Social Work Cancer Support Care Navigator
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Full-time
Social Service
Posted on August 26, 2023
Cancer Support Care Social Work Navigator
Massey Cancer Center
“To improve the lives of all Virginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals.”
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center is a nationally ranked cancer center located in the heart of Downtown Richmond. All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity, and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off, 12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/university-and-academic-professional-benefits/
The Cancer Support Care Social Work (SW) Navigator reports directly to the Navigation Administrative supervisor as a member of the Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), which assists clients and communities by facilitating disparities-related research, providing access to cancer prevention and education, and enabling access to cancer screening, treatment, and clinical trials.Explore; Massey Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement (COE). The SW Navigator assists individuals in medically underserved communities, throughout the 66 localities of Massey's catchment area, in overcoming social determinants of health (SDOH) barriers to cancer care. As a team member, the SW Navigator works with community partners to help clients connect and participate in cancer prevention and early detection education, link to cancer screening appointments, primary and health care services, and other ancillary services. The SW is expected to work with clients in-person while in the field, in the clinic, virtually, and by telephone. The SW must work independently using good judgment in performing the assigned duties and responsibilities.
Typical Duties
· Help alleviate social determinants of health barriers to ensure delivery of timely and high-quality cancer prevention and education and enable access to cancer screening, treatment, and clinical trials.
· Address client/patient and caregiver barriers, perceived or actual, related to social determinants of health.
· Connect clients/patients to in-reach (medical care centers) and outreach (community) resources to meet their needs.
· Support bi-directional communication between the client, patient, caregivers, and health care team in understanding cancer risk reduction, early prevention and screening, cancer diagnosis, and treatment options.
· Work to build relationships with community partners to support COE navigation activities at sites/locations within Massey's 66 catchment localities.
· Maintain regular communication with the patient's care team as needed through electronic health records, emails, phone calls, etc.
· Provide health education about clinical trials and assist patients in connecting with the clinical trial care team.
· Connect clients/patients to health care appointments.
· Develop and train the COE navigation team on processes and approaches to case management and financial toxicity workflow navigation systems.
· Accompany patients to medical appointments and initiate or reschedule an appointment, as necessary.
· Monitor the client/patient appointments schedule and track them for compliance with operational standards,
· Document all client encounters in appropriate systems and complete reporting requirements and data collection to meet organizational and confidentially standards.
· Participate and often lead the implementation of community outreach and education programming,
· Attend and represent the organization at professional conferences, in-service training, and meetings at the request and with the supervisor's approval.
· Assist and often lead efforts in building capacity to conduct culturally appropriate cancer education activities that aim to reduce cancer health disparities, build public awareness of cancer prevention strategies, and facilitate cancer research and initiatives.
· Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Hiring Standards
· Bachelor's degree
· Licensed Social Worker in the state of Virginia.
· Two years of healthcare, community, or non-profit experience as a Social Worker, preferably in cancer or patient navigation or the equivalent combination of education and experience
· Excellent oral and written communication skills
· Excellent organization and time management skills.
· Some travel is required within 66 counties of Massey catchment localities.
· A Flexible work schedule is required to include weekends and, on occasion, evenings and holidays.
Preferred Hiring Standards
· Master's degree
· CHES certified
· Spanish fluency (written and spoken)
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience bachelor's starting at $52K and master's at $62k
Position Details:
Department: Massey Cancer Center
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt
Job Slotting: Education Specialist
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Massey HR
Contact Email: masseyhr@vcu.edu