Hospice Medical Social Worker
Listed on 2026-08-22
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Healthcare
Mental Health, Clinical Social Worker, Crisis Counselor, Patient/Health Advocate
About the Role
Bring your clinical expertise and compassion to one of healthcare's most meaningful specialties. As a Hospice Medical Social Worker, you'll provide essential psychosocial support to patients facing terminal illness and help families navigate one of life's most challenging transitions with dignity, preparation, and emotional support. This role is perfect for a licensed MSW who wants to practice the full scope of clinical social work - conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments, providing crisis intervention, facilitating advance care planning, and offering grief counseling.
You'll be a vital member of our interdisciplinary team, helping ensure that emotional, social, and practical needs are addressed alongside medical care.
Provide Expert Psychosocial Assessment and Support
- Conduct initial psychosocial evaluations within 5 days of hospice admission
- Assess family dynamics, caregiver abilities, communication patterns, and coping mechanisms
- Identify high-risk situations including potential for suicide, neglect, or abuse
- Continuously re-evaluate patients' and families' psychosocial needs throughout care
- Provide crisis intervention when necessary
Deliver Clinical Counseling Services
- Counsel patients and families on stress management and coping difficulties
- Help families navigate the emotional challenges of terminal illness and impending loss
- Assess cultural needs and educate the interdisciplinary team on cultural considerations
- Address communication barriers, family roles, traditions, and cultural sensitivities
- Provide bereavement support and coordinate ongoing grief services
Facilitate Advance Care Planning
- Educate patients and families about advance directives and decision-making
- Assist with preparation of advance care documents
- Help families plan for funeral arrangements and end-of-life wishes
- Support decision-making around financial, legal, and healthcare responsibilities
- Navigate complex family dynamics during difficult conversations
Coordinate Resources and Referrals
- Assess practical and environmental needs of patients and families
- Connect families with community resources and support services
- Provide information and referral services for financial, legal, and practical assistance
- Assist with hospital discharge coordination to home or facility settings
- Identify and address barriers to quality care
Collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Team
- Participate actively in interdisciplinary group (IDG) meetings
- Attend nursing facility care conferences
- Communicate significant psychosocial findings to team members and physicians
- Help the team understand how psychosocial stresses affect terminal illness symptoms
- Contribute to development and revision of individualized care plans
- Support team members managing the emotional demands of hospice work
Maintain Clinical Excellence
- Complete accurate, timely, and pertinent documentation
- Maintain clinical records for all patients referred to social work
- Ensure compliance with Conditions of Participation and regulatory requirements
- Demonstrate cost-effective care delivery with understanding of hospice reimbursement
- Identify and report potential coverage or payment issues
Required Qualifications
- Master's or doctoral degree from a CSWE-accredited school of social work
- Current State License as a Master's Social Worker (MSW/LMSW/LCSW)
- Minimum 1 year of experience as a licensed Master's Social Worker
- Reliable transportation with valid automobile insurance
- Willingness to travel to homes, facilities, and community settings
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous hospice or palliative care experience
- Clinical experience with grief counseling and end-of-life issues
- Knowledge of Medicare hospice benefit and Conditions of Participation
Essential Skills and Competencies
- Strong clinical counseling and grief support skills
- Expertise in psychosocial assessment and crisis intervention
- Ability to guide patients and families through end-of-life challenges
- Excellent communication skills with emotional intelligence
- Cultural sensitivity and competence working with diverse populations
- Knowledge of community resources and social service systems
- Strong interdisciplinary collaboration…
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