseload management techniques to maintain timely and highest quality service to clients. Serves as a resource person to staff concerning community services and referrals; identifies resources to address patient, family, and caregiver problems in housing, counseling, medical assistance, and other areas. Participates in the Hospice IDG meetings. Monitors case activity and periodical review to ensure that appropriate services are provided, and referral sources are developed. Assist staff with patients, handle contacts with patients, families, and caregivers, and provide direct services as required.