PRIMARY FUNCTION:

To assist patients and families to identify social, emotional, and environmental needs and to connect them with available resources/ services through the provision of a full spectrum of care management and social work services.  

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coordination of Care

• Assisting patient/family/caregiver in navigating through health care systems to help connect to quality care.
• Through screening identify patient’s physical needs, mental status, family support system, financial resources, and available community and governmental resources.  Identify patient's psychosocial, social, cultural, and spiritual factors that impact coping with cancer and its effects.  
• Develop a comprehensive case management plan to provide comprehensive psychosocial services and emotional support to patient/family/caregiver based on identified needs and mutual goals. Works with the patient/family/caregiver and other members of the health care team to provide psychosocial services and programs through all phases of cancer continuum.  
• Assess for barriers to care such as; financial, transportation, lodging and other needs.
• Implements service referral and coordination activities, the Social Worker always assures that the patient is given the choice in regard to agencies and services.
• Use of a range of therapeutic and other interventions, including supportive counseling, group work, and education to address issues through cancer continuum.   
• The Social Worker will monitor patient care across the continuum through follow-up with patients/families/caregivers and community services. 

Education

• Provides information about resources and options available in the community and coordinates service delivery. 
• Educates and addresses concerns with service delivery including service gaps and access issues, including but not limited to insurance and financial barriers to care. 
• Provide information based on current knowledge, to provide psychosocial support and assist the patient/family/caregiver in coping with their disease to improve their overall health care management.
• Provide specific information on how to communicate with physicians and other members of care team.
• Educates the patient/family/caregiver of psychosocial services and support within cancer program.

Communication

• Empowers patients/family/caregiver through education and encouragement to self-advocate and communicate their needs.  
• Interprets patient/family/caregiver needs and provides information concerning the availability and limitations of resources. 
• Maintains pertinent and timely documentation in patient's medical charts and departmental records.
• Adheres to established regulations concerning patient information and privacy
• Advocating with, or on behalf of patient/family/caregiver to address their needs or for policies and programs that will benefit them. 

Professional Role

• Attends regularly scheduled staff meetings, i.e., department, divisional, or system-wide.
• Participates in professional activities to support the Cancer Program as representative of the Commission on Cancer for psychosocial support.
• Supports role specific departmental educational and staff development initiatives. 
• Demonstrates skills and knowledge necessary to provide care appropriate to cancer population through Cancer Program, including knowledge of growth and development, the ability to obtain and interpret information to identify patient needs, and to provide the care needed.                             
• Performs assigned work safely, adhering to established departmental safety rules and practices.  Reports to supervisor, in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, other employees, patients and visitors.
• Represents ChristianaCare, when requested, through participation on committees, court hearings, referrals to community agencies, etc. 
• Maintains required credentials and participates in learning to stay current with cancer specific information and issues related to cancer care, insurance, ethical issues.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Schedule will be 2-3 days a week (max 40 hours in 2 weeks) M - F 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Master’s degree in social work (from an accredited graduate school of Social Work)

One year of social work experience in a medical setting preferred. 

Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) not required but is accepted    

BLS certification preferred and obtained within 6 months of hire

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Maryland License: LMSW as required by state

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Occasional travel between System campuses, private offices, and community organization. Travel as required to clinical conferences. Flexible day and evening hours. Potential for exposure to infectious diseases, blood-borne pathogens, bodily fluids.

Hourly Pay Range: $30.34 - $48.55

This pay rate/range represents ChristianaCare’s good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation at the time of posting. The actual salary within this range offered to a successful candidate will depend on individual factors including without limitation skills, relevant experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.

Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.