Become A Medical Social Worker

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Working As A Medical Social Worker

Getting Information
Assisting and Caring for Others
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Deal with People
Unpleasant/Angry People
Unpleasant/Hazardous Environment
Stressful
$45,213
Average Salary

What Does A Medical Social Worker Do

Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.

Duties

Social workers typically do the following:

Identify people and communities in need of help
Assess clients’ needs, situations, strengths, and support networks to determine their goals
Help clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, divorce, or unemployment
Research, refer, and advocate for community resources, such as food stamps, childcare, and healthcare to assist and improve a client’s well-being
Respond to crisis situations such as child abuse and mental health emergencies
Follow up with clients to ensure that their situations have improved
Evaluate services provided to ensure that they are effective
Develop and evaluate programs and services to ensure that basic client needs are met
Provide psychotherapy services

Social workers help people cope with challenges in their lives. They help with a wide range of situations, such as adopting a child or being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Social workers may work with children, people with disabilities, and people with serious illnesses and addictions. Their work varies based on the type of client they are working with.

Some social workers work with groups, community organizations, and policymakers to develop or improve programs, services, policies, and social conditions. This focus of work is referred to as macro social work.

Advocacy is an important aspect of social work. Social workers advocate or raise awareness with and on behalf of their clients and the social work profession on local, state, and national levels.

The following are examples of types of social workers:

Child and family social workers protect vulnerable children and help families in need of assistance. They help families find housing or services, such as childcare, or apply for benefits, such as food stamps. They intervene when children are in danger of neglect or abuse. Some help arrange adoptions, locate foster families, or work to reunite families.

Clinical social workers—also called licensed clinical social workers—diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. They provide individual, group, family, and couples therapy; they work with clients to develop strategies to change behavior or cope with difficult situations; and they refer clients to other resources or services, such as support groups or other mental health professionals. Clinical social workers can develop treatment plans with the client, doctors, and other healthcare professionals and may adjust the treatment plan if necessary based on their client’s progress. They may also provide mental healthcare to help children and families cope with changes in their lives, such as divorce or other family problems.

Many clinical social workers work in private practice. In these settings, clinical social workers also perform administrative and recordkeeping tasks, such as working with insurance companies in order to receive payment for their services. Some work in a group practice with other social workers or mental health professionals.

School social workers work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social development. Students and their families are often referred to social workers to deal with problems such as aggressive behavior, bullying, or frequent absences from school.

Healthcare social workers help patients understand their diagnosis and make the necessary adjustments to their lifestyle, housing, or healthcare. For example, they may help people make the transition from the hospital back to their homes and communities. In addition, they may provide information on services, such as home healthcare or support groups, to help patients manage their illness or disease. Social workers help doctors and other healthcare professionals understand the effects that diseases and illnesses have on patients’ mental and emotional health.

Some healthcare social workers specialize in geriatric social work, hospice and palliative care, or medical social work:

Geriatric social workers help senior citizens and their families. They help clients find services, such as programs that provide older adults with meals or with home healthcare. They may provide information about assisted living facilities or nursing homes, or work with older adults in those settings. They help clients and their families make plans for possible health complications or for where clients will live if they can no longer care for themselves.
Hospice and palliative care social workers help patients adjust to serious, chronic, or terminal illnesses. Palliative care focuses on relieving or preventing pain and other symptoms associated with serious illness. Hospice is a type of palliative care for people who are dying. Social workers in this setting provide and find services, such as support groups or grief counselors, to help patients and their families cope with the illness or disease.
Medical social workers in hospitals help patients and their families by linking patients with resources in the hospital and in their own community. They may work with medical staff to create discharge plans, make referrals to community agencies, facilitate support groups, or conduct followup visits with patients once they have been discharged.

Mental health and substance abuse social workers help clients with mental illnesses or addictions. They provide information on services, such as support groups and 12-step programs, to help clients cope with their illness. Many clinical social workers function in these roles as well.

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How To Become A Medical Social Worker

Although most social workers need a bachelor’s degree in social work, clinical social workers must have a master’s degree and 2 years of post-master’s experience in a supervised clinical setting. Clinical social workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is the most common requirement for entry-level positions. However, some employers may hire workers who have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as psychology or sociology.

A BSW prepares students for direct-service positions such as caseworker or mental health assistant. These programs teach students about diverse populations, human behavior, social welfare policy, and ethics in social work. All programs require students to complete supervised fieldwork or an internship.

Some positions require a master’s degree in social work (MSW), which generally takes 2 years to complete. Master’s degree programs in social work prepare students for work in their chosen specialty by developing clinical assessment and management skills. All programs require students to complete a supervised practicum or an internship.

A bachelor’s degree in social work is not required in order to enter a master’s degree program in social work. Although a degree in almost any major is acceptable, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, and political science are recommended. Some programs allow graduates with a bachelor’s degree in social work to earn their master’s degree in 1 year.

In 2015, there were more than 500 bachelor’s degree programs and more than 200 master’s degree programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Some universities offer doctoral programs in social work, where students can earn a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) or a Ph.D. Most doctoral programs in social work require students to have a master’s in social work and experience in the field. Many doctor’s students go on to work as postsecondary teachers.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Most states have licensure or certification requirements for nonclinical social workers. Requirements vary by state.

All states require clinical social workers to be licensed. However, some states provide exemptions for clinical social workers who work in government agencies. Becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires a master’s degree in social work and a minimum of 2 years of supervised clinical experience after graduation. After completing their supervised experience, clinical social workers must pass a clinical exam to be licensed.

Because licensing requirements vary by state, those interested should contact their state board. For more information about regulatory licensure boards by state, contact the Association of Social Work Boards.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives. To effectively help, social workers must be able to listen to and understand their clients’ needs.

Empathy. Social workers often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations. To develop strong relationships, they must have compassion and empathy for their clients.

Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different groups of people is essential for social workers. They need strong people skills to foster healthy and productive relationships with their clients and colleagues.

Organizational skills. Social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment.

Problem-solving skills. Social workers need to develop practical and innovative solutions to their clients’ problems.

Time-management skills. Social workers often have many clients and administrative responsibilities. They must effectively manage their time to provide adequate service to all of their clients.

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Medical Social Worker jobs

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Medical Social Worker Career Paths

Medical Social Worker

Outpatient Physical Therapist Mental Health Therapist Clinical Director

Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services

11 Yearsyrs

Therapist

Career Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Program Director Educator

Case Manager

5 Yearsyrs

Mental Health Clinician Mental Health Therapist

Clinical Care Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Clinical Supervisor

Clinical Director

9 Yearsyrs

Clinical Supervisor

Clinical Program Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Career Coordinator Program Manager Clinical Director

Clinical Services Director

11 Yearsyrs

Program Director Educator Case Manager

Director Of Case Management

11 Yearsyrs

Career Manager Clinical Supervisor Nursing Director

Director Of Health Services

11 Yearsyrs

Career Manager Operations Manager Program Director

Director Of Residential Services

7 Yearsyrs

Director Of Social Services

6 Yearsyrs

Director Of Social Work

7 Yearsyrs

Outpatient Physical Therapist Clinician Career Manager

Geriatric Care Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Clinical Supervisor Nursing Director Career Manager

Health Care Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Professor Nurse Practitioner Nurse Manager

Health Director

9 Yearsyrs

Psychotherapist Clinical Director

Outpatient Services Director

9 Yearsyrs

Program Director Specialist Licensed Practical Nurse

Resident Services Director

6 Yearsyrs

Program Director

Service Director

9 Yearsyrs

Mental Health Clinician

Social Work Case Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Clinical Social Worker 4.7 years
Medical Social Worker 4.0 years
Director Of Social Work 3.9 years
School Social Worker 3.8 years
Licensed Social Worker 3.7 years
Protective Services Social Worker 3.5 years
Social Work Case Manager 3.5 years
Social Worker 3.5 years
Psychiatric Social Worker 3.4 years
Oncology Social Work 3.4 years
Adoption Social Worker 3.3 years
Dialysis Social Worker 3.0 years
Nephrology Social Worker 2.7 years
Hospice Social Worker 2.7 years
Pediatric Social Worker 2.7 years
Hospital Social Worker 2.5 years
Social Worker Aide 2.5 years
Social Work Associate 2.4 years
Social Worker Lead 2.3 years
Social Worker Assistant 2.0 years

Top Careers Before Medical Social Worker

Top Careers After Medical Social Worker

Medical Social Worker Demographics

Gender

Female
84.5%
Male
13.8%
Unknown
1.7%

Ethnicity

White
81.4%
Hispanic or Latino
9.2%
Asian
7.5%
Unknown
1.3%
Black or African American
0.7%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
62.8%
Mandarin
5.0%
Russian
4.6%
French
4.2%
Cantonese
4.2%
Chinese
3.3%
Portuguese
2.5%
German
2.1%
Japanese
1.7%
Vietnamese
1.3%
Korean
1.3%
Swahili
0.8%
Swedish
0.8%
Cherokee
0.8%
Hindi
0.8%
Hawaiian
0.8%
Greek
0.8%
Czech
0.8%
Dakota
0.8%
Sami
0.4%

Medical Social Worker

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Medical Social Worker Education

Schools

University of Southern California
8.1%
Wayne State University
7.4%
Fordham University
6.9%
University of Alabama
5.9%
New York University
5.7%
University of Texas at Arlington
5.7%
Grand Valley State University
5.6%
University of Kansas
4.7%
University of South Carolina - Columbia
4.7%
Florida State University
4.6%
University of Kentucky
4.6%
San Diego State University
4.5%
Adelphi University
4.5%
Arizona State University
4.2%
University of Denver
4.0%
University of Georgia
3.9%
Michigan State University
3.8%
West Virginia University
3.8%
Virginia Commonwealth University
3.7%
Ohio State University
3.7%

Majors

Degrees

Masters
75.5%
Bachelors
13.7%
Other
4.4%
Doctorate
2.6%
Certificate
2.1%
Associate
0.9%
License
0.5%
Diploma
0.2%

Medical Social Worker

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Real Medical Social Worker Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Bilingual Medical Social Worker	Atlantis Operating LLC	New York, NY	Aug 22, 2016	$59,035
Medical Social Worker	Charles B. Wang Community Health Center	New York, NY	Dec 15, 2016	$59,000
Medical Social Worker	Self-Help for The Elderly	San Francisco, CA	Sep 17, 2009	$58,350
Medical Social Worker	Sunnyday Health Service Corp.	San Gabriel, CA	Sep 21, 2013	$58,240
Medical Social Worker	Access Home Health Care, Inc.	Walnut, CA	Oct 01, 2010	$57,518 - $28
Medical Social Worker	Xincon Home Health Care Services, Inc.	New York, NY	Sep 15, 2013	$49,400
Medical Social Worker	Sunnyday Health Service Corp.	San Gabriel, CA	Sep 04, 2014	$48,001
Medical Social Worker	Grace Elderly Care Home LLC	Spring, TX	Jul 01, 2015	$45,705
Medical Social Worker	Albany Medical Center Hospital	Albany, NY	Mar 01, 2013	$44,720
Medical Social Worker	Heiwa Corporation	Hayward, CA	Oct 01, 2010	$41,954
Medical Social Worker	Desert Valley Hospital	Victorville, CA	Dec 01, 2011	$41,844
Medical Social Worker	Well and Fit Adult Day Health Care, Inc.	Diamond Bar, CA	Sep 21, 2013	$41,517 - $45,600
Medical Social Worker	Intromed, Inc. IFC	San Francisco, CA	Dec 21, 2007	$40,884
Medical Social Worker	All Care Hospice	Glendale, CA	Sep 02, 2015	$39,528
Medical Social Worker	Arcadia Adult Day Health Care Inc.	Arcadia, CA	Mar 01, 2011	$39,500
Medical Social Worker	Arcadia ADHC Inc.	Arcadia, CA	Mar 01, 2011	$39,500

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Top Skills for A Medical Social Worker

Top Medical Social Worker Skills

Comprehensive Psychosocial Assessments
Discharge Planning
Community Resource Referrals

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Provided direct counseling and comprehensive psychosocial assessments to the terminally ill and their family members.
Discharge planning and community referrals.
Provide counseling, bereavement work, community resource referrals and connections to patients/families in relation to hospice involvement.
Provide supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and discharge planning by collaborating with physicians and ancillary departments to identify needs.
Completed interviews and social work assessments to determine the need and eligibility for services for home health and hospice patients.