Medical Social Worker - Oncology, Inpatient, & Swing Bed Services

Education/Skills Required:

Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited school of social work.

Minimum of one year of experience in a hospital or comparable health care setting preferred.

Current New York State licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) required, LCSW-preferred.

Demonstrated knowledge of community resources, support services, and oncology‑related programs and networks.

Demonstrated emotional sensitivity, clinical judgment, and interpersonal skills to effectively support patients and family members experiencing serious illness, distress, or crisis.

Ability to collaborate effectively with interprofessional teams, hospital departments, UVM Health Network partners, community agencies, and Cancer Center personnel.

As applicable, the individual has training/competency in attending to the special needs and/or behaviors appropriate to the age of the patients for which care is being provided.

This is a full-time, on-site social work position providing comprehensive medical social work services across the inpatient medicine unit, swing bed program, and outpatient oncology clinic.

Delivers patient-centered psychosocial assessment, care planning, case management, and care coordination to support patients and families across the continuum of care. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, community partners, and post-acute providers to address complex psychosocial, medical, and discharge needs, promote safe transitions of care, and improve patient outcomes.

Provides medical social work services to patients admitted to the inpatient medicine unit by identifying psychosocial needs early in hospitalization and completing timely, comprehensive assessments. Participates in interdisciplinary rounds alongside physicians, nursing, case management, and allied health professionals to support care planning, address barriers to discharge, and facilitate smooth transitions of care. Delivers discharge planning services from admission through discharge, including patient and family education, coordination of post-hospital services, and direct communication with community providers to ensure safe and effective follow-up care.

Supports the swing bed program through participation in admissions, completion of psychosocial assessments, and ongoing discharge planning for post-acute patients. Coordinates services to address medical, functional, and psychosocial needs, including involvement in long-stay reviews and interdisciplinary care planning meetings as indicated. Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with community-based organizations, durable medical equipment providers, home health agencies, and other post-acute partners to ensure continuity of care following discharge.

Maintains a regular on-site presence in the outpatient oncology clinic to provide specialized psychosocial support, case management, and care coordination for patients and caregivers affected by cancer. Assesses emotional, practical, financial, and caregiver needs throughout diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. Facilitates referrals to oncology-specific programs, palliative care, hospice, support groups, and community resources, and collaborates closely with oncology providers to address distress, support advance care planning, and enhance quality of life for patients and families.