Social Worker
: Job Details :


Social Worker

University of Rochester

Job Location : Rochester,NY, USA

Posted on : 2025-09-01T18:01:43Z

Job Description :

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14642

Opening:

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Department:

500180 Social Work - Adult Services

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

UR URCE 211

Compensation Range:

$63,003.00 - $80,600.00

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities:

The social worker in the Collaborative Care Program is a core member of the collaborative care team, including the patient's medical provider, psychiatric consultant and the larger oncology team. Their main function is to identify and proactively manage the mental and physical health care needs of patients on an assigned patient caseload within the oncology practice setting under the direction of the oncologist and consulting psychiatrist.

The social worker uses established criteria to identify at-risk patients, and determines the drivers of risk in conjunction with the patient, family, physician, APP, consulting psychiatrist and ancillary health care providers. The social worker functions collaboratively as a member of the multidisciplinary team in close partnership with the assigned oncology social worker. As an integral, professional member of the practice's care team, the social worker uses established tools to measure the impact of evidence-based behavioral interventions and regularly reassesses the patient progress and risk for adverse mental and physical health outcomes using an established tool.

This position is based at the Pluta Cancer Center which is part of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, an NCI designated institution. This 84-bed cancer center offers patients and their families comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services. It is home to one of upstate New York's largest blood and marrow transplant program and the region's leader in cancer research. The Wilmot Cancer Institute maintains a large network of clinical trials that offer new therapies and options that may not be available anywhere else upstate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Screens/responds to screens already in place and assesses patients for common mental health and substance use disorders using established tools, partnering with the care team to ensure engagement and follow-up care.

Supports the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned patient caseload.

  • Closely coordinates care with the patient's medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers in the practice or outside.

  • Assesses patient's level of health literacy and provides patient education about common mental health and substance use disorders and available treatment options.

  • Establishes trusting relationships with patients, enabling effective intervention and support.

  • Conducts initial and regular subsequent assessments of the patient's condition, needs, preferences and clinical and psychosocial barriers.

Provides brief, culturally competent behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing or other evidence based approaches as appropriate.

  • Supports the patient in identification of actionable goals to optimize health outcomes.

  • Develops a plan that:

  • Promotes improved mental and physical health care outcomes and quality of life, informed by the patient's goals, strengths and barriers.

  • Addresses potential crisis events to ensure planned crisis interventions are effective and result in modifications to the plan , if necessary, and addresses the potential need for additional support systems.

  • Collaborates with family/caregiver regarding the patient's needs.

  • Supports psychotropic medication management as prescribed by the patient's provider(s), focusing on adherence monitoring, side effects and effectiveness of treatment.

  • Systematically tracks response to interventions and monitor patients (in person and/or by telephone) for changes in clinical symptoms and side effects or complications.

  • Provides or facilitates in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments as clinically indicated.

  • Participates in regularly scheduled (usually weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient's provider. Consultations will focus on patients new to the caseload and those who are not improving as expected under the current plan. Case reviews may be conducted in person or via secure telehealth communication.

  • Facilitates plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected and who may need more intensive or more specialized mental health care in consultation with the patient's provider and consulting psychiatrist.

  • Facilitates referrals for clinically indicated services such as social services for housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care or substance abuse treatment.

  • Develops and completes a relapse prevention self-management plan with patients who have achieved their treatment goals and are soon to be discharged from the caseload.

Participates in patient care team meetings

  • Participates effectively as a care team member within the practice by:

  • Fostering a positive working relationship with patients, providers and practice staff.

  • Working with others to coordinate and access patient care support services.

  • Providing input relating to changes that may enhance the practice effectiveness.

  • Participating in office and care team meetings and huddles as appropriate.

  • Conducting pre-visit planning and post-visit follow-up for care managed patients.

Documentation/Tracking

  • Tracks patient follow-up and clinical outcomes using a registry. Document in-person and telephone encounters in the registry and use the system to identify and re-engage patients.

  • Documents patient progress and treatment recommendations in both the registry platform and in eRecord, so as to be shared with the primary care provider, consulting psychiatrist and care team.

Handles risk management issues, in close consultation with his/her supervisor and the Clinical Manager

Completes the following Administrative Functions:

  • Attends Social Work Division, Social Work in Psychiatry, and Program staff meetings to ensure effective implementation of professional practice, discharge planning, and patient care policies and procedures.

  • Ensures timely completion of administrative tasks including time reporting, other Hospital or Division forms, mandatory in-service training, and UHS reviews.

  • Participates in routine committee process of the Social Work Division, and facilitates Division and Hospital quality assurance and staff development activities.

  • Subscribes to the departmental goal of creating a culturally competent environment by treating patient, families, trainees, and co-workers in a sensitive manner with appropriate attention to cultural differences. Participates in available cultural competency events and training appropriate to job duties.

  • Completes required Employee Health appointments within required timeframe

  • Shares with practice leadership issues that are obstacles to meeting patient needs.

  • Shares updated information related to community resources.

Supervises social work students (MSW or BSW)

Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

  • Master's degree from an accredited school of social work required

  • Or equivalent combination of education and experience

  • 2-3 years of professional social work practice beyond the Master's degree, at least one of which must include psychiatric emergency, crisis or outreach work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience and working with adult populations (preferred)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Excellent communication skills and ability to form collaborative partnerships across all service settings.

  • Experience with screening for common mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.

  • Working knowledge of differential diagnosis of common mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.

  • Ability to effectively engage patients in a therapeutic relationship.

  • Ability to effectively communicate with patients by telephone, as well as in person.

  • Experience with assessment and treatment planning for common mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.

  • Working knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial treatments and brief behavioral interventions for common mental health disorders.

  • Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders that is within the appropriate scope of practice for licensure status.

  • Experience with evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing.

  • Working knowledge of community resources related to common mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.

  • Basic oncology knowledge understanding common cancer terms, conditions and treatment options.

  • Ability to assimilate new information and technologies into daily work.

  • Competent in Microsoft Office products (Work, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Master's degree from an accredited school of social work. Licensure as a social worker, as defined by the State Board for Social Work, State Education Department, Division of Professional Licensing Services is required. If licensure has not been obtained upon employment, the individual has 18 months with which to obtain it.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University's Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create - and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.

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Learn. Discover. Heal. Create.

Located in western New York, Rochester is our namesake and our home. One of the world's leading research universities, Rochester has a long tradition of breaking boundaries-always pushing and questioning, learning and unlearning. We transform ideas into enterprises that create value and make the world ever better.

If you're looking for a career in higher education or health care, the University of Rochester may offer the perfect opportunity for your background and goals

At the University of Rochester, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture and are united by a strong commitment to be ever better-Meliora. It is an ideal that informs our shared mission to ensure all members of our community feel safe, respected, included, and valued.

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