Ambulatory Clinical Social Worker: Massey Cancer Center Adult Outpatient Oncology

VCU Health•Richmond, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Social Worker 3 (MSW) provides direct care to patients and families and helps coordinate services delivered by the care team. Responsibilities include completing psychosocial assessments, developing treatment plans aligned with the overall health care plan, providing psychosocial interventions, educating patients, families, staff, and social work students, supporting treatment compliance, connecting patients with community services, and coordinating discharge planning. This ambulatory oncology social worker works with interdisciplinary teams at Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Stony Point 9000 building, supporting adult patients receiving radiation oncology, breast cancer, or survivorship treatment. The role helps patients adjust to diagnosis, identifies and addresses social determinants of health that create barriers to treatment adherence, and engages patients in advance care planning and supportive counseling. The social worker is part of a team supporting adult oncology patients across the service line. Successful team members enjoy teamwork, educate others about social work’s role in interdisciplinary care, understand oncology-specific psychosocial challenges, and build relationships with teams and patients to manage their caseload effectively. Work hours are normal business hours, Monday through Friday, with major holidays off with PTO. There is no on-call or weekend expectation for this assignment. Business casual attire is expected. The Health System follows CDC guidelines for hand hygiene and fingernail care. Depending on unit assignment, alternate schedules, alternate unit assignments (including other clinical locations), weekend or holiday work, and call may be required. The position may supervise social work students on a voluntary basis and, depending on unit assignment, students from other disciplines.

Requirements

Master of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program.
At least three years of clinical social work experience, including at least one year in a specialty practice area.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia is preferred for hire.
Ability to initiate interventions and referrals based on identified patient and family needs.
Strong recall, reasoning, problem-solving, hearing, clear speech, legible writing, reading, and logical thinking.
Ability to handle multiple priorities, frequent and intense customer interactions, a fast- or steady-paced environment, noisy environments, and frequent change.
Depending on unit assignment, ability to work alternate schedules, weekends or holidays, take call, and work at alternate clinical locations.
Physical requirements include lifting less than 20 pounds; prolonged standing and sitting; frequent bending; walking; and overhead, extensive, or repetitive reaching.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Virginia.
Clinical social work experience in an acute care setting.
Understanding of oncology-specific psychosocial challenges.
Enjoyment of teamwork and educating others about social work’s role in interdisciplinary care.
Outgoing approach and interest in building relationships with teams and patients.

Responsibilities

Complete psychosocial assessments.
Develop treatment plans aligned with the overall health care plan.
Provide psychosocial interventions and supportive counseling.
Educate patients, family members, staff, and social work students.
Facilitate compliance with treatment.
Work with the community to provide needed services and initiate referrals based on identified patient and family needs.
Coordinate discharge planning activities.
Initiate patient and family interventions based on an assessment of service needs.
Consult with facility staff regarding psychosocial patient and family needs.
Contact the appropriate Social Services Department to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Develop intervention plans with patients, families, and significant others.
Initiate education activities for facility staff.
Contribute to quality improvement through self-analysis of services and needs.
Participate in service area meetings, training, and patient care conferences.
Support oncology patients in adjusting to diagnosis and address social determinants of health that pose barriers to treatment adherence.
Engage patients in advance care planning.
Build relationships with patients and interdisciplinary teams to effectively manage the caseload.
Depending on unit assignment, supervise social work students and students from other disciplines.