Social worker job description
Updated March 14, 2024
9 min read
Social workers provide services to those in need through nongovernment organizations, social work organizations, or other welfare organizations. These social services often always include but are not limited to, providing emotional support to those with challenges, providing food and nutrition to undernourished individuals, and counseling families and social home tenants.
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Example social worker requirements on a job description
Social worker requirements can be divided into technical requirements and required soft skills. The lists below show the most common requirements included in social worker job postings.
Sample social worker requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field.
- Valid license to practice social work in the state.
- 2+ years of work experience in a social work setting.
- Extensive knowledge of social service principles and practices.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
Sample required social worker soft skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize.
- Compassion and empathy for others.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
Social worker job description example 1
Kindred Healthcare social worker job description
IT'S SIMPLE. You want to work in a healthcare setting where you are valued and appreciated - where you receive respect from your superiors and co-workers as well as the patients/residents you treat. You want to be challenged by your job without being overwhelmed by it. You want to play an instrumental role in helping a patient recover, sometimes against strong odds, and go home. What you want is Kindred Healthcare. Our mission is to promote healing, provide hope, preserve dignity and produce value for each patient, resident, family member, customer, employee and shareholder we serve.
Join us!
Summary:
In this key role you will integrate Social Service functions into patient care, discharge, and home planning processes with other hospital departments, external service organizations, agencies and healthcare facilities. Responsibilities:
Help patients and families deal with the social and psychological factors of illness and their impact on family functioning and show them how to achieve maximum benefits from healthcare services
Participate with physicians, nursing personnel and other members of the multidisciplinary team in planning patient care services and developing the patient care plan
Engage in individual or group counseling sessions pertaining to care and adjustment
Assist in implementing Social Services patient care policies and provide guidance in handling special cases or patient needs
Develop harmonious working relationships with other departments; ensure staff's awareness of available services and resources; serve as liaison with external social service organizations
Direct the Social Services discharge and home-care planning process to ensure the provision of continuing care and effective patient/family support services; arrange for care through institutions and agencies in the community
Provide information to patients, families and other hospital departments regarding the psychosocial aspects of the patient's post-discharge treatment and recovery program Qualifications A candidate must be a graduate of a social work curriculum (or related field) with at least a BSW. Should have two or more years of experience in all aspects of social service and discharge.
If you are a current Kindred/RehabCare employee Click Here.Job: Social ServicesPrimary Location: CA-Santa Ana-Kindred Hospital - Santa AnaOrganization: 4825 - Kindred Hospital - Santa AnaShift: Day
Join us!
Summary:
In this key role you will integrate Social Service functions into patient care, discharge, and home planning processes with other hospital departments, external service organizations, agencies and healthcare facilities. Responsibilities:
Help patients and families deal with the social and psychological factors of illness and their impact on family functioning and show them how to achieve maximum benefits from healthcare services
Participate with physicians, nursing personnel and other members of the multidisciplinary team in planning patient care services and developing the patient care plan
Engage in individual or group counseling sessions pertaining to care and adjustment
Assist in implementing Social Services patient care policies and provide guidance in handling special cases or patient needs
Develop harmonious working relationships with other departments; ensure staff's awareness of available services and resources; serve as liaison with external social service organizations
Direct the Social Services discharge and home-care planning process to ensure the provision of continuing care and effective patient/family support services; arrange for care through institutions and agencies in the community
Provide information to patients, families and other hospital departments regarding the psychosocial aspects of the patient's post-discharge treatment and recovery program Qualifications A candidate must be a graduate of a social work curriculum (or related field) with at least a BSW. Should have two or more years of experience in all aspects of social service and discharge.
If you are a current Kindred/RehabCare employee Click Here.Job: Social ServicesPrimary Location: CA-Santa Ana-Kindred Hospital - Santa AnaOrganization: 4825 - Kindred Hospital - Santa AnaShift: Day
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Social worker job description example 2
Community Health Systems social worker job description
**This is a Per Diem (as needed) Social Worker position working in Case Management at Northwest Medical Center.**
Provides assessment and crisis intervention in acute care settings; plans, organizes, and implements social work services for patients and families. Provides long term care planning for patients/families. Responsible for complex discharge planning. Intervenes as needed with hospital patients with mental health problems or substance abuse problems. Provides assessment with case management for pediatric patients.
**Candidates need acute hospital experience, prior case management experience preferred.**
**Position Qualifications/Minimum Requirements**
Education: Required: Master's of Social Work degree.
Experience: Required: Three (3) years acute clinical experience.
Skills: Handles emergency or crisis situations. Requires judgment/action which could result in death of patient.
Licenses/Certifications: None required.
_Northwest Medical Center is comprised of a 300-bed hospital, four urgent care facilities, a freestanding emergency center and a large physician group, offering you a variety of settings in which to work. Every location is dedicated to providing safe, quality patient care, but more than that is the commitment to employees. It strives to provide a culture of teamwork, respect and appreciation for all staff, whether they care for patients directly or work in a support role. With employee appreciation celebrations throughout the year, opportunities for growth and the satisfaction that you are part of a hospital leading the way with accessible, convenient healthcare in Tucson, Northwest is a great place to work. NMC is accredited by The Joint Commission and is an equal opportunity employer: race, gender, disability and Veteran status, and VEVRAA Federal Contractor - priority referral Protected Veterans requested._
**_INDNWA_**
\#CB
**Qualifications**
**Education**
**Required**
+ Masters or better in Social Work
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
Provides assessment and crisis intervention in acute care settings; plans, organizes, and implements social work services for patients and families. Provides long term care planning for patients/families. Responsible for complex discharge planning. Intervenes as needed with hospital patients with mental health problems or substance abuse problems. Provides assessment with case management for pediatric patients.
**Candidates need acute hospital experience, prior case management experience preferred.**
**Position Qualifications/Minimum Requirements**
Education: Required: Master's of Social Work degree.
Experience: Required: Three (3) years acute clinical experience.
Skills: Handles emergency or crisis situations. Requires judgment/action which could result in death of patient.
Licenses/Certifications: None required.
_Northwest Medical Center is comprised of a 300-bed hospital, four urgent care facilities, a freestanding emergency center and a large physician group, offering you a variety of settings in which to work. Every location is dedicated to providing safe, quality patient care, but more than that is the commitment to employees. It strives to provide a culture of teamwork, respect and appreciation for all staff, whether they care for patients directly or work in a support role. With employee appreciation celebrations throughout the year, opportunities for growth and the satisfaction that you are part of a hospital leading the way with accessible, convenient healthcare in Tucson, Northwest is a great place to work. NMC is accredited by The Joint Commission and is an equal opportunity employer: race, gender, disability and Veteran status, and VEVRAA Federal Contractor - priority referral Protected Veterans requested._
**_INDNWA_**
\#CB
**Qualifications**
**Education**
**Required**
+ Masters or better in Social Work
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
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Social worker job description example 3
Cleveland Clinic social worker job description
Join Cleveland Clinic's Hillcrest Hospital where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world-class, and caregivers are family. Hillcrest Hospital earned the No. 3 hospital ranking in Cleveland and the No. 4 hospital ranking in Ohio, according to the U.S. News & World Report. Here, you will work with and learn from some of our best caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world.
We are looking for a Social Worker to join our team. Patients and families coming to our hospital are faced with a lot of unknowns, and this role is crucial in connecting them with our community resources and supporting them throughout their time with us. Your duties will include but are not limited to:
- Intervening with patients who have complex psychosocial and discharge planning needs.
- Conducting detailed psychosocial assessments and coordinating with community resources and supportive counseling.
-Offering crisis interventions to patients and families with psychosocial needs,
-Facilitating the transition of care for high-risk patients facing barriers to care.
Our ideal candidate is someone who:
-Has good verbal and written communication skills.
-Knowledgeable on community resources.
-Can build rapport quickly with patients.
-Is Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities and needs.
We offer tuition reimbursement as well as education sources for our caregivers to learn new skills and grow in their career.
Cleveland Clinic provides what matters most: career growth, delivering world-class care to our patients, continuous learning, exceptional benefits and working for an organization that offers many long-term career paths. Join us and experience a culture where opportunities to advance and the support to get there go hand-in-hand.
Responsibilities:
Manages all aspects of discharge planning for assigned patients in order to ensure a timely discharge and provide appropriate connection with post-discharge care providers. Works with families exhibiting complex family dynamics. Communicates with interdisciplinary team regarding the discharge planning status of all patients that are referred. Educates patient, family and physician regarding post-acute options and addresses freedom of choice and financial concerns. Conducts initial and ongoing psychosocial assessment and interventions and makes treatment recommendations to engage patients and families in adherence to the treatment plan by reducing or eliminating the social, psychological, financial, behavioral and regulatory barriers to successful medical outcomes. Serves as a resource person to provide counseling and intervention related to treatment decisions and end-of-life issues. Advocates for patient and family by providing intervention in cases involving child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, elderly abuse, institutional abuse and sexual assault. Advocates for patient and family empowerment and independence to make autonomous health care decisions and access needed services within the health care system and community. Meets core social work competencies and adheres to regulations. Remains current with regulations which impact the care of patients and regulatory compliance. Promotes individual, professional growth and development and meets mandatory and continuing education requirements. Supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization. Serves as a preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff and represents the department on committees. Other duties as assigned.
Education:
Master's Degree in Social Work or Masters of Science in Social Administration (MSSA).
Certifications:
Current state licensure as a Social Worker. Eligible licensure includes LSW, LISW, LISW-S or PC. For Homecare and Hospice, eligible licensure includes LSW, LISW or LISW-S. Care Management Department preferred: Certification as a Case Manager within one year of eligibility from an approved professional organization. Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA). For Homecare and Hospice field staff only: Valid Ohio Driver's license upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter. For Homecare and Hospice field staff only: Proof of automobile insurance coverage with $100,000/$300,000 coverage, upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter.
Complexity of Work:
Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.
Work Experience:
Hospital Social Work experience preferred. Home Care and/or Hospice Social Work experience is preferred for candidates applying to those roles. Exposure and experience in pre-acute and post-acute care. Knowledge of community resources preferred. Excellent communication and negotiation skills necessary to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams for optimal outcomes. Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as with teams. Must be flexible, open-minded and adaptable to change.
Physical Requirements:
Requires full range of motion, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time. Requires normal or corrected hearing and vision to normal range. Sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: active or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and /or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Personal Protective Equipment:
Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required for procedures.
Keywords: Hospital Social Worker, LSW, Licensed Social Worker, LISW
We are looking for a Social Worker to join our team. Patients and families coming to our hospital are faced with a lot of unknowns, and this role is crucial in connecting them with our community resources and supporting them throughout their time with us. Your duties will include but are not limited to:
- Intervening with patients who have complex psychosocial and discharge planning needs.
- Conducting detailed psychosocial assessments and coordinating with community resources and supportive counseling.
-Offering crisis interventions to patients and families with psychosocial needs,
-Facilitating the transition of care for high-risk patients facing barriers to care.
Our ideal candidate is someone who:
-Has good verbal and written communication skills.
-Knowledgeable on community resources.
-Can build rapport quickly with patients.
-Is Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities and needs.
We offer tuition reimbursement as well as education sources for our caregivers to learn new skills and grow in their career.
Cleveland Clinic provides what matters most: career growth, delivering world-class care to our patients, continuous learning, exceptional benefits and working for an organization that offers many long-term career paths. Join us and experience a culture where opportunities to advance and the support to get there go hand-in-hand.
Responsibilities:
Manages all aspects of discharge planning for assigned patients in order to ensure a timely discharge and provide appropriate connection with post-discharge care providers. Works with families exhibiting complex family dynamics. Communicates with interdisciplinary team regarding the discharge planning status of all patients that are referred. Educates patient, family and physician regarding post-acute options and addresses freedom of choice and financial concerns. Conducts initial and ongoing psychosocial assessment and interventions and makes treatment recommendations to engage patients and families in adherence to the treatment plan by reducing or eliminating the social, psychological, financial, behavioral and regulatory barriers to successful medical outcomes. Serves as a resource person to provide counseling and intervention related to treatment decisions and end-of-life issues. Advocates for patient and family by providing intervention in cases involving child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, elderly abuse, institutional abuse and sexual assault. Advocates for patient and family empowerment and independence to make autonomous health care decisions and access needed services within the health care system and community. Meets core social work competencies and adheres to regulations. Remains current with regulations which impact the care of patients and regulatory compliance. Promotes individual, professional growth and development and meets mandatory and continuing education requirements. Supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization. Serves as a preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff and represents the department on committees. Other duties as assigned.
Education:
Master's Degree in Social Work or Masters of Science in Social Administration (MSSA).
Certifications:
Current state licensure as a Social Worker. Eligible licensure includes LSW, LISW, LISW-S or PC. For Homecare and Hospice, eligible licensure includes LSW, LISW or LISW-S. Care Management Department preferred: Certification as a Case Manager within one year of eligibility from an approved professional organization. Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA). For Homecare and Hospice field staff only: Valid Ohio Driver's license upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter. For Homecare and Hospice field staff only: Proof of automobile insurance coverage with $100,000/$300,000 coverage, upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter.
Complexity of Work:
Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.
Work Experience:
Hospital Social Work experience preferred. Home Care and/or Hospice Social Work experience is preferred for candidates applying to those roles. Exposure and experience in pre-acute and post-acute care. Knowledge of community resources preferred. Excellent communication and negotiation skills necessary to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams for optimal outcomes. Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as with teams. Must be flexible, open-minded and adaptable to change.
Physical Requirements:
Requires full range of motion, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time. Requires normal or corrected hearing and vision to normal range. Sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: active or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and /or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Personal Protective Equipment:
Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required for procedures.
Keywords: Hospital Social Worker, LSW, Licensed Social Worker, LISW
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Updated March 14, 2024
Updated March 14, 2024