Social Services Department
Dedicated to protecting the vulnerable, strengthening families, and creating opportunities for every resident. Our Social Services Department doesn’t just help people survive — we help them thrive.
Overview
The Social Services Department of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services was created in 2004 out of the need to treat patients entirely by not only addressing their physical conditions, but also, their emotional and social needs as well. The department commenced with 2 social workers. The demand to assess the complex needs of patients and provide risk-focused care coordination and intervention to assist people with bio-psychosocial and functional issues impacting their medical care, adherence and physical health increased, and over 50 social workers have been trained and recruited across CBC health facilities and health programs to meet the needs of the people.
This department operates 24/7 and sees over 55.000 clients annually across the CBC Health Services facilities. We provide direct services to patients and their families/care givers aiming at minimizing the negative impacts of illness and hospitalization. We enhance social and emotional functioning through targeted interventions and the mobilization of services and supports.
Our main goal is to maximize patient health outcomes, overall wellbeing and quality of life by addressing the social, emotional and practical challenges that accompany illness and hospitalization, ensuring a holistic patient centered approach that goes beyond treating the physical illness.Â
Our services include but not limited to:
- Psychosocial assessment and counselling
- Psychoeducation
- Case management
- Advocacy
- Crisis interventions
- Adherence counseling
- Targeted interventions
- Resource connection and financial assistance
- Respond to trauma: Provide immediate support in cases of trauma, abuse or neglect.
- Working with protective services to ensure safety.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Bridge the gaps between teams
- Educate the healthcare team about the patient’s social situation, cultural background or psychological state that may affect treatment adherence
- Referrals
We see over 55,000 clients and handle over 65,000 cases annually
- Regular ward rounds, bedside psychosocial assessment and counselimg, targeted interventions, and documentation
- Provide the highest quality care and service to patients and families through our unique assessment and counseling expertise, organizational skills and knowledge of systems and resources.
- Provide leadership in the development of a plan of care, which takes into consideration the complex, psychological, social, environmental, and financial aspects of patient and family life situations.
- Promote and provide health maintenance and community support of patients and families.
- Educate health professionals about the impact of patient and family psychosocial factors in the delivery outcome of health care.
- Build interdisciplinary, inter-professional and inter-community collaborations that deliberately welcome the voices of those often excluded from health equity conversations.
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