Social Worker III

About City of Hope

City of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution with over 6,000 employees, is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases and guided by a compassionate, patient-centered philosophy.

Founded in 1913 and headquartered in Duarte, California, City of Hope is a remarkable non-profit institution, where compassion and advanced care go hand-in-hand with excellence in clinical and scientific research.  City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s 20 leading cancer centers that develops and institutes standards of care for cancer treatment.

Position Summary

The Clinical Social Worker III (hereinafter “CSW III”) holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW), maintains active registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, and provides medical social work services.  The CSW III is responsible for employing a model of patient care that focuses on providing patients/caregivers with supportive counseling, psychosocial assessments, therapeutic interventions, education, and community resource support information. The CSW III provides mentorship to MSWs in collaboration with social work management.  This position involves active leadership; participation in multidisciplinary program development and evaluation; multidisciplinary treatment modalities; emergency/crisis response; and on-call rotation. The CSW III actively works to ensure optimal delivery of psychosocial care and seeks out performance improvement initiatives, either through direct involvement and committee membership or by leading performance improvement efforts.  The CSW III is expected to lead in at least two areas including education and training programs, BBS supervision or mentorship, policy writing or committee representation, and/or research and program development, presentations at conference or community events and contribution to the professional literature.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Provides timely, appropriate, reliable, and respectful social work services to patients and families.
• Demonstrates competence appropriate to his/her role and function
• Delivers quality of care consistent with professional and City of Hope standards.
• Uses effective decision-making, evaluation and problem-solving skills in managing patient care, hospital, and administrative needs.
• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills; excellent documentation skills of all activities/decisions related to patient care in compliance with State, National and Joint Commission standards/regulations.  
• Provides skilled psychosocial support and crisis management for patients throughout the continuum of care:  diagnosis, living with cancer, recurrence, end-of-life, and survivorship. 
• Respectful understanding of cultural differences and diversity.
• Acts as an effective liaison for appropriate referrals to other services within the Department of Supportive Care Medicine, including:  psychiatry; psychology; supportive and palliative care; pain management; spiritual care; patient navigation; and patient, family & community education.
• Must demonstrate proficient team-building skills, effectively negotiating and willing to compromise as needed, to resolve issues and respectfully reach a consensus.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and serves on institutional committees as appointed.
• Actively working towards post-licensure certifications or specialization; continues active pursuit of opportunities for further development of clinical skills and professional growth.
• Acts as a skilled educator as demonstrated by professional presentations, student training, research and mentorship. 
• Participates in recruitment and interviewing of social work candidates.   
• Acts as an ambassador to the profession by effectively articulating the role and expertise of a CSW and by actively participating in community and professional organizations. 
• Demonstrates a willingness to participate in marketing and development efforts. 
• Meets and maintains all professional and regulatory standards; exemplifies and promotes the core values of the Department of Supportive Care Medicine.
• Participates in performance improvement activities to promote continuous improvement in care delivery.
• Effectively leads groups, committees, interdisciplinary team meetings and patient care conferences within the Department of Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope, and in the community. 
• Provides mentorship and clinical supervision to MSWs in collaboration with social work management. 
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills and professionalism, serving as a role model within the Department, City of Hope and as a representative of City of Hope in the larger community; effectively works with community agencies and professional organizations.  
• Has earned the respect and esteem of the team, Department, organization and profession; fosters positive departmental and institutional morale.
• Demonstrates compassion, warmth, insight, basic skill in assessments and intervention, and maintains objectivity and professional boundaries.
• Possesses advanced knowledge of and is viewed as an expert and authority on the patient population at City of Hope.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

Minimum Education: 

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an approved California Accredited School of Social Work
• Experience may substitute for minimum education requirements.

Minimum Experience:

• Five years medical social work experience
• Two or more years post licensure experience

Req. Certification/Licensure:     

• Out of state Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Active registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
• CSW III must pass the LCSW exam and become a LCSW in the state of California within one year or be demoted to CSW II
• For pediatric service, CCS Panel provider or complete application within 60 days of hire

Preferred Courses/Training:

• Oncology, palliative, end-of-life, and MSW supervision
• BBS required Supervision Training (The 15 Hour Course)
• Membership in a professional organization (AOSW, NASW, etc.) (Preferred)

Pref. Certification/Licensure:

Advanced certification in relevant clinical social work skill:

• Certified Clinical Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Social Worker (C-CATODSW) from NASW OR:
• Clinical Social Worker in Gerontology (CSW-G) from NASW OR:
• Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (ACHP-SW) from NASW OR:
• Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-ACYFSW)  from NASW OR:
• Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM)  from NASW OR:
• Accredited Case Manager (ACM) from ACMA OR:
• Oncology Social Work Certification (OSW-C) from AOSW/APOSW

Preferred Experience:

• Two years oncology social work (Preferred)
• Previous supervisory experience (Preferred)

Additional Information:

• To protect the health of patients and staff and to comply with new State of California mandates, City of Hope staff are required to show proof of full vaccination by September 30, 2021.  Compliance is a condition of employment.   

City of Hope is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

• Posting Date: Sep 22, 2021
• Job Field: Allied Health
• Employee Status: Regular
• Shift: Day Job