Social Worker (LMSW)

The US Oncology Network•McAllen, TX

35d•Onsite

About The Position

Texas Oncology is looking for a Social Worker (LMSW) to join their team in McAllen, Texas. This is a full-time position supporting the clinic. The role involves providing counseling and supportive services to patients, acting as a patient advocate, and collaborating with the clinical team to address the psychosocial impact of cancer on patients and their families. The company is a leading community oncology provider focused on delivering high-quality, patient-centered cancer care.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work from a school or program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Minimum three- to five-years’ experience preferred, working as a masters-prepared social worker in a health care setting; oncology, palliative care and/or hospice experience desired.
Valid and current state master’s-level license (i.e., LMSW) or working towards state master’s clinical-level license (i.e. LCSW) with an associate’s license and/or Plan of Supervision, required.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Preferred – Spanish.

Responsibilities

Provides emotional support to patients and families, including therapeutic counseling and crisis assessment, as well as non-pharmacologic support for pain, sleep issues, and other physical concerns.
Demonstrates a strong knowledge of the psychosocial impact of cancer on the patient and family system throughout the continuum of cancer care, including at diagnosis, advanced cancer, end of life care, and survivorship. Demonstrates knowledge specific to practical implications such as financial distress, changes in relationships/roles, custody planning, caregiver demands, advance care planning, psychological distress, and spiritual/existential distress.
Active member of the medical interdisciplinary team. Ensures ongoing communication with team members to facilitate understanding and support of identified patient and family needs.
Participates in and contributes to Value Based Care initiatives by participating in distress and depression screening assessment, evaluation, and follow-up; advance care planning and end-of-life conversations and transitions.
Assists and supports patients and families with transition to and issues associated with Survivorship.
Meets with patients and their families to administer, assess, and provide appropriate follow-up of psychosocial needs assessments. Considers social support, appropriate community resources, and coping mechanisms.
Develops, maintains and facilitates support groups to enhance the quality of care and support to patients and their families.
Coordinates support groups with local agencies and health care providers to prevent duplication of services and to better address the needs of the patient population.
Provides education to clinic staff regarding skills and knowledge specific to the role of a masters-prepared social worker (MSW) in a medical practice; serves as a resource and expert to clinic staff and providers in managing patients with psychological needs, the impact of social and behavioral determinants on health care outcomes and in addressing issues such as compassion fatigue/satisfaction and secondary trauma amongst staff.
Provides information about appropriate community resources to patients and families to assist them in accessing a wide variety of services.
Develops and maintains working relationships with community agencies, health care organizations, and other providers to promote a broad base of support for patients and families.
Acts as a patient/family advocate in negotiating the health care system. Helps to facilitate communication between patient/family and medical team.
Documents all interventions in EMR accurately, appropriately and timely.
Provides professional presentations to groups and organizations to facilitate public understanding of the psychosocial and psychological aspects of the cancer experience.
Participates in quality improvement activities. May oversee the activities of staff providing coordination of services for patients.
May supervise MSW Student Interns; review candidates, mentor, and proper documentation training.
Demonstrates knowledge of age-specific differences in the patient population that include late adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and the elderly. This includes physiological, psychological, and developmental differences unique to each group.