Week 8 - Hospital administration & unpredictable schedules - Roles and area of social work



Middlemore Hospital have numerous different areas of social work that work as part of a multi-discplinary team that bring together the expertise skills of different professionals to assess, plan and manage joint care. Alongside, Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapist, Dieticians, Occupational therapist, Pharmacist, Speech language therapist and Psychologist.

  • Medical wards
  • Surgical wards
  • Women's health
  • Maternity
  • Pediatrics
  • Renal medicine
  • Emergency department
  • Cancer psychological support
  • National burns unit
  • Assessment and treatment rehabilitation center
  • Center for youth health
  • Child development community services
  • Community health teams
  • Auckland spinal rehabilitation unit
  • Māori Health Te Kahui Ora
  • Pacifica Health Fanu Ola
A social workers role and responsibility is to support whanau with:
  • Supportive counselling - grief and loss, impact of hospitalization, lifestyle changes, adjustment to newly diagnosed status and traumatic births.
  • Care and protection of children
  • Discharge planning
  • Trauma - accident, amputations, acute presentation of illness
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Family violence/Intimate partner violence
  • Suicide
  • Terminal illness - palliative care
  • Death
  • Drugs and alcohol
  • Conflict resolution - problem solving
  • Family/Carer stress
  • Frequent admissions.

During my observation in the hospital, I identified that every day presented with unique challenges, particularly as it functions as a National Burns Unit serving all of New Zealand. This unit caters to high-risk patients requiring specialized support, covering the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), pediatric (children’s) ward, and adult surgical wards. The severity of burn injuries can range from 1% to 100% of the body.

Patient prioritization is based on individual needs, as unpredictable burn cases can arrive at any time. Social workers must be prepared to respond swiftly, checking patient histories and liaising with the police and Oranga Tamariki when necessary.

Priority 1: Patients requiring travel assistance are coordinated with their home regions to facilitate this support. Additionally, new patients in the wards are assessed promptly by social workers.

Priority 2: Patients who have already been seen by a social worker and require follow-up are prioritized, with a turnaround time of three-five days for check-ins.

Priority 3: Patients expected to remain hospitalized for an extended period but who do not require immediate support are placed in this category.

All burn patients are seen by a social worker, and an assessment is conducted to identify any risks. Collaboration with psychologists is essential in developing a comprehensive care plan for each patient. I observed that the Burns Unit employs a task-centered approach, assisting patients with medical certificates for MSD (Ministry of Social Development), travel assistance, and organizing food parcels. I also utilized my connections within the community to support whānau upon their discharge. 

All administrative tasks are completed after visits, requiring thorough documentation in the system. The team employs a biopsychosocial model to ensure the capture of critical information regarding injury history, family dynamics, financial circumstances, safety planning, and emotional needs. This experience underscored the importance of information gathering, which varies across different roles. In my current position, assessments depend on family engagement, so I have found that asking questions through the lens of whanaungatanga provides a broader understanding of how we can better assist whānau. 

Additionally, ensuring that my administrative work is clear, concise, and completed time is essential. These practices align with the values and guidelines of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW), which emphasize cultural competence, respect for individuals, and the importance of timely, accurate documentation to promote ethical and effective practice.


Comments

  1. Elias Martis1 December 2024 at 03:09

    Good reflections. Roles of professional social workers are critiqued well. Analysing their roles through the definition of social work/worker by IFSW/ANZASW would have added value.

    ReplyDelete

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