The Oncology Clinical Social Worker (OCSW) is a mental/behavioral health clinician who operates as a core member of a multi-disciplinary oncology team. The OCSW offers social work intervention through direct treatment and/or coordination of needed services to patients and/or their families experiencing psychosocial adjustment difficulties associated with illness, injury, disability, and related hospitalization. Interventions may include: biopsychosocial assessment, brief supportive counseling, care coordination, information/resource referrals, crisis intervention, and patient/support person(s) advocacy. The primary goal of the intervention is to assist patients in achieving maximum physical and psychosocial functioning, using evidence-based interventions targeted at improving health and well-being for a variety of patients. The OCSW also provides mental health support for patient’s support person(s) as they navigate adjustment to the patient’s illness, advanced care planning, palliative care needs, and other difficult decisions related to cancer diagnosis/care, also providing grief/bereavement support when appropriate.

 

The OCSW will participate in department and clinical team meetings. The OCSW will practice in accordance with performance standards, ethical principles, and NASW/AOSW core values with a commitment to service excellence. The OCSW may participate in or provide professional education programs within the agency and community, may provide supervision to social work interns, and may provide social work consultation to community agencies.

 

Patient and Family Services Department (PFS) is committed to providing an open and equitable recruitment process with the goal of recognizing diverse work and lived experience that will contribute to responsive patient-centered care and effective patient advocacy within the institution. PFS strives for a department that reflects the diversity of the community served by the Knight Cancer Institute and welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives.

 

Addendum:

The Oncology Clinical Social Worker supports patients across the Knight Cancer Institute organization in the function of float social worker. This position will travel between clinic locations and settings (inpatient and outpatient) to support social workers who are on planned and unplanned absences. Locations for coverage include: Center for Health and Healing Building 2, OHSU Hospital, CHO, and Pediatric Survivorship clinic. The OCSW Float will support adult and pediatric/young adult cancer patients under the care of a physician at the Knight Cancer Institute/Pediatric Hematology Oncology. The OCSW will complete assessments, provide resources, and emotional/behavioral support for patients receiving medical oncology services, radiation treatment, and infusions. The OCSW may attend tumor boards, care rounds, and multi-disciplinary clinics in their role as a float social worker. Additionally, the OCSW will be trained to provide more extensive evaluations including HAI evaluations, Caregiver assessments, BMT evaluations, and CAR-T evaluations. The OCSW may meet with patients in exam rooms, consult rooms, infusion spaces, virtually, and/or by phone.

 

Key Responsibilities & Performance Standards

 

Psychosocial Assessment

• Conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients/support person(s) to identify needs and areas of support, including but not limited to: adjustment to cancer diagnosis, care coordination, mental health status, barriers to treatment process, substance use, child or elder abuse/neglect, intimate partner violence concerns, financial concerns, and resource needs.
• The OCSW may participate in treatment team meetings or care conferences as the behavioral health clinician to support treatment planning.

 Patient Services 

• Refers patient/support person(s) to resources within and outside of the hospital for assistance (i.e. financial, housing, transportation, insurance, prescription assistance, etc.)
• Acts as an advocate for patients within the medical setting and the community
• Maintains knowledge of community resources for oncology patients
• May interact with the oncology social work specialist for assistance

 

Supportive Counseling 

 

• Provides brief short-term, evidence-based clinical behavioral health interventions to patients and/or their support person(s) in health care settings.
• Works to coordinate transition to long-term counseling support in the community for patients requiring long-term follow-up.
• Provides counseling to reinforce patients’ strengths and assist them in coping with a cancer diagnosis.
• Counsels patients to assist them in decisions related to treatment options and educates patients regarding anticipated social or emotional impacts of treatment.
• May participate in urgent situations by providing crisis intervention services to patients and/or their support person(s).
• May also conduct group work including support group facilitation to patients, caregivers, and/or staff.

Departmental Functions 

 

• Participates in Patient and Family Services department meetings/huddles and other assigned service meetings as a representative of the department and field of oncology social work.
• Contributes to the development and evaluation of new programs to meet department or patient needs, including participation in department committees or workgroups.
• Meets requirements to maintain Oregon SW licensure, including attending scheduled supervision sessions, conferences, and continuing education events.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of social work practices and principles.
• Participates in patient care rounds and care conferences as appropriate.
• Completes all OHSU/DNV mandatory education requirements and activities within established timelines.
• Maintain technology fluency and accessibility via department standard means (pager, phone, email, Teams, etc.).
• May provide support to patient care staff as needed.
• May also provide coverage within work unit

Screening Questionnaires 

• As part of the Commission on Cancer Accreditation, OCSWs supporting outpatient clinics will address completed distress screening questionnaires that indicate patient distress
• Other questionnaires related to SDoH or Suicide may also be routed to OCSWs for follow-up.

Training 

• May assist in the supervision or evaluation of graduate level social work interns.
• May educate new team members/medical professionals on clinical oncology social work practice

Documentation

• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of patient care activities in an efficient manner per department policies and workflows to ensure continuity of care.

• Masters in social work (MSW required)
• Effective January 1, 2011, Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

 

• Clinical behavioral health skills including mental health assessment acumen and short-term counseling skills.
• Crisis Intervention skills
• Effective communication skills, including conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated understanding of Trauma informed and patient-centered care.
• Ability to practice with minimal supervision using sound clinical judgement.
• Demonstrated knowledge of anti-oppressive practices.

• 2 years Oncology Social Work Experience
• Experience as a behavioral health clinician in a healthcare setting
• Bilingual/Second language proficiency
• Bicultural
• Experience working with diverse identity populations.

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.