Clinical Oncology Social Worker

Oregon Health & Science University•Portland, OR

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Oncology Clinical Social Worker (OCSW) is a mental/behavioral health clinician who operates as a core member of a multi-disciplinary oncology team. The OCSW offers social work intervention through direct treatment and/or coordination of needed services to patients and/or their families experiencing psychosocial adjustment difficulties associated with illness, injury, disability, and related hospitalization. Interventions may include: biopsychosocial assessment, brief supportive counseling, care coordination, information/resource referrals, crisis intervention, and patient/support person(s) advocacy. The primary goal of the intervention is to assist patients in achieving maximum physical and psychosocial functioning, using evidence-based interventions targeted at improving health and well-being for a variety of patients. The OCSW also provides mental health support for patient’s support person(s) as they navigate adjustment to the patient’s illness, advanced care planning, palliative care needs, and other difficult decisions related to cancer diagnosis/care, also providing grief/bereavement support when appropriate. The OCSW will participate in department and clinical team meetings. The OCSW will practice in accordance with performance standards, ethical principles, and NASW/AOSW core values with a commitment to service excellence. The OCSW may participate in or provide professional education programs within the agency and community, may provide supervision to social work interns, and may provide social work consultation to community agencies. Patient and Family Services Department (PFS) is committed to providing an open and equitable recruitment process with the goal of recognizing diverse work and lived experience that will contribute to responsive patient-centered care and effective patient advocacy within the institution. PFS strives for a department that reflects the diversity of the community served by the Knight Cancer Institute and welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives. The Oncology Clinical Social Worker (OCSW) supports patients at the Center for Health and Healing, building 2 and Radiation Medicine at Kohler Pavilion on the main OHSU campus who have experienced a solid tumor cancer diagnosis or hematology diagnosis. Social workers in this role will support adult cancer patients under the care of a physician at the Knight Cancer Institute. The OCSW will complete assessments, provide resources, and offer emotional/behavioral support for patients receiving oncology services, radiation treatment, and infusions. The OCSW may attend tumor boards, multi-disciplinary clinics, and disease specific team meetings both virtually and in-person. Additionally, some roles will require more extensive evaluations including the HAIP Psychosocial Assessment and Caregiver assessments for certain treatments. Individuals will be expected to cross-cover other team members during planned and unplanned absences within the work unit. Individuals may meet with patients and/or their support persons in exam rooms, consult rooms, infusion spaces, virtually, or by phone.

Requirements

A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required.
Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.
Healthcare experience
Experience in behavioral/mental health counseling and application of brief, short-term therapy strategies.
Clinical behavioral health skills including mental health assessment acumen and short-term counseling skills.
Crisis Intervention skills
Effective communication skills, including conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated understanding of Trauma informed and patient-centered care.
Ability to practice with minimal supervision using sound clinical judgement.
Demonstrated knowledge of anti-oppressive practices.

Nice To Haves

Health care experience preferred.
Licensed in Washington
2 years Oncology Social Work Experience
Experience as a behavioral health clinician in a healthcare setting
Bilingual/Second language proficiency
Bicultural Experience working with diverse identity populations.

Responsibilities

Conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients/support person(s) to identify needs and areas of support, including but not limited to: adjustment to cancer diagnosis, care coordination, mental health status, barriers to treatment process, substance use, child or elder abuse/neglect, intimate partner violence concerns, financial concerns, and resource needs.
Participates in treatment team meetings or care conferences as the behavioral health clinician to support treatment planning.
Refers patient/support person(s) to resources within and outside of the hospital for assistance (i.e. financial, housing, transportation, insurance, prescription assistance, etc.).
Acts as an advocate for patients within the medical setting and the community.
Maintains knowledge of community resources for oncology patients.
May interact with the oncology social work specialist for assistance.
Provides brief short-term, evidence-based clinical behavioral health interventions to patients and/or their support person(s) in health care settings.
Works to coordinate transition to long-term counseling support in the community for patients requiring long-term follow-up.
Provides counseling to reinforce patients’ strengths and assist them in coping with a cancer diagnosis.
Counsels patients to assist them in decisions related to treatment options and educates patients regarding anticipated social or emotional impacts of treatment.
May participate in urgent situations by providing crisis intervention services to patients and/or their support person(s).
May also conduct group work including support group facilitation to patients, caregivers, and/or staff.
Participates in department and clinical team meetings.
Practices in accordance with performance standards, ethical principles, and NASW/AOSW core values with a commitment to service excellence.
May participate in or provide professional education programs within the agency and community.
May provide supervision to social work interns.
May provide social work consultation to community agencies.
Completes assessments, provides resources, and offers emotional/behavioral support for patients receiving oncology services, radiation treatment, and infusions.
May attend tumor boards, multi-disciplinary clinics, and disease specific team meetings both virtually and in-person.
May require more extensive evaluations including the HAIP Psychosocial Assessment and Caregiver assessments for certain treatments.
Expected to cross-cover other team members during planned and unplanned absences within the work unit.
May meet with patients and/or their support persons in exam rooms, consult rooms, infusion spaces, virtually, or by phone.