Bereavement Care Provider, Medical Examiner’s Office

Posted by Philadelphia Department of Public Health on February 9, 2015

Department: Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Position Summary: The Bereavement Care Provider (BCP) is a part-time position based at the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) that is focused on the provision of serial home visits to families who have experienced the sudden, unexpected death of an infant. During home visits, the BCP will provide the grieving families with bereavement counseling as well as relevant case management. The BCP will work in close coordination with the Bereavement Care Coordinator but under the direction of the Fatality Review Program Medical Director. This position requires a high level of responsibility, integrity, and initiative.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide serial, in-home bereavement counseling sessions to Philadelphia families who have experienced the sudden, unexpected death of an infant;
• Provide telephonic follow-up with bereaved individuals as needed;
• Identify any bereavement, health-related or social service needs of grieving families and help connect them to the proper community resources;
• Complete all paper and computer documentation required for monthly and annual reports;
• Complete all tasks as assigned, including related duties not specified above.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Social and cultural factors that contribute to attitudes and behaviors common to trauma and grief;
• Principles, practices and techniques as they relate to working with parents, children and families within a community setting;
• Ability to observe, recognize, analyze and report on individual’s and families’ behavioral, attitudinal, emotional and social problems, and to help provide useful information and links for future support;
• Ability to function under the direct supervision of an administrative supervisor and within the scope and standards of the provision of bereavement care.

Minimum Acceptable Training and Experience

• Must have completed either (1) a Master of Social Work (or equivalent) degree at an accredited college or university or (2) a Bachelor of Social Work at an accredited college or university with a minimum of four years’ experience in clinical social work;
• Must be fluent in English and have an ability to clearly communicate information both orally and in writing;
• Must have sound computer skills and be experienced in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience providing grief-counseling services as well as having practiced clinically in a community or home-visiting environment is highly preferred.

Please Note:

• The BCP is a part-time position (20 hours/week) that pays $24/hour and is not eligible for benefits.
• This position requires the use of one’s own personal automobile and the maintenance of a valid car registration, car insurance, and driver’s license; the BCP will receive reimbursement for all miles driven during the course of visiting clients.
• This position requires the use of one’s own personal cell phone; the BCP will receive a flat-rate monthly reimbursement for the use of their phone.
• Since this position will involve frequent home visits, flexibility in work hour schedule is permissible; working from home, however, is not permissible.
• This job is not a civil service position but a contract position through Health Federation of Philadelphia; as a result, there is no Philadelphia residency requirement or need to take a civil service exam.
• All interested applicants should email a letter of interest along with a resume (and the names of three references) to Dr. Hoffman at roy.hoffman@phila.gov no later than February 10, 2015.
• Anticipated start date of the BCP will be in March 2015.

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/Xpc6JT94ksCp