Family Services Coordinator (Counselor/Social Worker/Bereavement) Greater New Haven area - New England Donor Services

Come join our team and become part of what the Boston Globe has recognized as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts 2018 - 2023! 

Saving lives through organ and tissue donation is the mission uniting our employees and drives the work we do. 

New England Donor Services (NEDS) coordinates organ and tissue donation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, the eastern counties of Vermont and Bermuda. Responsible for one of the largest of the 56 Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) that make up the nation’s donation system, NEDS works with over 200 hospitals and serves nearly 15 million people in our region, screening nearly 55,000 potential donor referrals annually. With approximately $110M in operating revenues, NEDS employs 348 clinical and non-clinical staff members throughout New England and across the country.

Our vision is to be a leader in the development and implementation of strategies to increase the life-saving and life-enhancing gifts of organ and tissue donation through effective relationships with our clinical partners, donor families and the communities we serve.

Are you a compassionate individual that enjoys meaningful work, being part of a team, working through challenges and making a positive difference in people’s lives? If so, we want to connect with you!

As a Family Services Coordinator you will provide support and guidance to family members of trauma patients and discuss end-of-life decision options, including organ and tissue donation.

The Family Services Coordinator (FSC) is an empathetic, respectful and skilled professional dedicated to the NEDS mission of saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation. The FSC assists hospitals 365 days a year to support collaborative donation processes (CDP) to ensure that all potential donor families are offered the opportunity for donation. FSCs fulfill a call schedule that provides coverage to the entire NEDS service area.

• Fulfills an on-call schedule, including some weekends and holidays. 
• Responds to new and open referrals in hospitals to offer donor families the opportunity for organ and tissue donation.
• May conduct donation discussions by phone as appropriate.
• Through education, helps donor families to understand and accept the diagnosis of death as described by the primary care physician.
• In the absence of donor designation, assesses the patient’s legal next-of-kin’s readiness to engage in a discussion for the opportunity of organ and tissue donation.
• Advocates for donation while being respectful of cultural and/or religious beliefs.
• Maintains an individual authorization rate that demonstrates best practice skills in obtaining authorization. 
• Completes all required documentation regarding approach and authorization.
• Provides initial follow up to donor family after donation.
• Carries out other duties as deemed appropriate by the Senior Director, Family Services, Manager, Family Services or designee.

Administrative:

• Participates in required meetings and trainings if not responding to a case.
• Checks email at least daily unless on planned benefit time.
• Completes assigned trainings within defined timelines.

Schedule:
The schedule for this position is 12 on-call shifts per month. Shifts begin at 0600 and end at 2400 (18 hour shifts). In some instances, the Coordinator may be required to remain on-site past 2400 depending on case dynamics and clinical activity. 

Please note: Will be required to travel a significant amount throughout New England. Mileage and other reimbursements available.

Ideal candidate lives in the Greater New Haven, CT area

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES – ALL LEVELS:

• Ability to work empathetically, compassionately and professionally with families in crisis, to provide education on organ and tissue donation, and to advocate for donation while being respectful of individual family circumstances. 
• Ability to develop effective professional relationships, possess superior communication skills, and demonstrated ability to quickly understand the culture and dynamic of an organization and/or situation and work effectively within it.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret donor medical records. 
• Ability to conduct and document medical/social histories. 
• Strong clinical assessment and crisis intervention skills.
• Computer skills in Word, Excel, Outlook and the ability to learn NEDS’ internal systems including but not limited to True North. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – ALL LEVELS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work, health sciences or related field; or significant equivalent experience in another OPO.
• Experience in hospice care, bereavement counseling, pastoral counseling, crisis intervention or social work preferred.
• Previous hospital experience preferred.

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE – ALL LEVELS: 

• CPE, Social Work License preferred.
• Required to travel by personal vehicle to meet the duties and responsibilities of this position. Must maintain the requirements of an “eligible driver” including maintaining an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) and required minimum personal automobile insurance per NEDS automobile policy.
• Valid state driver’s license required. 

What You’ll Be a Part Of:

You will be part of a team that supports the NEDS mission, to Save and Heal Lives, through the gift of Organ and Tissue Donation.  As an NEDS employee, our benefits include:

• Generous paid time-off program
• Health, Dental, Vision, and Mental Health insurance coverage
• 2x Annual Salary Life Insurance
• Fertility Benefits
• LGBTQIA+ Focused Healthcare Programs
• Flex Spending Account Options
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Organizational Contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Working Advantage discounts Program.
• Personal career and skill development opportunities

You can also participate in Corporate sponsored events  like the annual Blue & Green Walk, Community Volunteering opportunities, Organization-wide team-building outings, and more!

HIRING ALERT: NEDS is actively taking precautions to protect our community, staff and partners during this time of medical emergency due to COVID-19. In order to be employed at NEDS, you must be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19. 

When you join New England Donor Services, you can expect competitive salaries and a great benefit package. Benefits include BCBS Health Insurance, BCBS Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance,2x Annual Salary Life Insurance, Fertility Benefits, LGBTQIA+ Focused Healthcare Programs, Flexible Spending Account, Short-term Disability Coverage, Long-term Disability Coverage, 403b Retirement Contribution, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Pet Insurance, Discounts through Working Advantage and a generous Paid Time-off Program.

We also proudly offer inclusive benefits to support the health and wellbeing of our workforce, including comprehensive health care for the LGBTQIA+ community, and personalized inclusive fertility and family-forming benefits.

Grow your career at NEDS! Take advantage of additional benefits like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, mentorship program, Employee Resource Group (ERG) – that provide opportunities and encourage our staff to grow professionally.  

New England Donor Services is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from underrepresented background to apply to meet the needs of the multicultural and multilingual communities we serve.