1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Medical/Health - What is your job title?
Social Worker - Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I work for a hospice home care organization that employs 100+ employees. It is umbrelled under a local 400 bed hospital.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
2 years - How many hours do you work a week on average?
40 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
40 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
Complete psychosocial assessments of patients and their families. Provide supportive counseling to help them adjust to illness, disability and terminiality. Make referrals to community resources. Provide training to other disciplines on team on family dynamics, stress, grief.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
42000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
42000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
80 vacation, 40 hours sick, health insurance - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
under
2. Work environment!
- Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
My job requires that I not only deal with patients and their families, but also other team members as well as community organizations. I enjoy working with others.
- Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes - Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes - Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it
It is a team environment.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 4 Income
- 3 Work Environment - co-workers
- 2 Work Environment - supervisors
- 7 Benefits
- 5 Hours
- 6 Level of responsibility
- 1 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 8 Job Title
3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours?
- If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
They would need at least a Masters degree in social work. Usually would need 1-3 years in other health care setting, such as nursing home.
- What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)
Would need to be organized yet flexible. You need to "plan" for crisis, however, there is a triage mentality. You can never plan to far ahead. Obviously, great communication and listening skills as well as empathy.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Need at least a Masters - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Make sure that you are not using this work to get your emotional needs met. Too many go into this field to be viewed as an "angel" and subsequently end up depending on the patient rather than other way around
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
Newspaper search - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
Submitted resume and paper application. Had three individual interviews and one team interview. - Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)
See above. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
They asked my style within a team setting, sometime I had made a mistake at work and what I learned from it. They also asked about my personal experiences with death and dying. - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
Yes - If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Reviewing manuals, attending meetings, doing "ride alongs" with other team members. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes, spent an inordinate amount of time in orientation even though I had experience.. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes and no. Most grad. programs do not address the needs of the dying. - If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?
6. The Future and Beyond (FINAL SECTION)
- If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?
The relationship and commoradity with the other team members. - What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)
Most fulfilling is helping people in time of need. Most frustrating is when people need financial assistance and none is available. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
I would like to eventually have administrative position. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
Would like to work in program development or quality assurance. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
It is not for the weak at heart!
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
Drive to work. I have a one hour commute - 8 am - 9 am
Check voice mail messages. Receive update from on call nurses on what transpired night before. - 9 am - 10 am
Finish paperwork from previous days visits. Take phone calls from families. - 10 am - 11 am
Worked on helping patient receive Medicaid. Had to call Social Services three times, and placed on hold for total of 35 minutes. Also, called patients to schedule visits. - 11 am - 12 am
30 minutes travel time to patients house. Met with new patient to complete psychosocial assessment - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
1/2 hour lunch break. 20 minute travel time to next patients home. - 2 pm - 3 pm
Met with preexisting patient regarding funeral plans. Wife very tearful. Spent much time comforting her and actively listening. - 3 pm - 4 pm
Worked on helping patient receive Medicaid. Had to call Social Services three times, and placed on hold for total of 35 minutes. Also, called patients to schedule visits. - 4 pm - 5 pm
Received phone call from bereaved family member. Listened and offered emotional support - 5 pm - 6 pm
Home!! - 6 pm - 7 pm
- 7 pm - 8 pm
- 8 pm - 9 pm
- 9 pm - 10 pm
- 10 pm - 11 pm
- 11 pm - 12 pm