hospital social worker

Hospital social workers provide counselling to patients and their families helping them to better cope with the illness, the emotions surrounding diagnosis, and with social and financial problems. They work in cooperation with doctors, nurses and other health professionals sensitising them on the emotional aspects of a patient. They act as link between patients and medical staff. Hospital social workers also support the patients and their families with the discharge from the hospital.

Alternative Labels

hospital discharge social worker

medical social worker

palliative care social worker

public health social worker

social worker

social worker, palliative care

Regulatory Aspect

To see if and how this occupation is regulated in EU Member States, EEA countries or Switzerland please consult the Regulated Professions Database of the Commission. Regulated Professions Database:

http://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/services/free-movement-professionals/qualifications-recognition_en

Skills & Competences

Essential Skills and Competences

accept own accountability address problems critically adhere to organisational guidelines advocate for healthcare users' needs advocate for social service users apply anti-oppressive practices apply case management apply crisis intervention apply decision making within social work apply holistic approach within social services apply organisational techniques apply person-centred care apply problem solving in social service apply quality standards in social services apply socially just working principles arrange in-home services for patients assess social service users' situation build helping relationship with social service users communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields communicate with social service users comply with legislation related to health care conduct interview in social service consider social impact of actions on service users contribute to protecting individuals from harm cooperate at inter-professional level deliver social services in diverse cultural communities demonstrate leadership in social service cases develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship develop professional identity in social work develop professional network empower social service users follow health and safety precautions in social care practices have computer literacy involve service users and carers in care planning listen actively maintain records of work with service users make legislation transparent for users of social services manage ethical issues within social services manage social crisis manage stress in organisation meet standards of practice in social services negotiate with social service stakeholders negotiate with social service users organise social work packages plan social service process prevent social problems promote inclusion promote service users' rights promote social change protect vulnerable social service users provide social counselling provide support to social services users refer social service users relate empathetically report on social development review social service plan tolerate stress undertake continuous professional development in social work work in a multicultural environment in health care work in multidisciplinary health teams work within communities

Essential Knowledge

company policies crisis intervention health care system legal requirements in the social sector social justice social sciences social work theory

Optional Skills and Competences

assess the development of youth evaluate older adults' ability to take care of themselves prepare youths for adulthood promote the safeguarding of young people support children's wellbeing support social service users at the end of life support the positiveness of youths support traumatised children

Optional Knowledge

adolescent psychological development older adults' needs psychological counselling methods therapy in health care

Concept URI

Concept Uri

http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/738257d3-7e56-4745-9b2e-014e60d41d48

Status

released

Occupations