Social Worker

Michael Garron Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and St. Michael’s Hospital jointly will form a Bariatric Centre of Excellence (BCoE) in the Greater Toronto Area. This BCoE will focus on delivering comprehensive, high quality and patient-centred bariatric surgical care operating in a hospital partnership model. To become a BCoE, these hospitals will develop a Regional Assessment and Treatment Centre (RATC) at Providence Healthcare, which is part of the newly created network with St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital. The RATC will prepare patients for bariatric surgery at the surgical institutions. The aim of the model is to:

- Increase availability of bariatric surgical services to communities
- Enhance access to care for Ontarians
- Contribute to reducing patient wait times for bariatric surgery
- Enhance transitions in care

Like BCoEs across the province, this model will consist of a hospital-based RATC which is responsible for assessment and subsequent referral of eligible patients for weight reduction surgery.

The hospital partners are committed to the continued membership of the Ontario Bariatric Network. The partners will continue to be reliable collectors of required data consistent with the RATC and BCoE, will be active participants in the OBN activities and contributors to the vision of the OBN.

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To provide psychosocial assessment of and social work services to patients enrolled in the Bariatric Centre of Excellence Assessment Centre and their families in accordance with the Mission, Philosophy and Values of Unity Health Toronto.

**MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Provide psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, discharge planning and counselling to patients/families in accordance with Social Work Clinical Practice protocols/standards as well as develop and facilitate appropriate intervention plans utilizing a variety of treatment modalities.
- Responsible for overseeing and developing the program’s peer support program
- Facilitate educational and support group classes
- Required to be an active member of the Bariatric Program’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee
- Act as a liaison, assist patients and staff with community resources and facilitate their effective use
- Working collaboratively with discharge planning and patient flow across the patient care continuum
- Act as a liaison with other programs, departments and patients to access community resources
- Works as a member of the health care team and actively participates in discussion and decisions making with the appropriate Interprofessional team.
- Able to manage a diverse caseload and program assignment as assigned within the program.
- Provide professional support, education and training to other team members in their work with patients and their families.
- To participate with Professional Practice Leader, Social Work and peers in professional practice planning and implementation and evaluation in a manner which ensures innovative, creative and current professional practice in meeting patient needs.

**QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS REQUIRED**:

- Master of Social Work degree from an accredited school of social work and eligibility for affiliation with professional associations (Ontario Association of Social Workers and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers).
- Knowledge of and experience in social work practice in a health care environment preferably with expertise in working with adults and their families and knowledge of the associated problems of obesity.
- Ability to execute early problem and need identification through professional assessments and skillful implementation of all planned social work interventions in cooperation with the patient, his/her family, interdisciplinary team and community resources.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and cooperatively within an interdisciplinary team.
- Demonstrated organizational skills to set clinical and non-clinical priorities in a fast paced environment.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the needs of a diverse community and ability to mobilize community resources and build partnerships.
- Strong advocacy skills.
- Ability to work with individuals, families and groups.
- Experience with/ability to lead and facilitate group and information sessions.
- Experience with motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioural therapy.
- Experience with a Patient and Family Advisory Committee/Peer Support preferred.
- Experience in ambulatory care and/or bariatric care preferred.
- Experience in acute and/or sub-acute care, patient navigation is an asset.
- Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication skills (oral and written) facilitating effective communication with patients, peers, other healthcare team members and volunteers.
- Demonstrates Patient, Family Centred care approaches and engages in reflective practice.
- Demonstrated motivation for ongoing professional development through continuo