Social Worker - Oncology

UW Medical Center - Montlake - Social Work Department has an outstanding opportunity for a full-time Social Worker in Oncology.

About the role

Assist oncology services by providing discharge planning, resource coordination, loss and grief support, and crisis intervention services to patients and families, while also serving as support for the interdisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have experience in a hospital setting providing direct service to patients and their support systems and will possess excellent assessment and clinical intervention skills. Experience in discharge planning and connecting clients with community services, along with strong organizational and customer service skills, is preferred.

The Social Worker is assigned to oncology service teams to assist with discharge planning, behavioral health issues affecting length of stay and treatment adherence, support for patients and family members, and crisis intervention.

Responsibilities

• Assess patient/families for goals of treatment, psychosocial factors impacting healthcare, preferences for post-acute care, barriers to discharge, and available resources.
• Collaborate with agencies, providers, and payors currently engaged with the patient to ensure coordination of care.
• Identify and assist in transitioning patients to post-acute care resources and options (Home Health, Hospice, SNF/AFH placement).
• Partner with the primary team to set expectations for patients/families about timelines for choosing specific post-acute care options.
• Recommend and help organize care conferences, engaging and facilitating family participation as needed.
• Bridge communication between the care team and patient/family, focusing on the patient’s goals and incorporating cultural or family issues impeding progression of care and discharge.
• Provide assessment, intervention, and referrals for mental health and substance use disorders.
• Intervene by reporting child and vulnerable adult abuse or neglect.
• Assess and intervene with victims of domestic violence and/or assault.
• Maintain knowledge of government entitlement programs and how to access them.
• Identify and address financial or insurance barriers to care via linkage to appropriate resources.
• Provide counseling and support during emergent issues and/or changes in status that may impact the patient’s outcome.
• Provide assistance in situations requiring identification of legal next of kin, advance directives, and facilitation of guardianships.

Requirements

• A Master of Social Work Degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• One year of full-time social work experience in a health care setting or equivalent (experience can include a practicum placement as part of a social work training program and/or employment experience).

Within 90 days of hire, must hold one of the following credentials issued by the state of Washington: Agency Affiliated Counselor, Licensed Social Work Associate - Advanced, Licensed Social Work Associate - Independent Clinical, Licensed Advanced Social Worker, or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.

About UW Medical Center-Montlake

UW Medical Center is an acute care academic medical center located in Seattle with two campuses: Montlake and Northwest. As the No. 1 hospital in Seattle and Washington State since 2012 (U.S. News & World Report) and nationally ranked in seven specialties, UW Medical Center prides itself on compassionate patient care as well as its pioneering medical advances. The Montlake campus is located on the edge of the beautiful UW campus, offering many amenities and convenient public transit options, including Sound Transit’s light rail station across the street.

About UW Medicine

UW Medicine is Washington’s only health system that includes a top-rated medical school and an internationally recognized research center. Its mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists, and other health professionals. Nearly 29,000 healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators work across the UW Medicine family of organizations, which includes Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center - Montlake, UW Medical Center - Northwest, Valley Medical Center, UW Medicine Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, and Airlift Northwest.

Pay

Pay Range: $43.47 - $68.03 hourly

Schedule

Full-Time / 40 hours per week, Day Shifts

Benefits

For information about benefits for this position, visit UW Staff Benefits.