Job Title: Oncology Social Worker/ Behavioral Health Care Manager
Location: Tacoma/Puyallup
Great opportunity to enter and gain experience within the healthcare/oncology field. NWMS is a leading community oncology private practice in Washington State, with a robust research program. No healthcare experience required. Great opportunity for recent MSW graduate!
Summary:
This Social Worker / Behavioral Health Care Manager position supports oncology patients and families through psychosocial assessment, counseling, resource connection, care coordination, and behavioral health support. The role will begin as support for Social Work and Behavioral Health Care Manager coverage needs, then transition to carrying a small collaborative care caseload, with the potential to grow into the full Behavioral Health Care Manager role as program needs and clinical readiness align.
Oncology social workers embrace patient- and family-centered care at all levels of practice. This approach includes: respect for patients' values, preferences and expressed needs; coordinated and integrated culturally competent care; timely, affirming and useful information, communication and education; individualized care; physical comfort, emotional support, involvement of family and friends, shared decision-making and collaboration with patients and families in the evaluation, planning and delivery of care.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
· Provide hybrid coverage support across oncology social work and Behavioral Health Care Manager workflows, with an initial focus on coverage, patient outreach, psychosocial assessment, follow-up, care coordination, and documentation.
· Assess patient and family psychosocial, emotional, behavioral health, substance use, practical, and resource-related needs using screening tools, clinical assessment, and high-risk criteria.
· Provide supportive counseling, crisis intervention, education, brief evidence-based behavioral interventions, and care planning to support coping, adjustment, treatment engagement, and quality of life.
· Coordinate care with oncology providers, psychiatric consultant, Supportive Services team, community agencies, and other treating providers to address barriers to care and connect patients with appropriate internal and external resources.
· Manage a small BHCM caseload as assigned, with potential growth toward a full BHCM role; monitor symptoms, treatment response, medication adherence, side effects, follow-up needs, and progress toward treatment goals.
· Participate in caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communicate clinically appropriate recommendations to the patient’s medical provider and care team.
· Maintain accurate documentation in the EHR and required tracking systems, including registry use, outreach, interventions, treatment recommendations, outcomes, referrals, and follow-up activities.
· Advocate for patient dignity, confidentiality, rights, access to care, culturally responsive services, and ethical practice consistent with professional standards and organizational policies.
· Contribute to multidisciplinary care, program development, quality improvement, professional consultation, and continuing education related to oncology social work and integrated behavioral health.
Additional duties:
- Maintains strictest confidentiality; adhere to all HIPAA guidelines/ regulations.
- Attends meetings and /or training as required.
- Serve on clinic and community committees, as appropriate.
Role Progression:
This position is intended to function as a hybrid role. Initial responsibilities will focus on coverage support for Social Work and Behavioral Health Care Manager needs, including patient outreach, assessments, resource support, documentation, and care coordination. As training, workflow development, and program needs evolve, the role will carry a small BHCM caseload with the potential to expand into a full Behavioral Health Care Manager role.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be knowledgeable about chronic illness and the psychosocial implications for individuals and families.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- 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
· Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with oncology providers, psychiatric consultants, behavioral health providers, multidisciplinary team members, patients, and families.
· Experience or interest in collaborative care, behavioral health screening, brief psychosocial interventions, registry-based caseload management, and measurement-based treatment planning.
Education/Experience:
The Social Worker / Behavioral Health Care Manager shall be master’s prepared from a graduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or another clinically appropriate accredited graduate program. Prior employment or field placement experience in a health care, oncology, behavioral health, or integrated care setting is preferred.
- Certificates and Licenses
- Maintain a minimum of one of the following active licenses in the state of Washington:
- Independent Clinical Social Worker License (LICSW).
- Independent Clinical License Associate (LSWA-IC) through Washington State Department of Health. (Must be obtained within the first 6 months of employment.)
- WA State Department of Health (DOH) registration/certification/licensure.
· Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Social Work Associate Independent Clinical, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or associate-level license may be considered based on program needs and scope of practice.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Outlook, Word, and Excel. Can operate basic office equipment such as telephones, computers, fax, and copy machines.
Language Ability
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position is in a standard medical clinic environment with desktop business equipment and frequent telephone calls. There may be frequent interruptions and high utilization on some days and low utilization on others. The noise level is moderate.
Travel:
Local travel may be involved in all day-to-day activities. Must have reliable transportation.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The work is typically performed in a medical clinic environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: use hands to handle or feel; talk; see; and/or hear. Employees must be able to work in close contact with small and large groups. Employees must be able to lift up to 50lbs.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $69,517- $86,562 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Education:
Work Location: Multiple locations
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $69,517.00 - $86,562.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Tacoma, WA 98445 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Tacoma, WA 98445: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Tacoma, WA 98445
