Job Description – Medical Social Worker (Palliative Care)
Jus Onco Palliation Trust
Position
Medical Social Worker – Palliative Care
Department: Community & Palliative Care
Reporting To: Head – Palliative Care / Program Manager
Location: Chennai (Travel to patients' homes required)
About Jus Onco Palliative Care Trust
Jus Onco Palliation Trust is committed to ensuring that no patient suffering from advanced cancer is left without compassionate care because of financial, social or geographical barriers. The Trust provides holistic palliative care through home visits, symptom support, psychosocial counselling, caregiver education and end-of-life care.
Role Summary
The Medical Social Worker plays a critical role in improving the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer and their families by addressing psychosocial, emotional and practical needs. The role involves working closely with doctors, nurses, psychologists, volunteers and community organizations to provide patient-centred, family-oriented palliative care. Medical social workers are central to psychosocial assessment, counselling, case management, community resource linkage, caregiver support and continuity of care.
Key Responsibilities
1. Patient & Family Assessment
- Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments.
- Assess family support systems.
- Identify caregiver burden.
- Assess emotional distress and coping ability.
- Identify social determinants affecting treatment and quality of life.
2. Counselling & Emotional Support
Provide counselling for:
- Newly diagnosed advanced cancer patients
- Patients requiring palliative care
- Family caregivers
- Bereavement support after death
- Anxiety, depression and adjustment issues
- Acceptance of disease progression
3. Home Care Coordination
Coordinate:
- Home visits
- Follow-up calls
- Nursing visits
- Medical equipment arrangements
- Home oxygen support
- Wheelchair/bed requirements
- Physiotherapy referrals
- Volunteer visits
4. Caregiver Support
Educate caregivers on:
- Patient handling
- Feeding
- Hygiene
- Medication adherence
- Pressure sore prevention
- Pain management basics
- Emotional coping
- End-of-life preparedness
5. Advance Care Planning
Assist families in understanding:
- Goals of care
- Advance care planning
- Home-based care options
- Hospice care
- Patient wishes
- End-of-life decision support
6. Documentation
Maintain accurate records of:
- Psychosocial assessments
- Home visits
- Counselling notes
- Resource referrals
- Financial aid applications
- Follow-up plans
- Outcome measures
7. Community Awareness
Conduct awareness programmes on:
- Palliative care
- Home care
- Cancer support
- Caregiver education
- Pain management awareness
- Early referral to palliative services
8. Volunteer Management
- Recruit volunteers.
- Train volunteers.
- Assign patient visits.
- Monitor volunteer activities.
- Recognize volunteer contributions.
9. Quality Improvement
Monitor:
- Patient satisfaction
- Family satisfaction
- Caregiver burden
- Service utilization
- Referral turnaround time
- Home visit completion
- Patient outcomes
Recommend improvements to services.
Additional Responsibilities
- Conduct home visits independently.
- Support tele-counselling services.
- Coordinate virtual family meetings.
- Support fundraising initiatives by documenting patient impact stories (with informed consent).
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
- Coordinate with corporate CSR partners.
- Organize patient support groups.
- Assist in community palliative care outreach.
Qualification
Essential
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Specialization in Medical & Psychiatric Social Work preferred
Preferred
- Certificate/Fellowship in Palliative Care
- Oncology experience
- Hospice experience
Experience
- 2–5 years in:
- Oncology
- Hospital social work
- Hospice
- Community health
- Palliative care
- NGO healthcare projects
Freshers with relevant palliative care internships may also be considered.
Skills Required
Clinical
- Psychosocial assessment
- Family counselling
- Crisis intervention
- Grief counselling
- Caregiver counselling
- Case management
Soft Skills
- Compassion
- Excellent communication
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Emotional resilience
- Conflict resolution
- Cultural sensitivity
- Team collaboration
Administrative
- Documentation
- Microsoft Office
- EMR/HIMS documentation
- Report preparation
- Government scheme documentation
Pay: ₹20,000.00 - ₹30,000.00 per month
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
