Social Work Associate

Overview

As a member of the Oncology team, provides clinical psychosocial assessment and intervention, including crisis intervention, individual, couples and family consultation, therapy, and counseling, support groups, and short-term bereavement therapy. Collaborates in patient and family centered care through the continuum, facilitating the achievement of optimal quality outcomes in relation to clinical care and cost-effectiveness. Collaborates with the health care team in achieving optimal patient care plan through identification of, and intervention on, psychosocial needs and barriers. Provides coordination of psychosocial services to patients/families in collaboration with other staff and providers in relevant settings of care.

Collaborates with and provides consultation to interdisciplinary health care team regarding psychosocial issues confronting patients/families. Identifies high-risk psychosocial factors of patients/ families that impact health status, coping and adjustment. Provides recommendations, consultation and support to staff and providers to manage the influence of those factors upon the course of medical care. Assumes responsibility for patients with complex psychosocial risk (e.g. domestic violence, protective services, frail elderly, disabled, co-morbid mental health conditions, etc). Assesses adaptation of families and caregivers to patients' illnesses, provides crisis intervention, consultation and short-term therapy as needed, and ensures maximum participation of patients/families/caregivers in the continuum of care process.

Provides education/consultation regarding impact of cancer on patients and families to community, and provides consultation, education, and program development (e.g. support groups, psychoeducational forums, etc) within the disease-based or service-based team and in collaboration with other care providers.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works under supervision of Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. 

• Performs psychosocial assessment.  Demonstrates ability to determine and analyze multiple issues impacting patient’s/family’s adjustment and formulate appropriate plan for addressing problems and concerns.  

• Forms empathic relationships with patients/families who have a range of psychosocial needs and issues.  Demonstrates ability to use self in differential, therapeutic ways to address patient/family concerns, problems and issues to achieve optimal functioning.  

• Provides social work intervention to assist patients/families.  Maintains working knowledge and skill base for individual, couples, family and group therapeutic modalities. 

• Demonstrates ability to address quality of life and end of life concerns and issues.

• Provides clinical coverage.  

• Applies critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments and decisions.  

• Assesses patient/family level of understanding of diagnosis and treatment, barriers to learning, and to provide age-specific education and support as needed.

• Serves as liaison and collaborates with range of community and governmental agencies and resources.  Ability to advocate for and facilitate access to resources for patients/families in partnership with other staff (e.g. resource specialists, pharmacy resource specialists, program coordinators, patient navigators, etc.).

• Ability to assist health care team with understanding and integration of psychosocial factors in care management and planning.  Ability to identify, analyze and provide recommendations/guidance to health care team for challenging patient/family management situations.  

• Formulates, coordinates, and implements psychosocial component of patient/family care.  Demonstrates ability to clarify and reach agreement on short and long-term goals with patients/families around psychological, emotional, physical, social, environmental and economic/financial issues impacting patient/family adjustment.

• Demonstrates continuum- based collaboration.

• Views the use of one’s time and professional efforts as an institutional resource to be applied judiciously and thoughtfully amidst multiple competing and compelling needs. 

• Demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement by seeking ways of improving care, effectiveness and efficiency within the department, the division, and within the organization. 

• Demonstrates flexibility and an open minded approach to change, and contributes positively to brainstorming and problem solving. 

• Demonstrates commitment to cultural sensitivity and cultural competence with diverse populations. 

• Documents clinical work.  Maintains ability to write clear and focused psychosocial assessments, plans for intervention and goals of psychosocial care.  Ability to adhere to Institute and division standards for timely documentation.

• Compliant with statistical record keeping through Interaction Info in the EMR or as required by Social Work Division. 

• Actively participates in committee work, projects and meetings. 

• Delivers presentations, seminars, or other forums to community at large.  Organizes and effectively presents psychosocial issues for cancer patients, families, caregivers, staff and providers. 

• Attends clinical educational conferences, trainings, or other forums to enhance and expand knowledge base of social work principles and practice. 

• Initiates and facilitates interdisciplinary meetings to discuss and/or implement psychosocial treatment plan.  Skilled in ability to communicate effectively with multidisciplinary providers and staff outside DF/BWCC (e.g. hospice, VNA, community mental health providers).  Demonstrates understanding of the principles of multi-disciplinary collaboration and maintains effective working relationships.

• Awareness of and compliance with division practice standards and policies (e.g. HIPAA, high-risk sign-out, scheduling, daily coverage calendar, etc.)

• Maintains confidentiality and adheres to professional, department, division, and organizational ethical standards.  

• Seeks consultation as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Crisis intervention, treatment skills. 

Strong clinical assessment/judgment, including interdisciplinary teaming skills.

Excellent communication oral and written.

Strong organizational skills and ability to set priorities; tolerance for ambiguity.

Analytical skills, computer literacy and keyboarding.

Ability to be c ultural ly sensitiv e.

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Masters Degree in Social Work from accredited program.

• Massachusetts licensure application in process.

• Previous experience in hospital or healthcare setting.

• Bilingual English / Spanish preferred.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.  

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Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

$66,500.00 - $72,800.00