JOB SUMMARY:
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker is responsible for conducting face to face or telephonic sessions with patients with serious and/or terminal illnesses and their family members to complete thorough assessments, develop treatment plans, and provide supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and grief therapy. Responsible for serving populations with a variety of clinical needs particularly depression and anxiety due to diagnosis, side effects from treatments, and the grief process. Collaborates with all team members to maximize patients' potential for the healthiest coping responses to their challenging situation. Based on the overall assessment, makes appropriate community referrals for follow up as needed. Serves as a liaison between the medical staff and the patient/family and provide interventions designed to minimize patient stress and maximize coping skills to improve treatment response.
This position is a Safety Sensitive Position. The essential functions, physical demands, and mental competencies of this job require the employee maintain the ability to work in a constant state of alertness in a safe manner.
JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

Assesses patients and family psychosocial needs and develops plan of care in conjunction with physicians, nurses and radiation therapists.
Conducts interventions based on needs identified during the initial assessment.
Educates the patient and family on the intent of the intervention as needed. Inform care team, patient, and family of anticipated needs.
Provides emotional support to patients and families, and/or groups of patients, who may exhibit feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress related to adjusting to cancer diagnosis.
Provides counseling for grief/loss process and identifies families at risk for complicated mourning
Coordinates complex services to include, but not limited to, Home Health, Hospice, ordering Durable Medical Equipment, Personal Care with other team members of the social work department.
Maintains an acceptable working knowledge of community resources needed to provide patients with continuity of care.
Documents patient/family status and history, diagnosis, treatment plan, evaluation results, observation and progress in electronic medical records.
Provides consultation to professional staff and employees regarding financial considerations, psychosocial concerns, risk management, and ethical issues.
Clinical expertise and critical thinking skills - provides competent patient assessment by obtaining and interpreting data, making appropriate decisions based upon knowledge and experience, and if applicable, adapting plans accordingly. Utilizes critical thinking in all interactions to identify variances/problems and apply sound decision-making skills.
Help patient/family to identify and remove barriers to treatment to include temporary lodging, transportation assistance, child care issues, etc.
Participates in continued education and research activities.
Acts as a therapist and provides individual counseling/problem-solving sessions.
Develops and maintains effective interpersonal relationships with all levels of personnel, medical staff, patients/families/significant others, and external resources people. Demonstrate the ability to identify, assess, counsel, and effectively intervene with medically and psychosocially complex patients with the ability to understand complex dynamics related to the clinical situation.
Demonstrate appropriate professional practice, maintaining respect for confidentiality and freedom of choice as outlined by the Code of Ethics by the National Association of Social Workers as well as the State Board of Social Work.
All other duties, as assigned.