Master Social Worker Ambulatory Care

Banner Health•Glendale, AZ

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This position develops, coordinates, and provides social work services to patients and families experiencing social, emotional, or situational stressors related to illness, injury, or disability. The role supports adaptation and helps patients and families participate as fully as possible in care and discharge planning. It provides developmentally appropriate care, including planning for safe discharge and continuity of care while recognizing the needs of patients across ages and with physical disabilities, mental illness, chronic illness, or terminal illness. In the pediatric hematology and oncology ambulatory care setting, the social worker provides psychosocial support and care coordination to patients and families, connects them with foundations and financial assistance, and conducts long-term follow-up, including after active treatment has ended. The role is the sole social worker on a close-knit team and collaborates with providers, nurse navigators, nurses, and child life specialists. The stated caseload is approximately 4–5 families daily, with up to 3–4 inpatient and up to 8 outpatient clinic appointments. The position assesses patients’ functional and psychological needs, circumstances, support networks, resources, and responses to illness and treatment; develops and adjusts intervention plans with patients, families, and the healthcare team; documents interventions and transitional care plans; and provides advocacy, counseling, crisis intervention, and community-resource liaison services. It also requires knowledge of public benefit programs and relevant behavioral health and health-system topics. The position is facility-based and has no budgetary responsibility. The schedule is Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM. The position is based in Glendale, Arizona, in the Peds Hemo Onc-Hosp department, on the day shift.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field, as required by business need and regulatory compliance.
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or a Master of Social Work degree with the requirement to become licensed within six months of hire; equivalent state licensure applies where LMSW is not recognized.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for assignments in an acute care setting.
Typically, three years of acute care hospital experience; Banner Registry and Travel positions require at least one year in an acute care hospital setting. Experience must include work as a Social Worker MSW in the specialty area in an acute care setting within the past 12 months.
Knowledge of government and community resources, such as Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care, and other applicable services.
Critical-thinking, problem-solving, communication, human-relations, and time-management skills.
For acute care assignments, ability to work flexible hours and take rotating after-hours call.

Nice To Haves

Experience in pediatric and/or oncology social work is strongly preferred.
Comfort working independently while remaining connected to a supportive leadership team.
Additional related education and/or experience.

Responsibilities

Provide psychosocial support and care coordination for hematology and oncology patients and families.
Connect patients and families with foundations, financial assistance programs, and community resources to address ongoing expenses and other needs.
Manage a daily caseload of approximately 4–5 families, with up to 3–4 inpatient and up to 8 outpatient clinic appointments.
Conduct long-term follow-up with patients, including those who have completed active treatment.
Collaborate with providers, patient and nurse navigators, nurses, child life specialists, and other members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Assess patients’ functional and psychological needs in relation to developmental stage, functional abilities, culture, support network, medical needs, home situation, finances, and available resources.
Develop and adjust intervention and care plans with patients, families, and the healthcare team, including discharge planning and continuity of care.
Document interventions and transitional care plans accurately and promptly in the patient medical record.
Provide advocacy, assistance, support, counseling, and crisis intervention to patients and families.
Facilitate hospital-sponsored support groups.
Serve as a liaison between the hospital and community to make resources available to patients and families.
Maintain knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and other program benefits to assist with discharge planning and care choices.
Provide professional education to staff and the community.
Gather and assess information, apply counseling and developmental theories and diagnostic frameworks, and engage in collaborative treatment planning.
Consult a supervisor about unusual situations and work within established procedures.