Description
Support cancer patients and their families with psychosocial care across diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end of life. Provide counseling, resource navigation, and case management; coordinate with oncology teams to reduce barriers, promote adherence, and improve quality of life.
- • Collaborate with oncologists, nurses, and palliative care teams to assess psychosocial needs across the cancer care continuum.
- • Screen for psychosocial distress, depression, anxiety, and social determinants of health affecting treatment adherence.
- • Connect patients and caregivers with cancer-specific resources, including transportation, lodging, financial aid, and legal services.
- • Provide individual and group counseling to help patients and families cope with diagnosis, treatment effects, survivorship, or recurrence.
- • Facilitate caregiver and survivorship support groups and provide family counseling on roles and communication.
- • Advocate for patients during crises such as new diagnosis, treatment complications, or financial and housing instability.
- • Identify barriers such as insurance gaps, employment issues, language access, or caregiving challenges through interviews and chart review.
- • Develop and coordinate psychosocial care plans integrated with oncology treatment, tracking referrals and outcomes.
- • Adjust interventions as disease status, treatment plan, or goals of care change.
- • Monitor, evaluate, and document progress using care plan goals and validated oncology measures.
- • Supervise and mentor social work interns, navigators, or volunteers in oncology settings.
- • Help shape policies and programs that advance equitable access to cancer care and supportive services.
- • Assist with insurance navigation and benefits paperwork, including Medicaid/Medicare, disability, FMLA, and charity care.
- • Participate in quality improvement and research initiatives in psychosocial oncology.
- • Plan and deliver education on cancer risk reduction, screening, treatment navigation, and coping skills.
- • Coordinate discharge and care transitions between inpatient, outpatient, home health, and hospice.
- • Educate patients and families about palliative care, symptom management, advance care planning, and end-of-life options.
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Healthcare & Human Services
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
