Aftercare Social Worker

Job Summary:

As an integral member of the RMH Philadelphia Social Work team, the Aftercare Social Worker leads the development, implementation, and oversight of Aftercare Programming for families who have stayed at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. The Aftercare Social Worker coordinates the department’s aftercare initiatives and works in partnership with additional RMH social work staff in addressing families' ongoing needs after they return home. This includes providing emotional support, financial assistance, and resource navigation to families transitioning home after their child’s hospital care, as well as to families experiencing child loss. This position requires noted experience providing grief, bereavement, and emotional support services to individuals and families managing loss, trauma, or significant life transitions

The Aftercare Social Worker works collaboratively with all departments within RMH Philadelphia, as well as community partners and hospital staff, to best support families for up to a year following their stay.

Schedule: M-F, hours vary, availability on nights and weekends is occasionally required, on-call rotation is required

• This position supports the day-to-day and on-call responsibilities of the in-House Social Work department
• Must be willing and able to travel between RMH Philadelphia locations and other locations using personal vehicle or alternative.
• Our locations are easily accessible by public transportation and have private parking available onsite
• Team leaders are able to provide supervision toward licensure at no cost
• CEU financial support is available

Essential Duties:

• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director of Family Support Services, UPenn, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers to implement the results of a recently completed qualitative research study that identified family priorities and gaps in support.
• Manage all aspects of the Aftercare Programming within the Social Work Department, including program implementation, participant follow-up, and data tracking, while partnering with social workers across the department in fulfilling aftercare duties.
• Develop and implement mechanisms for assessing the efficacy of the Aftercare Program.
• Lead the provision of ongoing support to identified families for the Social Work Department for up to a year after they leave RMH Philadelphia to ensure a smooth and supportive transition back home.
• Assess the needs of aftercare families and connect them to existing resources for financial and emotional support.
• Forge and maintain relationships with outside providers to strengthen aftercare referral pathways.
• Lead the provision of grief/bereavement support for the Social Work Department to families experiencing child loss. This includes providing acute emotional support, sending customized cards and care packages, connecting families to grief resources within the first of year of the child’s death, and collaborating with social workers across the department in fulfilling these aftercare duties
• Coordinate financial assistance for eligible families who demonstrate need after returning home
• Keep up with current trends in community resources and family needs to ensure that aftercare programming is inclusive, accessible, and effective for families across different medical diagnoses and home locations
• Co-facilitate Oncology Family Camp programming, including annual weekend retreat and virtual caregiver support groups
• Facilitate in-person and virtual support groups and workshops to nurture peer connections among families during their stay and when they return home
• Co-facilitate House programs that benefit former families, including Thanksgiving meal donations, holiday gift donations, and year-round events and programs.
• Implement and maintain aftercare programming documentation in an accurate and timely manner
• As an integral part of the Social Work department, work collaboratively with House Social Workers to provide supportive and culturally competent social work services to the diverse families at RMH Philadelphia
• Assist in providing Welcome Meetings, emotional support, financial support, resource navigation, crisis intervention, and all other social work practices within the department
• Communicate with hospital social workers on an ongoing basis to take referrals, get medical updates, and collaborate on family needs
• Provide On-Call coverage to support families and House Operations team during after-hours and overnight shifts

Qualifications:

• MSW required, license preferred
• 2 -5 years of social work experience, preferably in a medical setting or with families coping with illness
• 1-3 years of experience providing grief, bereavement, and emotional support services to individuals and families managing loss, trauma, or significant life transitions
• Bilingual, English/Spanish a plus

Competencies:

• Demonstrated competence in providing social work services to families navigating complex child medical diagnoses and/or experiencing traumatic stress, including parent support groups and grief/bereavement support
• Basic understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods and ability to use research software to support data collection, data analysis, and program evaluation
• Experience in creating, enhancing, and evaluating social service programs that address the needs of individuals, families, or communities
• Experience working with a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to communicate effectively and desire to work with persons of diverse backgrounds
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to understand medical terminology
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office - Outlook, Word & Excel
• Bilingual, Spanish speaking preferred

Physical Abilities: The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Moderate sedentary office work. Frequently required to sit and spend a moderate amount of time on the computer
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel; talk or hear
• Must be physically capable of carrying up to 25 lbs.

Benefits: 

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 

Paid Time Off

Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) 

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program 

Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

401(K) Retirement Plan (based on eligibility requirements)

English/Spanish a plus