CANSW

Renal Social Workers in Canada
Workload Experience Questionnaire

CANSW is conducting a survey of working conditions of Renal Social Workers across Canada. A previous survey was completed in 2008-2009 and the results led to the creation of the CANSW document Renal Social Work Staffing Recommendations by Treatment Modality (2009). We intend to update these recommendations. As a result, we seek to explore the impact of workload on the practice of renal social work and make recommendations to the membership as to appropriate and recommended staffing levels. All of the information gathered is intended to provide feedback to the membership and equip individual CANSW members to advocate for improvements. Please note that your responses to this survey are completely confidential and no information that could identify you individually will be used when the survey findings are collated and distributed. We hope to get information from as many renal social workers as possible so please share this with your Nephrology Social Work colleagues including those who are not currently CANSW members.

E-mail Address: *

Name of Organization

Geographic Region

Number of Full Time Social Workers in your renal program

Number of Part-time Renal Social Workers in your renal program

Number of years working in Renal

Professional designation of Renal Social Workers in your renal program

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

If there is more than one renal social worker in your program, who determines the distribution of workload and how?

Chronic Kidney Disease/Renal Clinic: # of patients stage 3-5

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

In-Centre Hemodialysis: # of patients (include self-care and satellite pts here)

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

Home Hemodialysis: # of patients

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: # of patients

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

Transplant Recipient assessments: # per year

Living donor assessments: # per year

Transplant Clinic/Follow up: # of patients

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

In-patient Nephrology/Transplant Unit(s); # of beds

Other: please specify
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

Patient populations served (ie. Pediatrics, First Nations) please list all:

Are you expected to assess and follow each patient indicated above

Yes
No

Are there any criteria or protocols that establish when Social Work gets involved with these patients

Yes
No

If yes, please comment

In your opinion, please rate patients overall access to Social Work.

Excellent
Good
Adequate
Fair
Poor

Model of Social Work Delivery: Please choose one of the following:

Primary Care Model (follow patient through all modalities)
Unit Specific Coverage (eg. Hemo only)
Other

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

Job Responsibilities:

Assessment
Advocacy
Advance Care Planning
Supervision of students/volunteers
Counseling (adjustment, bereavement, crisis, supportive, resource, trauma, individual, couple)
If outpatient program, provide inpatient renal social work service (eg. d/c planning)
Locating/Arranging Resources
Provide social work coverage in other areas (eg. Vacation)
Groups
Research
Education
Committees
Quality Initiatives
Program Development
Sexual Health
Staff Education and Community Engagement
Other

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

How many regular paid hours per week is your position (not including overtime)?

7-7.5 hrs/wk
17.5-22.5 hrs/wk
35-37.5 hrs/wk
Other

Other
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

Do you have access to clerical support on a regular basis

Yes
No

Do you have access to social work supervision

Yes
No

If yes, do you find this to be:

helpful/very helpful
somewhat helpful
not very helpful

Does your organization have a social work professional practice coordinator/lead

Yes
No

If yes, do you find this to be:

helpful/very helpful
somewhat helpful
not very helpful

In your department

I am expected to work evenings or weekends
I have control over the scheduling of your hours
I regularly work overtime
I get compensated in the form of pay if you work in an evening or weekend or overtime
I get compensated in the form of lieu time if you work overtime
Someone provides coverage for you when sick or on vacation
I have had difficulty getting your requested vacation time approved

Do you travel to satellite units

Yes
No
Not Applicable

If yes, how many satelites

If yes, average travel time

If yes

I am paid for travel time
I have access to program vehicle
I use my own personal vehicle, are you compensated for its use

If yes, at what rate per km

Does your employer pay for

CANSW Membership
Provincial Association/College fees
Local conference registrations
CANSW conference costs (incl travel/housing)
Other ie. Health Spending Account (discretionary)

If Other please explain
(if you clicked other directly above, please specify)

Overall, do you believe that your Renal Program employs a sufficient number of Renal Social Workers to complete the workload to an acceptable standard

Yes
No
Not Sure

Comments on above question

Do you have any other information you would like to provide or comments to offer

* Required

The CANSW Executive welcomes your responses to this questionnaire. All information received will be treated as strictly confidential. Please forward completed questionnaires to aleepaget@hsc.mb.ca or fax attention to Amanda LeePaget at 1 (204) 787-4535. Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Your feedback is invaluable and will help to inform CANSW's updated recommended staffing guidelines.