The Department maps out a competency-based skills training plan for all staff. Training can be either in-house or be run by external professional training agencies. The Department's current in-house training programmes are:

(1) MSW Training in Oncology Social Work

Programme Structure

	Part I: Generic Component
	Modules include psychosocial assessment including financial assessment and casework management, suicide assessment and management, ethics, groupwork and programme planning skills
	Part II: Specialist Component
	Modules include basics and psychosocial issues in oncology social work practice, human development and life tasks as applied to the illness experience, understanding attitudes towards illness from a cultural and spiritual dimension, working with families facing chronic illness and issues in grief and bereavement
	Part III: Counselling Skills Component
	Modules include the counselling framework in cancer care, counselling people with special needs, experiential approach in counselling, cognitive- behavioural approach in counselling and brief solution-focused counselling.

Duration
2-Year in-house training

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(2) Social Work Supervisory Training Programme

Programme Structure

	Part I: Core Skills
	Modules include social service management, supervision skills, evaluating social work practice, grievance handling and conflict management, team building, ethics in social work practice, skills in training, and research.
	Part II: Advanced Social Work Practice: Specialisation
	Specialisation in one chosen field of oncology social work

Duration
2-Year in-house training

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(3) Student Placement Programmes

The Department receives regular requests from the Department of Social Work & Psychology, NUS to supervise both undergraduate and post-graduate diploma students twice a year in block placements of 6 to 8 weeks. The Department has also supervised counselling students at diploma and masters level from Temasek Polytechnic, the University of Melbourne and the University of South Australia. Due to its manpower constraints, it will give priority to supervising social work students.

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(4) In-House Training Programmes

The Department has conducted in-house training in:

	Ward In-Service Training for Nurses
	Counselling Skills for Oncology Nurses & Paramedical Staff
	Programme Planning & Groupwork Facilitation Skills
	Volunteers' Training

Action Research through Oncology Social Work Network

The Department believes in playing its part in community building and development.
Since opening in May 1999, it initiated the 'Social Work Oncology Network' (SWON) which involve all cancer-related agencies in the promotion and enhancement of psychosocial / palliative care and management. It has also conducted numerous talks and workshops at regional and national conferences, and in agency's in-house training programmes on the psychosocial management of cancer patients and their families, and in grief and bereavement.
As a community responsibility, NCCS seeks to impart knowledge and professional competence both through educational activities and research.

The Social Work Oncology Network (SWON) is an interest group under the MSW Chapter of the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW). It is foreseeable that MSWs of different hospitals / organisations could meet up and discuss interest areas that are not confined within the boundaries of hospitals / organisations. With such a network, there is likely to be consolidated effort in promoting, practising and training in oncology social work through the following fields.

(1) Clinical practice
(2) Education
(3) Administration
(4) Research


Activities
 It is within the scope of SWON to look into:

	Oncology Social Work Standards & Practice
	Professional Education & Training
	Post-graduate Certificate or Diploma in Oncology Social Work It is hoped that SWON could link up with a local or an Australian tertiary institution to provide specialised training in oncology social work to augment the qualifications of oncology social workers.
	Regular Talks & Discussion on Specialities in Oncology It is hoped that bi-monthly educational sessions be held as a form of continuing education for oncology social workers. Oncologists from various specialities could be invited to brief MSWs on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients; MSWs could further discuss the theoretical framework and techniques in managing these patients and their families.
	Oncology Social Work Mentoring / Journal Club Meetings It is hoped that MSWs get to read about the latest development in practice. MSWs could also present case-studies and demonstrate techniques used or to be used in counselling the cancer patients and their families. MSWs could also communicate via e-mails for advice on how certain cases or issues could be managed
	Oncology Social Work Study / Research
	It is hoped that MSWs of the different hospitals and organisations could collaborate on small scale studies / research.
	A study on retreat participants’ perception of their quality of life was undertaken during the March 2005 retreat. Key findings surfaced from the study include: • Heightened patients’ awareness about mortality while embracing hope • Family and social support is vital • Having paid or unpaid work is essential • Having a religion helps with coping • A respite for family caregivers’

Contact Information
Located at Patient Care Services Level 2
Tel: 6436 8126 Fax: 6227 2534 E-mail: mss@nccs.com.sg