'Tucked in My Heart': The role of social work in pediatric palliative and end -of -life care. A mixed methodology study

Pediatric social workers are frequently called upon to assist with end-of-life care and yet, they receive little formal training in their graduate education to prepare them for this role. Most of the models used for end-of-life care are designed for work with the adult population and have little application to pediatrics. This research identifies the social work perception of the psychosocial needs of dying children and their families in order to develop a best practice model of care and a syllabus to train current and future social workers. Drawing on the practice knowledge of pediatric oncology social workers currently providing end-of-life care to children and families, this study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to identify current practices employed by and the training given to social workers with respect to end-of-life care for children with cancer. This exploratory study contributes to the growing knowledge about pediatric palliative and end-of-life care by offering a previously unheard perspective to the national dialogue. This research offers a beginning understanding of (a) the social work perception of psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families at the end of life; (b) the current practice methods of pediatric oncology social workers providing end-of-life care to children and; (c) the ideal role/best practices of pediatric oncology social workers in end-of-life care for children. This research highlights the role of social work in pediatric palliative care and offers an empirically-based master's level syllabus in social worker in pediatric palliative and end-of-life care.