Description
**This is a Full Time, salaried position at 40 hours per week located at the McHenry Cancer Center. Schedule is Monday through Friday and must be a LCSW.**
The Oncology Social Worker reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
The Oncology Social Worker is responsible for the facilitation and navigation of psychosocial care in the outpatient cancer center environment. The preferred candidate will be able to demonstrate extensive skills in professional advocacy, development of community partnerships in the care of patients, have extensive knowledge of local community resources, effectively work within the context of a multidisciplinary team, demonstrate understanding of evidence-based practice and have an advanced knowledge in social work policy.
Responsibilities:
- Assists in the planning, development, and implementation of psychosocial support programs that directly support the strategic plan and vision of NM.
- Provides psychosocial assistance to cancer patients and their families through utilization of broad clinical expertise at all levels of practice.
- Links patients and their families to resources and support in the community to address emotional, familial, economic, and environmental difficulties to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.
- Acts as a stakeholder in the development of programming and implementation of new services to benefit cancer patients and enhance their quality of life.
- Promotes, engages, and evaluates distress screenings of patients in the oncology clinics.
- Participates in Interdisciplinary team meetings
- Is responsible for the delivery and documentation of clinical support services in accordance with organizational, professional, state and federal regulations.
- Performs clinical assessments, develops and implements treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge and modifies treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients status.
- Performs psychosocial assessment and creates appropriate interventions for patients based on the identified needs and modifies the intervention(s) as needed to reflect changes in the patients medical and psychological condition
- Participates in the evaluation of and quality improvement initiatives for psychosocial support programs within the Cancer Center.
- Completes, compiles, and reports program records/data required by Northwestern Medicine.
- Acts as a professional representative of Northwestern Medicine within the entire community and especially within the social services community.
- Participates in Cancer Committee as determined by the Director.
- Reports abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and other required cases to the appropriate authorities.
- Educates patients, and families on advance directives, palliative care, and hospice services.
- Provides patient, staff, and the community with education on topics related to health and psychosocial issues.
Qualifications
Required:
- Master's degree in social work.
- Licensed clinical social worker in the state of Illinois (LSCW).
- 3 to 5 years of work experience in hospital or related clinical setting.
- Prior experience in Oncology.
- Critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Must be able to work in a fast paced, stressful environment, and take appropriate action.
- Must have excellent communication skills, project, and time management skills.
- Must be mission driven, energetic, self-motivated, and detail oriented
Preferred:
- 5 years oncology experience.
- Oncology Social Work Certification (OSW-C)
Equal Opportunity
Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.
