Social Worker

**Job Description**:
The Social Worker works as a member of the interprofessional team delivering social work services for oncology and palliative care clients of the Hudson Regional Cancer Program (HRCP). They provide in-depth psychosocial assessment and appropriate interventions for patients and their caregivers, including resource education, emotional support, counselling, case management, and advocacy, to maximize patient quality of life within their community.

They role models the professional and core competencies.

**Main Duties & Responsibilities**
- Functions within scope of practice as defined by Ontario College of Social Workers.
- Adheres to hospital policies and practices.
- Participates in appropriate program/hospital committee projects.
- Participates in hospital and staff development programs.
- Participates in and promotes continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Provides comprehensive, coordinated social work and discharge planning services to patients and their families in the HRCP
- Provides comprehensive psycho-social assessments of patients referred to the HRCP Social Worker.
- Provides counselling services to patients and their families with a goal to assisting the patient and family to adjust to the effects and complications of illness. This includes emotional support and counselling for individual, marital, family and financial issues.
- Provides crisis and grief counselling for patient/family and team.
- Provides information and education to patients and their families pertaining to their plan of care
- Provides consultation to medical staff and other team members regarding psycho-social aspects of patient and family functioning and community resources.
- Maintains relevant documentation of social work services provided in a clear concise written form.
- Maintains statistical data as required by the program.
- Maintains confidentiality of patient/family related communication and documentation.
- Facilitates referrals to community resources.
- Assumes advocacy role within program on behalf of patient and family.
- Acts as resource and liaison to community stakeholders and facilitate referrals to community resources.
- Functions as a partner in the health care team to realize the team goals and objectives.

**Education & Qualifications**
- Masters’ Degree in Social Work from an accredited university
- Member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), with no terms, conditions, or limitations required
- Membership in the Ontario Association of Social Workers (preferred)
- Three to five (3-5) years relevant social work experience, or equivalent, within an acute care setting required
- Two (2) years recent experience in oncology and palliative care preferred
- Experience with crisis / urgent presentations an asset
- Previous training/experience in loss and grief is required

**Knowledge, Skills & Abilities**
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in psychosocial assessment, conflict resolution, and creative problem-solving
- Demonstrated ability to work co-operatively and constructively with other team members and develop effective partnerships with community agencies/facilities.
- Demonstrated effective counselling skills
- Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with patients/families, interprofessional team members, and other stakeholders.
- Demonstrated excellent organizational and coordination skills and the ability to prioritize multiple competing workload demands.
- Demonstrated flexibility and ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Flexible to meet additional responsibilities as program demands