Clinical Social Worker, LICSW (Longwood)

Job title: Clinical Social Worker, LICSW (Longwood)

About the Role As a member of the multidisciplinary oncology team, under moderate supervision, the Clinical Social Worker, LICSW I, independently provides patient- and family-centered care through psychosocial assessment and intervention, including crisis response, individual/couples/family/group work, and short-term bereavement support. The role supports patients along the cancer continuum—from screening to survivorship—through collaboration with community mental health partners.

What You'll Do

• Provides biopsychosocial assessment and intervention, crisis response, coordination of psychosocial services, and consultation to reduce cancer-related distress and improve quality of life for patients, families, and caregivers across the trajectory of cancer care; includes those seen for screening for high risk of developing cancer and/or a diagnosis of cancer through to end of life and survivorship in collaboration with community mental health partners.
• Assesses adaptation of families and caregivers to patient’s illness and ensures maximum participation of patients/families/caregivers in the continuum of care process.
• Provides clinical interventions focused on cancer-related distress, are evidence-based, goal-oriented, strengths-based, and short-term; modalities include individual, family, and group work to ensure equity and accessibility to social work interventions.
• Identifies and addresses high-risk psychosocial factors as well as psychosocial strengths of patients/families/caregivers that impact health status, coping and adjustment (e.g., suicidal or homicidal risk, domestic violence, abuse, disabilities, serious mental health conditions).
• Facilitates complex serious illness and goals-of-care conversations to ensure shared treatment decision-making and effective patient-physician communication.
• Identifies and communicates systemic inequities, their impact on patients, families, caregivers and the community, and provides recommendations for systemic change.
• Demonstrates commitment to diversity and equity efforts, including advocacy and self-education to advance knowledge of underserved populations.
• Communicates clinical assessment and recommendations and provides consultation and support to the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Initiates collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to manage psychosocial barriers that limit access to or engagement in recommended medical care.
• Provides education/consultation regarding impact of cancer on patients and families/caregivers to the community and develops programs (e.g., support groups, psychoeducational forums) within the disease/service team and with the interdisciplinary team.
• Facilitates evidence-based patient, family, and caregiver support programs or groups; provides in-person and/or telehealth services as clinically indicated.
• Provides clinical coverage in other social workers’ absences.