The Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) is pleased to release its framework and staffing formula to hire psychosocial professionals working with people affected by cancer. CAPO is the first organization in Canada to have undertaken this type of extensive work.  With the challenges health care organizations are facing with recruitment and retention of staff, it is even more important than ever to have these types of tools available to administrators. The 10 point framework and calculator was developed for social work and can be adapted to other disciplines working in psychosocial oncology; for example, work is underway to adapt the framework for psychologists.

The full document and calculator can be found on the CAPO Clinical Advisory Committee page . 

This work was led by Dr. Carole Mayer, RSW, Marianne Arab, RSW, Kimberly Thibodeau, RSW and leaders across Canada through the CAPO Clinical Advisory Committee.  A well-resourced infrastructure with efficient processes for PSO programming paired with highly committed and qualified clinicians will ensure that cancer patients and families receive services that address their needs with positive and measurable outcomes.

The evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) movement within oncology, as in other health fields, represents a trend in identifying best practices and standardizing treatments. Within psychosocial oncology, evidence-based CPGs, along with Standards of Care, can help increase awareness of the important and often unmet psychosocial needs of cancer patients.

These guides to practice can be used by practitioners and organizations to identify and address the challenges and barriers in delivering high quality, accessible psychosocial care. CAPO, in collaboration with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) and other key partners, is leading initiatives to develop and disseminate national psychosocial oncology clinical practice guidelines.

View the guidelines