Social Worker (BSW or MSW) | Oncology

About the role

This position works with patients and their loved ones facing a cancer diagnosis. The role is in an outpatient clinic setting supporting and working closely with the Avera Cancer Institute – Mitchell and Avera Cancer Institute – Pierre employees and patients.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize and implement social work services for patients and families that are medically and socially complex and of greater psychosocial acuity; assure that medically related emotional and social needs are addressed on an individual basis.
• Facilitate quality care and education for patients and their families.
• Provide counseling to individuals and groups.
• Assess needs and facilitate plans with patients/families requiring intensive discharge planning.
• Maintain a current knowledge base of community agencies and resources to facilitate appropriate referrals.
• Provide services in a compassionate, culturally competent and tactful manner to help facilitate access to and continuity of care and patient advocacy.
• Collaborate with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Interview patients and family members to obtain information about home environment, family systems, health history, and patient personality traits.
• Evaluate data gathered in terms of the medical plan of treatment, available social service programs, financial counseling and plan a pertinent therapy program that will provide maximum benefits and safety for each patient.
• Assist patients and families to understand, accept, and follow medical recommendations with emphasis on assisting patients to be medically compliant with the care plan.
• Advise on social problems, arrange for discharge or post-operative care at home, assist patients/families needing placement into assisted living or nursing homes, arrange for transportation to appointments and treatments, and work to alleviate anxiety and fears of patients and family members.
• Conduct supportive visits by interviewing patients and their family members to obtain information regarding their response to their diagnosis including evaluation of strengths, coping skills, supports, characteristics of family, health history and personality traits.
• Prepare and maintain patient documentation in EMR.
• Maintain department policies, procedures, objectives, and quality assurance program, safety, infection and environmental control.
• Assist with data collection, analysis and reporting as required by the hospital, administrative council, care teams, JCAHO, and other agencies.
• Conduct individual, marital, family and group therapies as necessary.
• Coordinate care conferences as needed.
• Serve as the social work representative in a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care.
• Utilize research findings to improve outcomes and support and provide quality of life for patients and their families.
• Collaborate with Case Management in providing coordinated services that facilitate continuity of care for patients.
• Address emotional problems including but not limited to assisting patients, residents and families with anxieties and stress caused by illness, admission to hospital/nursing home, crisis situations, difficulties in coping with physical disabilities, fears related to helplessness and death, the need for nursing home/assisted living/specialized care, and providing educational materials.

Requirements

• Master’s in Social Work from an accredited program.
• Social Worker – Licensing Board active license in the state of practice upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Qualified Mental Health Provider (QMHP) – Licensing Board active in the state of practice upon hire.
• 1–3 years of relevant experience.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $25.50 – $44.00 per hour. Actual pay rate is dependent upon experience.

Benefits

• PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.
• Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement.
• Career development guided by hands-on training and mentorship.
• Student Loan Repayment: eligible employees may receive an extra payment of $167 per month (up to $10,000) from Avera to help pay down principal balances faster.