Hospice Social Worker

About the Role:

The Hospice Social Worker plays a critical role in providing compassionate psychosocial support to patients facing life-limiting illnesses and their families. This position focuses on assessing emotional, social, and practical needs, facilitating coping strategies, and ensuring access to community resources to enhance quality of life during end-of-life care. The social worker collaborates closely with interdisciplinary hospice teams to develop individualized care plans that address mental health, family dynamics, and crisis situations. They serve as advocates for patients and families, helping navigate complex healthcare systems and advance care planning. Ultimately, the role aims to promote dignity, comfort, and emotional well-being for patients and their loved ones throughout the hospice journey.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• Current licensure as a LMSW
• Minimum of two years’ experience in hospice, palliative care, or related healthcare settings.
• Demonstrated proficiency in crisis intervention, case management, and mental health counseling.
• Strong knowledge of social services, healthcare systems, and community resources relevant to end-of-life care.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in Hospice and Palliative Social Work (CHP-SW) or equivalent specialty credential.
• Experience working with diverse populations and understanding of cultural competence in end-of-life care.
• Training in grief counseling, trauma-informed care, or psychotherapy techniques.
• Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) and hospice documentation software.
• Additional language skills to support non-English speaking patients and families.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and their families to identify needs, strengths, and potential barriers to care.
• Provide crisis intervention and emotional support to patients and families experiencing grief, loss, and end-of-life challenges.
• Develop and implement individualized care plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary hospice team, ensuring holistic support.
• Coordinate access to community resources, financial assistance, and counseling services to address social determinants of health.
• Facilitate family meetings and advance care planning discussions to support informed decision-making and patient autonomy.
• Maintain detailed documentation of assessments, interventions, and outcomes in compliance with regulatory standards.
• Participate in ongoing education and training to stay current with best practices in hospice social work and palliative care.

Skills:

The Hospice Social Worker utilizes crisis intervention skills daily to provide immediate emotional support and stabilize patients and families during distressing situations. Case management expertise is essential for coordinating care plans, connecting clients with community resources, and ensuring continuity of care. Knowledge of human and social services enables the social worker to navigate complex healthcare systems and advocate effectively for patient needs. Psychotherapy and mental health counseling skills are applied to help patients and families process grief, anxiety, and other emotional challenges associated with terminal illness. Working within a healthcare setting requires strong communication and collaboration skills to integrate social work services seamlessly into the interdisciplinary hospice team.