Social workers are integral members of the interdisciplinary palliative care team (IDT), addressing psychological and social needs to support patients living with serious illness, and their families. Because of their specialized training, social workers play a critical role on the team—communicating with patients and families.
This toolkit provides online courses and tools to help social workers meet the needs of patients and families, and to help palliative care programs use best practices to integrate social work into the work of the IDT.
What’s in the Toolkit
Online Courses
CAPC courses and learning pathways for social workers, including CAPC Designation status.
Learning Pathways
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Find CAPC-curated courses and tools based on your practice area, discipline, or area of interest. CAPC courses provide free continuing education credits for all staff at member organizations, and ABIM MOC credits for physicians.
Online Clinical Training Courses For All Clinicians
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Online training curriculum for all specialties and disciplines to strengthen their care of patients living with serious illness. Free continuing education credits for all, and physicians receive ABIM MOC credits for select courses.
Overview for organization leaders and other key decisionmakers about how specialty palliative care social work enhances the value of care for people living with serious illness.
National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care, 4th edition
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The National Consensus Project (NCP) Clinical Practice Guidelines are the national standard for high quality palliative care.
National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care, 2018.
Social Work Network in Palliative and End-of-Life Care Listserv
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Background information and instructions to join the Social Work Network in Palliative and End-of-Life Care Listserv. This network designed to connect social workers who work in areas such as geriatrics, HIV, Hospice, Nephrology, Oncology, and Pediatrics.
Billing for Social Work Services in Palliative Care
MEMBERS ONLY
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A slide deck detailing the opportunities and considerations for palliative care teams billing for social work services.
Courtesy of Brandi Rutan, LCSW, LISW-CP, Four Seasons Clinical Social Worker and Tranquil Counseling & Consulting, LLC and Christine Lau, RN, LCSW, APHSW-C, Sr. Director of Serious Illness Care Management for Teleios and VP of Operations for UNC Community Palliative Care.
Skill-building resources for palliative care social workers.
Advanced Palliative and Hospice Social Work Certification (APHSW-C®)
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The APHSW-C® is a psychometric, exam-based certification is designed for experienced social workers with specialized skills and competency in hospice and palliative social work. The APHSW-C® assures the public that certified practitioners have the knowledge and skills to provide safe, high-quality care at an advanced level. Individuals eligible for the exam-based certification include experienced hospice and palliative care social workers that practice in clinical and academic settings in the United States and Canada.
Certification in hospice and palliative care is available through the National Association of Social Workers for a bachelor's or master's level social worker.
The mission of the Board of Oncology Social Work Certification is to promote excellence in psychosocial care for oncology patients, families, caregivers, and their community through the process of Oncology Social Work Certification.
Educating Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (ESPEC)
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Educating Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (ESPEC) is an innovative training program designed for health social workers by social workers to promote the integration of primary palliative care skills into clinical practice.
Resources for pediatric palliative care social workers.
Pediatric Palliative Care
In this Virtual Office Hour, ask questions related to strategic planning, program development, communication techniques, and managing operations for the pediatric palliative care program.
Connect with peers and field experts on CAPC’s faculty: just-in-time problem solving, shared advice, new ideas, and peer mentoring.
Role of the Social Worker on the Interdisciplinary Team
Ask questions about the role of the social worker on the palliative care team, including distinguishing the role from other disciplines on the team and navigating competing demands on palliative care social workers from the social work department.
Part of the Improving Team Effectiveness series, this session covers building and sustaining a stable, effective interdisciplinary team. Ask questions on topics such as hiring and onboarding, role clarity, team communication, and preventing burnout.
CAPC case reviews of complex patient cases cover topics such as pain management, family dynamics, service partnerships, disease-specific care, spiritual care, and more.
Tools to design and implement a training initiative for care teams from all specialties, to improve quality of life for patients and families living with serious illness.
Includes 29 resources:
The Case for Communication and Symptom Management Training
Clinical Training Recommendations for All Clinicians Caring for Patients with Serious Illness
Implementing a Training Program
Resources for Reinforcing Skills
Case Studies and Additional Resources
Education and Training Options for Palliative Care Clinicians
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