Social workers provide assessments, counselling, information, and education. Social workers also organize communication with other healthcare professionals to assist patients and substitute decision makers with important decisions related to their care and align with their values and wishes.
Some of the ways that social workers can help include:
- Counselling patients and families and/or care partners as they adjust to changes resulting from diagnosis, illness, or hospitalization.
- Addressing grief, stress or conflict.
- Assisting with arrangements for infant loss (e.g., paperwork, practical matters, etc.)
- Preparing for hospital admission, discharge, outpatient clinic or treatment.
- Organizing family and/or care partner meetings and case conferences.
- Connecting to services provided within the hospital or in the community.
- Supporting families and/or care partners to obtain financial assistance, accommodation or home support services.
- Assisting families and/or care partners to connect to health education and support groups.
- Helping to make sure patients' voices are heard as part of their treatment team.
- Completing paperwork – referrals, grant applications, etc.
- People may be referred to other services if their needs fall outside of the social workers’ scope of practice.
Social workers are guided by LHSC values that put patients, caregivers and the health care staff and teams at the centre of everything they do. These values are compassion, accountability, teamwork and curiosity.
Through their empathetic approach, social workers cultivate a culture of compassion by providing emotional support and understanding to patients and their families during challenging times.
Their commitment to accountability is demonstrated through thorough assessments and interventions, ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate and effective care.
Social workers excel in teamwork, collaborating with healthcare professionals to address the multifaceted needs of individuals and communities.
Additionally, their curiosity drives them to continuously explore innovative solutions and advocate for social justice, contributing to a holistic and inclusive healthcare environment.
Overall, social workers are integral to enhance the quality of care and foster a compassionate and collaborative healthcare community.
