To be an active member in the multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive social work services to the Cancer Center; including assessment, treatment planning, intervention, and referral in order to positively impact patient and family outcomes. Uses clinical knowledge to facilitate/coordinate referrals to outside agencies for financial and/or medical needs as directed.
Requirements:
Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) is required.
Experience: Recent relevant clinical experience related to the medical field, community mental health, or Medicaid/Social Services preferred.
Other: Ability to interact effectively and pleasantly via phone and face-to-face with a diverse population. Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communicative skills. Demonstrated ability to maintain professional composure under pressure. Demonstrated excellent organizational skills. Ability to multi-task effectively. Working knowledge of computers. Independent mobility to visit patient care areas/locations, and carry all materials, forms and resource manuals necessary in working with patients. Ability to chart by computer.
Ability to work independently as well as with a team. Ability to organize work and to prioritize a high number of referrals/assessments on a daily basis. Have developed skills in the areas of initiative, motivation, judgment, and decision making, active learning, active listening, problem identification, information gathering, creativity, troubleshooting, charting, confidentiality, boundaries, and time management. Preferred knowledge areas include knowledge of human behavior, sociology (knowledge of individual/group behaviors and dynamics, diverse cultures, values, and ethnicity), philosophy (knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices), and knowledge of local and state resources available to patients under the care of Metro.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Provide psychosocial counseling to patients and family members in need of support and intervention in the outpatient setting.
- Communicate and collaborate with the financial counselor, dietitian, patient navigator, survivorship coordinator, pharmacy and reimbursement department to minimize duplication of effort/services and ensure a seamless coordination of services.
- Effectively manage a caseload high in number without compromise in attitude or interactions with colleagues, patients and families.
- Serve as a patient advocate to access resources identified to address medical needs.
- Utilize community resources to assist in linking/referring patients and families to appropriate, available community resources to assist with financial needs and medical needs (such as PT, OT, nursing services, nursing home referrals, hospice, counseling services, dietician referrals, etc).
- Document all, interventions, outcomes, referrals, and services provided.
- Function as a team member by expanding his/her responsibilities as directed by management to facilitate optimal workflow within the cancer center.
- Communicates and interacts with peers and other departments in a manner that is viewed as having a positive effect on patient services staff morale. Interacts effectively with patients/family members and demonstrates sensitivity in regards to cultural diversity, age specific needs and confidentiality.
