80-100% Social Worker III - Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa is seeking a Social Worker III who will be an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, the Social Worker III  will provide direct social work services including assessment, treatment, interventions, and recommendations to facilitate movement through the continuum of care to Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) oncology patients as well as their families on both inpatient and outpatient settings. The AYA program services cancer patients age 13-39 old and their families.

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center AYA Social Worker will plan, develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive social work services for adolescent and young adult patients with complex and/or specialized needs.  This role will also participate in and provide the social work perspective to interdisciplinary activities, as well as provide social work treatment, individually or in groups, to patients and clients and their families with complex emotional or social problems. 

This position will report to AYA Program Manager within the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, with functional oversight by the AYA Medical Director.

This is a two-year specified term position and may be eligible for extension based on funding.

Duties to include:

• Provide high quality patient care for Adolescent and Young Adult cancer patients ages 13-39 with complex or specialized needs including evaluation, assessment, and case work appropriate for patient’s condition and age.

• Perform transition planning activities and psychosocial assessment at onset and throughout the patient’s hospitalization utilizing clinical skills to create and update personalized transitional care plans.

• Prepare psycho-social histories, participate in clinical staff diagnostic and treatment staffing, interpret patients’ and clients’ and their families’ psycho-social functioning and needs, and recommend and plan social treatment methods to meet those needs.

• Plan for and provide consultation to medical or clinical service staff and community social agencies regarding the handling of medical-social or other social functioning problems of individual of groups of patients and clients and their families.

• Participates in the development of goals for the AYA Program.

• May represent AYA in monthly Teen Cancer America webinars and other national committees.

• Attend meetings and participate on committees and support groups as appropriate; serves as a member of the AYA Core team and AYA Steering Committee.

• Assists patients in completing AYA Enrollment form and documents relevant information.

• Maintains EPIC documentation and metrics of all AYA enrolled patients.

• Shares pertinent information with AYA Nurse Coordinator, AYA Patient and Family Life Specialists and other team members on a continual basis regarding AYA enrolled patients.

• Provide comprehensive survivorship support for AYA patients, including education, care planning, and resources to help navigate life after treatment and promote long-term well-being.

• Participate in Cancer Center initiatives or other projects according to departmental and organizational monitors.

• Function as a liaison between the clinic and community-based resources on an as needed basis.

• Participate in the development, strengthening and delivery of needed health and social services.

• Advocate for the unique needs of AYA patients