Social Worker I
Overview
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.
With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.
At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.
Responsible for providing professional social work services (i.e., screening, counseling, resource identification and navigation, and patient advocacy) to patients and their caregivers. Collaborates with Fred Hutch partner institutions to ensure continuity of care across systems. Uses clinical judgment and problem-solving skills to address patient and caregiver emotional/psychological, social and developmental issues. Facilitates referrals to internal and community resources. Strives to achieve the highest in patient (customer) satisfaction. Supports the mission of Fred Hutch and its affiliates. Provides consultation to staff at All Fred Hutch locations, UWMC, and to community resources as needed.
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, all employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to our values of collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity, and respect.
This is a Full-Time (40 Hours) TEMPORARY role working Monday thru Friday out of our South Lake Union Campus.
Responsibilities
- Supports the mental and physical health care of an assigned oncology patient caseload in close collaboration with oncology, psychiatry, psychology, and other interdisciplinary team members to address psychological, social, and emotional issues, including mental health and substance-related conditions, in support of patient-centered treatment planning.
- Conducts distress, mental health, and substance use screenings to identify psychological/psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance use, cognitive changes) that inform oncology care planning and facilitate patient engagement and follow-up.
- Provides therapeutic emotional support through brief therapy, individual and family counseling, grief and loss counseling, and crisis intervention for patients and caregivers coping with cancer, using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, and motivational interviewing as appropriate.
- Collaborates with Psychiatry and Psychology colleagues under the Collaborative Care model with duties including: providing education on common mental health and substance use conditions and treatment options; supporting psychotropic medication management (adherence, side effects, and treatment response); systematically tracking treatment response and outcomes in a registry; monitoring patients in person and by telephone; participating in regular caseload consultation; and documenting patient progress and treatment recommendations in the electronic medical record.
- Coordinates referrals and patient navigation to internal Fred Hutch services, local and regional support networks, and tangible-needs resources, partnering with inpatient social workers to support transitions between inpatient, outpatient, and home settings.
- Advocates for and promotes the needs of culturally diverse and socially, intellectually, or physically challenged patients, and assists the medical team in addressing disruptive behavior, including development of Patient Care Agreements when necessary.
Qualifications
Required:
- Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited graduate School of Social Work
- Licensed Social Worker Associate Independent Clinical (LSWAIC) or Licensed Social Worker Associate – Advanced (LSWAA) through Washington State Department of Health
Computer skills: Outlook, Word, Excel
- Strong assessment and crisis intervention skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients/families from diverse cultural backgrounds
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams
Counseling individuals and families
Preferred:
- Experience with counseling individuals and families required; experience working with oncology patients and family members/significant other and working effectively with multidisciplinary teams
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training
Skills in screening for distress and mental health conditions, including substance use disorders
Brief interventions training
Motivational interviewing training
Grief and loss training