Medical Setting Social Work Services

Target Group:

In-patients in hospitals, out-patients in clinics, chronic patients in PRC/HRC

and their families

Nature and Purpose of Services 1. psychosocial assessment 2. counselling 3. organization of educational,

supportive, self-help, and therapeutic group and programmes

4. referrals for practical assistance (e.g. CSSA, residential services etc.)

5. discharge planning and follow-up service

6. empirical research 7. consultation with other health-care

professionals 8. advocacy of patients’ rights and

mobilization of community resources

Counselling and casework service

Adjustment to illness and disability

Family problems Family violence Bereavement Care-management for

psychiatric patients

Tangible service

Medical waiver CSSA DA/OAA Trust fund and special grant Residential placement Referral and information on

other specialized homes and shelters

Rehab. plan

Rehab. plan devised among pt., family members, medical team and social worker

Discharge planning Referral of community resources

e.g. home help, day care centre, supportive group, recreational activities and volunteer services

Outreaching service

Outreaching teams: Geriatric outreaching team and psychiatric outreaching team

Statutory service

Mental Health Ordinance Court report Care and protection of children

Group service

Therapeutic group, supportive group, mutual help group for patient and caregivers

Programme for patient or family Community educational

programme

Special Projects

Patient Resource Centre Adolescent and Medical Centre,

QEH Cancer Centre Hospice Care Unit

PRC/ Cancer Centre/Hospice Care Unit 1. To provide service to patients

and relatives in the diagnosis, treatment , pre-discharge,

rehab. and terminally ill phases

2. To enhance self-help and mutual help capacity among patients and their carers

PRC/ Cancer Centre/Hospice Care Unit 3. To enable the optimal use of

available resources in improving the life of patients through referral and networking

4. To mobilize volunteers among professional groups and the

community to assist in patient care

Disease Types served

Different types of cancer, different types of psyhciatric illnesses, cardiac disease, renal failure, diabetes, asthma, COPD, anaemia, brain damage, burn, pain etc.

Nature and fieldwork assignment

Casework is predominant in MSS unit

Group and programmes are the usual practices in PRC/Cancer Centres and Hospice Care Unit

Special clinics like AMC, emphases both

Special features

Multi-disciplinary approach Cases are illness-related and require

tangible services Group: psycho-educational,

supportive, therapeutic, innovative practices

Volunteer training and collaboration Community networking Empowerment

Requirements:

Willing and able to work / communicate in inter-disciplinary team

Document progress, assessment and intervention efficiently

Mature, work independently, may handle crisis situations

Willing and able to learn medical related knowledge on specific illness and its impact

Requirements

Be prepared to familiarize with community resources and referral procedures

Understand the current development of the medical policy (e g clustering, fee charging, standard drug formulary, Medical Reform, subsidies and funding etc)

Requirements

Must attend Infection control training

Able to work at day-time